Agenda item

Executive Working Groups 2023

Decision:

1. That the working groups recommended to continue as specified in Appendix 1 and listed in paragraph 2.1 of the report submitted to the Executive, be retained and that those working groups continue to operate under the terms of reference and membership as set out in Appendices 2 to 9.

2. That, where membership of those working groups listed to continue do not have full membership, the appropriate lead councillor shall liaise with group leaders to fill those vacancies.

3. That the Community Board be disbanded.

4. That the draft terms of reference for the new Financial Recovery Executive Working Group, as set out in Appendix 9, be approved.

Reasons:

1. To assist the Executive to select or set up appropriate, properly resourced groups to provide support or undertake work on its behalf.

2. To comply with the requirement on the part of the Executive to periodically review the continuation of the various Working Groups in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 24 (k).

3. The Community Board, this group has not met since being created and has made no contribution.

4. To comply with the recommendations of the Council meeting on 25 July 2023.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

Minutes:

The Executive or individual lead councillors could convene working groups to undertake more detailed and extensive business than the Executive by itself would have time to undertake. Such working groups were non-decision making and would report back to the Executive as appropriate. The Council’s Constitution stated that the Executive should annually consider the continuation of such working groups. Where there was a preference for certain working groups to continue, the Executive was asked to agree in respect of each group, the chairman, the terms of reference, and to appoint councillors to them.

The Executive considered the annual report that set out all of the existing working groups with a recommendation if they should continue or be disbanded.

This year, the Executive was asked to continue with all working groups except for one. The Community Board was recommended for deletion as it had never met and consequently had not made any contribution. The Executive was asked to agree to one new working group, which was referred to in the Budget Update report to Council on 25 July. This was the Financial Recovery Executive Working Group, and its draft terms of reference were set out in Appendix 9.

It was noted that although the membership of Executive working groups was at the discretion of the Executive, the Executive as a body and lead councillors strove to appoint membership of the groups across the political parties so as include the skills and experience available across the council member. The Executive was minded that political inclusion to best serve those working groups would be expected by residents. The Leader of the Council encouraged elected councillors of any political persuasion to come forward should they wish to be involved. Thereafter, the Executive,

RESOLVED: