Meeting documents

To consider the following Notice of Motion submitted by the deadline of noon Thursday 5 April 2018.

The following Notice of Motion was submitted by Councillor M Clarke and seconded by Councillor Ms K Wood.

"This Council agrees that the High Wycombe Town Committee can be granted delegated powers to take decisions in relation to non-executive matters where those delegations are approved by Council; and that the attendance of the Leader of the Council or the Deputy Leader, in their absence, be welcomed at meetings of the High Wycombe Town Committee where any executive decision is proposed."

The following notice of motion was submitted and proposed by Councillor Mrs L M Clarke (OBE) and seconded by Councillor Miss K Wood.

"This Council agrees that the High Wycombe Town Committee can be granted delegated powers to take decisions in relation to non-executive matters where those delegations are approved by Council; and that the attendance of the Leader of the Council or the Deputy Leader, in their absence, be welcomed at meetings of the High Wycombe Town Committee where any executive decision is proposed."

In proposing and seconding the motion both Members wished to reserve their right to speak until they had heard the rest of the debate from amongst the floor. Members of the Council gave their views and opinions relating to the motion under consideration.

Some felt that this was a step in the right direction, contributing to an increase of power and authority of the High Wycombe Town Committee. Other Members felt that this was too little too late, and questioned both the timing and the motives behind the proposals. The motion was also criticised for having been brought forward to council without first consulting with the residents concerned, thereby affording them the opportunity to express how they wished to be governed. 

In seconding the motion, the Leader stated that she had been very conscious of the issues surrounding the role of the Committee and had sought ways of how this could be improved. She explained about the timing of the planned changes, and that it would have been considered earlier within the proposed constitutional review, but that this had been subsequently put on hold in the light of the Secretary of State`s announcement on Modernising Local government.

Councillor Mrs L M Clarke (OBE) following the comments addressed the Council, and stated that she was pleased to propose the motion and acknowledged that the Leader was now taking a personal interest in the workings of the Town Committee. She reminded Members as to the objective of the motion, which in essence was to formalise the powers of the Committee, primarily through the provision of non-executive powers similar to that of a town council, and a voice of residents of an unparished area. In addition it would make the executive aware of precept calculations. It was emphasised that the motion would also help to protect the charter Mayor`s position. 

The proposer closed her comments by stating that she commended that the Town Committee continue with the proposed powers for deciding non- executive matters as its members gave exceptional value for money to the residents of the area. She reminded Members that the establishment of a town or parish council would be a costly affair for residents, putting up the precepts considerably.

Following summing up by the proposer of the motion, and upon it being put to the vote, the Chairman declared the Motion carried as a result of more than half of those Members present voting in favour of the Motion.

RESOLVED: That

"This Council agrees that the High Wycombe Town Committee can be granted delegated powers to take decisions in relation to non-executive matters where those delegations are approved by Council; and that the attendance of the Leader of the Council or the Deputy Leader, in their absence, be welcomed at meetings of the High Wycombe Town Committee where any executive decision is proposed."