Meeting documents

Venue: Large Committee Room, King George V House, King George V Road, Amersham. View directions

Contact: Charlie Griffin  01494 732011; Email: cgriffin@chiltern.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 60 KB

To agree the Minutes of the previous meeting.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Governance & Electoral Arrangements Committee held on 12 April 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

 

3.

Joint Working - Appointment of a Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee pdf icon PDF 45 KB

Minutes:

The Joint Committee (JC) considered a report at the meeting held on  24 July which proposed that now Phase 2 of joint arrangements between Chiltern and South Bucks District Councils was nearing completion, that a Joint Scrutiny Committee be established to consider joint working arrangements going forward. The JC agreed that the Councils’ respective Governance and Electoral Arrangements Committees consider the proposal and that Members’ comments be reported back to the JC meeting on  5 October.

 

Members discussed the draft procedure rules for the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee and noted that the proposed limit on the number of occasions when a Member could call in an item was to avoid vexatious call in requests.

 

After noting that the Committee’s recommendations would be subject to approval at both District Council meetings, the Committee then welcomed the report and agreed to recommend that the recommendations be agreed by Full Council on 17 October 2017.

 

RECOMMENDED:

 

That subject to receiving and considering comments from the Councils’ respective Governance and Electoral Arrangements Committees and the agreement of both Councils:

 

1.                  That pursuant to section 102 of the Local Government Act 1972 the Councils agree to appoint a Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee with authority to discharge the Councils’ overview and scrutiny functions in relation to the functions delegated to the Chiltern and South Bucks Joint Committee as set out in the terms of reference at Appendix 1 to this report.

 

2.                  That the rules of procedure for the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee be agreed as set out in Appendix 3.

 

3.                  The Councils’ constitutions and respective Cabinet Procedure, Access to Information and Overview and Scrutiny Procedures Rules be amended to reflect the new Joint Committee.

 

4.                  That the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to make the necessary amendments to the IAA to reflect the above decisions in consultation with the Chief Executive and Leaders.

 

4.

Polling District Review pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Minutes:

The Committee received a report providing an update on the review of polling districts and polling places that was being undertaken following the Parliamentary Election held on 8 June. The review would be informed by responses received during the consultation, and a copy was circulated at the meeting. Information collected during recent elections would also be taken into account.

 

It was noted that Gold Hill Baptist Church Hall could no longer be used in future due to redevelopment due to take place. Parking was also restricted at that location. Members suggested that the nearby leisure centre was one possible alternative location that could be considered.

 

Newtown County Infant School was no longer available to use, and schools generally would be avoided to prevent disruption to pupils. Emanuel Church was currently being considered as a possible alternative location.

 

Little Chalfont Primary School would no longer be used in future and officers were due to visit Little Chalfont Methodist Church to check suitability as an alternative location.

 

Polling districts CS (Little Kingshill and Little Missenden) and CVA (Prestwood and Heath End No 2) both had a small electorate so it was proposed that these be combined into one so that Little Kingshill Village Hall could be used as a single polling station for both polling districts.

 

The use of temporary buildings as polling stations was suggested for locations where there were no other suitable premises. It was noted however that portable buildings were often costly and presented other practical difficulties.

 

The Committee would receive the final proposals arising from the review at a future meeting.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted.