To receive nominations, in accordance with Standing Order 25(6), in respect of any proposed changes in the membership of committees, and to approve nominations for appointments to outside organisations.

1.  Councillor Walter Smith sadly passed away on 9 November, 2017. As a result, the following vacancies have arisen and will require consideration at Council.

Committees

·  Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny

Statutory and Advisory Committees, Working Parties and Panels

·  Education Staff Panel

·  Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education

·  Young People’s Advisory Group

·  Members’ Development Steering Group

2.  Appointments to Outside Bodies

Leasowe Community Homes (Prima LCH)

Councillor Adrian Jones to be nominated for consideration by Prima LCH as a Director

3.  The Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee, at its meeting on 20 November, 2017, considered a report on the appointment of four independent persons to sit on its Committee (minute and report attached). The Council is recommended to approve the appointment of:

Mr G Kerr, Mr J R McCosh, Ms Angele Lloyd Prince and Mr A Wilson

for a period of four years.

In accordance with Standing Order 25(6) the Council was requested to deal with the following matters in respect of the membership of committees and appointments to outside organisations.

The Civic Mayor referred to the recent sad passing of Councillor Walter Smith and as a result, the following vacancies had arisen which would require consideration. She paid tribute to Councillor Walter Smith for all the work he had undertaken for the Authority and expressed how much the Council would miss him.

At the request of the Leader and at the invitation of the Civic Mayor, Councillor Christina Muspratt then addressed the Council and paid a warm and fulsome tribute to her dear friend Councillor Walter Smith, who had always treated all people fairly and decently.

Councillors Phil Davies and Ian Lewis also added their tributes.

COMMITTEES

Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Jerry Williams replacing former Councillor Walter Smith and Councillor Christina Muspratt replacing Councillor Jerry Williams as deputy.

STATUTORY AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES, WORKING PARTIES AND PANELS

Education Staff Panel

Councillor Chris Meaden replacing former Councillor Walter Smith and Councillor Julie McManus replacing Councillor Chris Meaden as deputy.

Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education

Councillor Brian Kenny replacing former Councillor Walter Smith and Councillor Tony Jones replacing Councillor Brian Kenny as deputy.

Young People’s Advisory Group

Councillor Warren Ward replacing former Councillor Walter Smith.

Members’ Development Steering Group

Councillor Brian Kenny replacing former Councillor Walter Smith.

Further appointments were requested as follows:

·  OUTSIDE BODIES

Leasowe Community Homes (Prima LCH)

Councillor Adrian Jones be nominated for consideration by Prima LCH as a Director

·  The Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee, at its meeting on 20 November, 2017 (minute 25 refers), considered a report on the appointment of four independent persons to sit on its Committee and the Council was recommended to approve the appointment of:

Mr G Kerr, Mr J R McCosh, Ms Angela Lloyd Prince and Mr A Wilson.

Resolved – That all the above appointments and nominations be approved.

The Interim Assistant Director: Law and Governance introduced a report on the appointment of Independent Persons to sit on the Committee.

In 2012 four Independent Person appointments were made but two had since resigned. There remained two Independent Persons who sat on the Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee and Panel as their term of office had been subsequently extended until 15 July 2020. 

A further recruitment exercise was approved by the Committee at its meeting on 5 December, 2016 (minute 23 refers) with the aim of appointing more Independent Persons because it was recognised that there were benefits to having independent voices on the Committee and its Panel, as Elected Members could take advantage of their expertise and experience. Therefore, it was considered very important to build up the pool of Independent Persons that could be called upon to assist the Council with Standards matters etc. and so increase resilience.

Independent Persons could also be requested to offer advice in respect of complaints made against Elected Members and could be called upon in the event of the proposed dismissal of the Head of Paid Service, Monitoring Officer or Chief Finance Officer in accordance with their statutory role.

The report updated the Committee on the recruitment of Independent Persons. The Selection Panel, consisting of Councillors David Elderton, Phil Gilchrist and Moira McLaughlin met on 14 September 2017 and interviewed four candidates. All four were deemed worthy of selection, subject to satisfactory references.

A Member suggested that a brief biography of each of the new independent members could be published on the website and the Interim Assistant Director: Law and Governance agreed that he would ask if they were agreeable to this.

Resolved - That this Committee approves all four potential Independent Persons for recommendation to the Council for appointment, as follows:

·  Mr G Kerr

·  Mr JR McCosh

·  Ms Angele Lloyd Prince

·  Mr A Wilson