a) Overview and scrutiny
Following the debate at full Council on 26 November 2014, Cllr Hilton has requested that further consideration be given to the establishment of an overview and scrutiny committee to look at the fire and rescue service, emergency planning and business continuity.
b) Tied votes
Cllr Hilton has requested that an appropriate amendment is made to the constitution to ensure that the position is clear when there is a tied vote.
Minutes:
82.1 Overview and scrutiny
82.1.2 The Committee noted that following the debate at full Council on 26th November 2014, Cllr Hilton had requested that further consideration be given to the establishment of an overview and scrutiny committee to look at the Fire and Rescue Service, Emergency Planning and Business Continuity.
82.1.3 Cllr Hilton informed the Committee that in his view, items related to the Fire and Rescue Service, Emergency Planning and Business Continuity, were not being given sufficient coverage by the Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee agenda. Another member agreed, commenting that those aspects of the agenda did not fit well under the remit of the Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee as the agenda focused predominantly on highways and waste issues.
82.1.4 Cllr Hilton explained that he believed that if the scrutiny of those services remained within the remit of the Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee, then a mechanism was needed, to ensure those services, received the appropriate level of scrutiny.
82.1.5 The Committee was informed that an officer had undertaken research into the arrangements for scrutiny of the fire and rescue services in other county councils. Of the 12 councils contacted, none had a separate scrutiny committee specifically for the fire and rescue service.
82.1.6 A member expressed the view that whilst he was supportive of the Fire and Rescue Service being effectively scrutinised, he did not believe a separate committee for the Fire and Rescue Service was necessary. He pointed out that Cabinet Members could be held to account on the decisions they took through the Shadow system, and the Chief Fire Officer was often in attendance at the Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee meetings.
82.1.7 A number of members were of the opinion that the most effective way of ensuring matters relating to the Fire and Rescue Service, Emergency Planning and Business Continuity, received the appropriate level of scrutiny, would be for a standing item; i.e. ‘Report from the Chief Fire Officer’, to be included on future Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee agendas.
82.1.8 RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITIES SCRUTINY COMMITTEE that consideration be given to including a standing item on all future Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee agendas; i.e. ‘Report from the Chief Fire Officer’, to enable any relevant issues regarding the Fire and Rescue Service, Emergency Planning and Business Continuity to be considered by the Committee.
82.2 Tied Votes
82.2.1Cllr Hilton explained to the Committee that he believed an appropriate amendment should be made to the Constitution to ensure that the position was made clear in the case of a tied vote.
82.2.2Members of the Committee recognised that a tied vote for the election of Chairman, or a tied vote in the case of a procedural motion relating to the election of Chairman, would happen only very rarely. Members of the Committee were however in support of an explanatory note being added to the Constitution, to specify that if the situation were to arise, then the matter would be dealt with by the toss of a coin.
82.2.3RESOLVED THAT THE MONITORING OFFICER be requested to make the appropriate change to the Constitution under her delegated powers.