The Monitoring Officer presented a report, which sought approval for the appointment of Overview and Scrutiny Committees and such other Committees, Sub-Committees, Panels and other bodies as the Council considers appropriate, to deal with matters which are neither reserved to full Council nor are executive functions.

Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution entitled Responsibility for Council Functions, sets out the Council’s Committees, Sub-Committees, Panels and other bodies currently in place.  Detailed below are certain Committees, some of which are governed by provisions of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, in terms of their composition and/or appointment of Chairpersons. 

The Measure made a number of requirements in relation to the Audit Committee’s membership, including Lay Membership and the appointment of the Chairperson. The Chairperson under the Measure is required to be appointed by the Audit Committee at its first scheduled meeting which is scheduled for 28 June 2018. In terms of the Lay Membership of this Committee, the current Lay Member Ms J Williams was reappointed for a further term at the Annual Meeting of Council on 17^th May 2017, and in accordance with the Measure, she is allowed to do a maximum of two terms on the Committee in this capacity. 

 The Standards Committee comprises eight members, namely:-

            Four Independent Members (No current vacancies);

            Two County Borough Council Members (Two vacancies);

            Two Town/Community Council Members (One vacancy);

There is currently a vacancy for a Town and Community Councillor on the Standards Committee, and it was therefore recommended that delegated power be granted to the Monitoring Officer to undertake any necessary processes to facilitate and appoint a Town and Community Council representative onto the Standards Committee.

The Council currently has in place an Appointments Committee in order to interview and appoint JNC level staff, which includes designated positions such as the Chief Executive, Directors and Heads of Service.  The membership of this Committee is as detailed below:-

·          Leader (Chairperson)

·          Deputy Leader

·          Cabinet Member (of relevant portfolio to the post)

·          1 x Conservative Member

·          1 x Independent Member

·          1 x Plaid Cymru Member

The Appointments Committee will also facilitate the JNC Determination and JNC Appeals Panels.  These will comprise of 3 members each with the Leader or Deputy Leader chairing the panel, supported by 1 representative each from the Conservative and Independent groups. Substitution of Appointments Committee members is permissible but only for the

whole of an appointments process. The JNC Panels cannot be substituted and must be comprised from the original membership of the Appointments Committee.

The Measure also established procedures whereby Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairs are nominated and appointed.  The Measure requires that as a minimum the Chairpersons of these Committees be appointed based on the size and political balance of each of the groups that make up the Council.  In line with the political composition of the Council, and the formula used under the Local Government Measure with regard to the allocation of Overview and Scrutiny Chairs, these should be allocated to the following political  ...  view the full minutes text for item 186