Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk notifying Members that the terms of office of the two external members on the Committee were due to expire in May 2013 and detailing the options surrounding the recruitment process with a view to filling the vacancies.

All Members present voiced their praise for the ability and commitment that the two current external Members possessed.

The Committee considered the proposals for a recruitment process and whether this was the most appropriate way forward, bearing in mind that the two incumbents were eligible to re-apply, and that it was possible for them to be re-appointed without the need for a selection process. This was particularly significant seeing the strong skills and performance which the incumbents had demonstrated over the past four years.

Members consequently agreed that a Panel should be appointed to consider, in the first instance, whether the two incumbents should be re-appointed. The panel should also be asked to consider the possibility of staggering their terms of office to ensure a degree of continuity in the future.

The EDHR Manager commented that the involvement of external Members should be considered as an opportunity for the Committee to reach out to all sectors of society. She reminded the Committee of its commitments to show due regard to providing equality of opportunities to those in minority communities.

RESOLVED: That:-

a)    a Panel should be appointed to consider, in the first instance, whether the two incumbents should be re-appointed, including the possibility of staggering their terms of office;

b)    the Police Committee Membership Scheme be amended in accordance with Appendix A (paragraph 19 in particular), to reflect necessary changes to the membership of the selection panel; and

c)    a Member of the Police Committee be appointed as third member of the selection panel, to sit alongside the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and a fourth non-Common Council member to be identified.