Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the Head of Governance.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the report on the Review of Appointments to Outside Bodies.

Members were advised that the Leader of the Council had requested the review following the reduction in the council size from 45 to 32 councillors at the last election. It was emphasised that none of the proposals affected appointments that were considered to have a strategic importance or involved the Council’s statutory responsibilities. In most cases it was expected that trustees would make alternative arrangements from within their local communities to replace those appointments previously made by the Council.

The importance of the expertise brought to the Dover Bronze Age Boat Trust by the Council’s nominee was raised but this could be dealt with through the trustees directly appointing Mr Richardson at the expiry of his term of appointment from the Council. In addition, as the Bronze Age Boat was located within the Dover Museum the Council would continue to be involved with its future in other ways.

Members expressed the view that there were many suitably qualified alternative trustees from within the local community for the outside bodies in question.

RESOLVED:         That it be recommended to Cabinet that the recommendations set out at Appendix 1 to the report be approved, in particular that the appointments to Age Concern Deal (Liaison Committee), Dover Bronze Age Boat Trust and Dover District Volunteering Centre should be withdrawn with effect from May 2020, and that the appointments to Dover, Deal & District Citizens’ Advice Bureau and Mary Hougham Almshouses should be reduced to one Member with effect from May 2020.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Governance.

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

It was agreed that the recommendations set out at Appendix 1 to the report be approved, notably that the appointments to Age Concern Deal (Liaison Committee), the Dover Bronze Age Boat Trust and the Dover District Volunteering Centre be withdrawn with effect from May 2020, and that the appointments to the Dover, Deal & District Citizens’ Advice Bureau and Mary Hougham Almshouses be reduced to one Member with effect from May 2020.