Meeting documents

To agree a Chairman for the Joint Committee

Members were asked for nominations for election of Chairman for the Joint Committee. Mr D Carroll proposed Mr T Egleton which was seconded and agreed by the Joint Committee.

RESOLVED

That Mr T Egleton be elected as Chairman for the Joint Committee to agree Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel Arrangements.

Cllr Kieron Mallen (Oxfordshire County Council) and Cllr Stansfeld (West Berkshire Council) were not in attendance. Cllr Bains attended as an observer from Slough Borough Council.

Item purpose: To agree the Panel Arrangements document on behalf of all councils in the Thames Valley (subject to ratification by those councils who have not completed their decision-making process in relation to this).

Contributors:

Olwen Dutton, Partner, Bevan Brittan (Independent Legal Adviser)/Sara Turnbull, Scrutiny Manager

Papers:

Panel Arrangements

Olwen Dutton, Independent Legal Adviser, Bevan Brittan presented the draft Panel Arrangements document which had been circulated to all Members of the Steering Group and all Lead Officers from across the Thames Valley. The Panel arrangements document should be read in conjunction with the draft Rules of Procedure. The Joint Committee agreed that this document will be updated in light of Home Office regulations expected to be published in late Spring 2012.

Members were reminded that the intention was to finalise the Panel Arrangements document at the meeting, subject to the delegation to the Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire County Council to amend the draft in the light of the discussions, and the possibility that changes might have to be made as a result of Home Office regulations.

Members’ attention was specifically drawn to Clause 3 and the proposed arrangements for appointment by the Authorities to the Panel and the need to secure as far as is reasonably practicable that the balanced appointment objective is met. In respect of the political balance element of the balanced appointment objective, Members were reminded of the current non-statutory guidance produced by both the LGA and the Home Office each of which suggests that Authorities should consider appointments by taking into account the proportion of councillors from each political party across the Thames Valley, whilst recognising the practicalities of doing so. It was agreed that the Panel Arrangements would leave each Authority to give consideration to all elements of the balanced appointment objective – including geographical; and skills, knowledge and experience – which would need to be observed each time Authorities  made appointments to the Panel

Going through the document Members made the following points:-

Membership Amendments

3.4       Remove ‘or Members’ as each Authority could only appoint one Member.

3.6       A Member suggested removing this paragraph as it repeats what is in paragraph 3.2 and this is the preferred wording. It was then agreed that the paragraph is left in and the word ‘renewed’ taken out.

3.10    --- the Secretariat should recommend to the relevant Authority that due consideration is given to removing the Member from office immediately and replacing them.

·         The Member from Reading Borough Council commented that the same rules of non-attendance did not apply to co-opted members and that there should be a mechanism of removing co-opted members if they did not attend meetings. He suggested that the co-opted members should have the same rights as elected Members. Members were referred to 3.18 where the Panel may terminate the appointment of a co-opted member for two reasons; one being if they were unable or unfit to discharge their functions. The Panel could reach a view that notice should be given.

Amendment

3.1             That an additional clause be added to ensure that the same rules apply to co-optees as to elected members in relation to the termination of appointment. Exact wording to be inserted in line with 3.10.

Host Authority

·         The Member from Bracknell Forest Council referred to the situation where no  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.