Full Council: AGM

Committees - who sits on what?

Photo: Ebley Mill from top of Ash Lane

Have not long got home after a marathon Council meeting - the AGM - so it is where committees get decided - I will be moving from Development Control (planning) to a Scrutiny committee - the committee sizes have been reduced so that Greens only have one seat on DCC now - a pity as it took a while for me to get the hang of it - however it is all very useful and doesn't mean my interest in planning is ended at all - I am looking forward to challenge of scrutinising Council stuff - planning is likely to be included in that - some of scrutuiny has remained a mystery so it is time I got immersed in that and learnt more about what can be achieved - more of that in a future blog.

The committee memberships will all be on the Council website. Most of the decisions are not a surprise as the Tories hold the majority and can effectively decide who sits where. Opposition parties have too small numbers and as yet are not that effective at working together - even if we were the Tories still have 31 seats to our 20.

Constitution?

One of the other big items was the Councils constitution - this provoked much debate about whether enough consultation had taken place - the changes were largely minor and in fact improved most of it.

However there was an item to reduce the powers of ward councillors - the proposal was to allow them to bring items to the Development Control Committee only if agreed by Chair or Vice Chair. I have to say I strongly objected to this and indeed made many phone calls today to Officers and various members to have the item withdrawn.

Firstly there will be a perception that our democratic process are being tampered with and powers being reduced - in fact this is not as great as it appears but it still is a change. Secondly it could give the appearance of making the committee political as the Chair and Vice would both be from the administration - what if they refused to consider all applications from opposition parties? The current DCC Chair and Vice were both reelected and I have no doubts about their integrity but future appointments may be different. Lastly a point I raised with the solicitor was that the proposed change may in fact be unlawful as 2 people making a decision can constitute a committee and that leads us into all sorts of other rules. The solicitor was unable to get full advice on this and I suspect other councillors also had expressed concerns so the Portfolio holder for Planning withdrew that part of the proposed Constitution change. We will need to remain watchful - but also it is clear that the system does need improving - I consider there is enough room to do that in the existing Constitution.

Revised Mandatory Code of Member Conduct?

Another vote - 3 Greens voted against - lone voices in a protest that if this wasn't passed the Government planned to implement it anyway. As I've noted before local councils should be having more powers not less.

Smoking litter Motion withdrawn

Another item I had been following up was re the policy of the Council to the new legislation re smoking (see my blog 11th May) - have been surprised how people who should know didn't know about the Defras guidelines - 'Preventing Cigarette Litter in England' - in fact when the motion came to Council it was withdrawn as the proposer felt Council was now developing a strategy that would take account of his concerns.

An astonishing 122 tonnes of cigarette litter is dropped daily in England - when Ireland introduced the ban that rose by a fifth - clearly the long term hope is that this will reduce as smokers kick the habit - but in the short term it looks like we'll have more litter to deal with...

One of the points I was planning to make was that already all businesses have had 2 letters re the legislation - the Defra guidelines do say the Council could send another - this motion however was only for pubs, restaurants and cafes asking them to put out ashtrays - why not all businesses and if you are going to write then we should also help businesses - some businesses struggle to stay afloat - here is more legislation, all be it good, that means more work for businesses - a letter should include advice on placement, design and visibility of ashtrays - all crucial in making them work - dedicated ashtrays, easy to clean, clear signage etc plus advice re listed buildings and legal responsibilities.

Exempt session

There were various other items incl a tribute to Cllr Sybil Bruce who had been Chair of Council for 9 years, a plaque for Sheffies 33 years and other bits but the last item was closed to public. Basically to do with the dispute re UNISON and the Council. No doubt more of that when restrictions on reporting are lifted - but time for bed now.....