Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer

The report reviews the appointment of Council Champions for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider:

•           The proposed process for appointing ‘Champions’ as set out in section 3 above.

•           The proposed ‘Protocol on Member Champions’ as set out in Appendix 1

•           The proposed ‘Role of Member Champions’ as set out in Appendix 2

Officer Contact: Craig Ainsworth on 0161 474 3204 or email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) reviewing the appointment of Council Champions for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

The report (i) proposed process for appointing ‘Champions’ as set out in section 3 of the report, (ii) proposed a ‘Protocol on Member Champions’ as set out in Appendix 1and (iii) proposed ‘Role of Member Champions’ as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

It was reported that the Constitution Working Party held on 8 February 2017, had supported the proposals in the report, subject to:-

·         Executive Councillors not being appointed as Council Champions if the subject area falls within their portfolio.

·         the promotion of Council Champions on the Council’s website.

·         the Leader of the Council being authorised to agree any additional Council Champions during the course of a Municipal Year.

The Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         The roles of ‘Council Champion for Armed Forces (Community Covenant) and Armed Forces Veterans could be combined and consideration should be given to this being a Councillor rather than an officer.

·         There seemed to be no rationale for linking LGBT and Equality together under the same Council Champion or for having two champions for the same issue.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations of the Constitution Working Party be supported.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer

The report reviews the appointment of Council Champions for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

The Constitution Working Party is requested to consider:

•           The proposed process for appointing ‘Champions’ as set out in section 3 above.

•           The proposed ‘Protocol on Member Champions’ as set out in Appendix 1

•           The proposed ‘Role of Member Champions’ as set out in Appendix 2

Officer Contact: Craig Ainsworth on 0161 474 3204 or email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) reviewing the appointment of Council Champions for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED  -That Working Party recommends that the proposed process for appointing Council Champions, the draft protocol on Council Champions and the role of Council Champions, as set out in the report, be approved, subject to:-

• Executive Councillors not being appointed as Council Champions if the subject area falls within their portfolio.
• the promotion of Council Champions on the Council’s website.
• the Leader of the Council being authorised to agree any additional Council Champions during the course of a Municipal Year.