Agenda item

The Council received a report on the review of the allocation of seats on committees, which had been conducted following the outcome of the Tillingbourne By-Election on 20 October 2022, which had resulted in the election of Councillor Richard Morris.  Notice in writing had been received from Councillor Morris that he wished to be treated as a member of the Guildford Liberal Democrat group on the Council.  The review had also taken into account receipt of notice in writing dated 9 November 2022 from Councillor Tony Rooth that, with immediate effect, he no longer wished to be treated as a member of the Residents for Guildford and Villages group and wished to be regarded as an independent member. 

Consequently, the political balance on the Council was now:

Guildford Liberal Democrats: 17

Residents for Guildford and Villages: 14

Conservatives: 8

Guildford Greenbelt Group: 4

Labour: 2 

Independent: 2

Green: 1

Under Council Procedure Rule 23, whenever there was a change in the political constitution of the Council, the Council must, as soon as reasonably practicable, review the allocation of seats on committees to political groups.

The report included a suggested numerical allocation of seats on committees to political groups that would best meet, as far as reasonably practicable, the requirements for political balance. 

Upon the motion of the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Joss Bigmore, seconded by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Julia McShane, the Council

RESOLVED: That the numerical allocation of seats on committees to each political group on the Council, and to the two independent members, and the single Green Party member, as shown in Appendix 5 to the report submitted to the Council and set out below, be approved for the remainder of the 2022-23 municipal year.

Reason:

To enable the Council to comply with Council Procedure Rule 23 in respect of its obligation under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 to ensure political proportionality on its committees.