Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk relative to a recommendation of the Selection Panel in respect of appointment to the existing vacancy for a Co-opted Member of the Standards Committee.

The Chairman reported that the advertisement for a new Co-opted Member of the Standards Committee had generated a good deal of interest on this occasion. Three candidates had been shortlisted for interview by the Selection Panel and the Panel hoped that both this Committee and the Court of Common Council would be enthusiastic about their selected candidate.

The Chairman added that, whilst it was recommended that the initial term of office for the new Co-opted Member be for 2 years (in accordance with views put forward by the Standards Committee, in order to better regulate the terms of office of Co-opted Members) this would be renewable.

The Chairman clarified that, should this Committee and the Court of Common Council endorse the appointment, the selected candidate would become a member of the Standards Committee with immediate effect and that an induction with the Comptroller and City Solicitor would also be arranged at the earliest opportunity.

The Committee were unanimous in their endorsement of the appointment of the selected candidate.  

A Co-opted Member went on to question whether there was a limit to the term of office for the Committee’s three Independent Persons. He added that he felt that an indefinite appointment to this position seemed unwise.

A Member highlighted that the Committee’s terms of reference stated that “none of the appointed shall serve on the Committee for more than eight years”. He suggested that this would be a good guideline to also follow in terms of Independent Persons too.

The Comptroller and City Solicitor agreed that it would be a sensible suggestion for the Committee to look at this in more detail at a future meeting. The Chairman was content with this approach.

Another Co-opted Member questioned whether the Selection Panel included a Co-opted Member of the Standards Committee. The Chairman responded that the make up of the Selection Panel was determined by the Court of Common Council and consisted of the Chief Commoner, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Standards Committee and the Chairman of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen. It was suggested that it would be beneficial to include a Co-opted Member on the Selection Panel in future. The Committee suggested that the Co-opted Member might be asked to be in attendance as opposed to forming part of the Panel itself as this would require reference back to the Court of Common Council.

RESOLVED – That, Members approve the recommended appointment for a Co-opted Member of the Standards Committee for an initial term of office of 2 years in order to better regulate the terms of office of Co-opted Members, and in accordance with views put forward by members of the Standards Committee.