Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR LEGAL AND COMMUNITY AND MONITORING OFFICER

This report seeks approval to appoint a replacement Reserve Independent Person (‘IP’) for a period of up to 4 years (as per the recommendation below), firstly 2 years and potential extension for a further 2 years up to the maximum period, such appointments to take effect from 16 January 2025, following the resignation of Stephen Tant from the role of Reserve IP.

RESOLVED: That Council:

(1)   Appointed Ms Wai Bing Hui as Reserve Independent Person.

N.B. such appointments/ confirmation of continuing appointments under 2.1 be for a fixed term of up to 4 years from 16 January 2025, based on 2-years, with delegation to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Standards Committee to extend for a further 2-years.

(2)   Delegated to the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Standards Committee, the decision (if the current Independent Person decides within term to resign/unable to act/no longer qualifies), to appoint one of the existing Reserve Independent Persons as the Independent Person and/or to undertake any further recruitment, as may be required.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that the Council’s Standards processes can operate in accordance with legislative requirements if one or both IP and Reserve IPs are unable to advise on a matter. This should also allow for a degree of succession planning/ training whilst experienced persons are in place.

Audio recording – 2 hours 52 minutes 21 seconds

Councillor Alistair Willoughby, as Chair of the Standards Committee, presented the report entitled ‘Appointment of Replacement Reserve independent Person’ and advised that:

·       Council was required to have at least one additional Independent Person, and ideally more than one, as this was required where the Independent Person was unavailable or could not consider a matter due to personal interests.

·       The previous Reserve had been appointed at Council in September 2024 but resigned shortly after this appointment.

·       The proposed appointee met the requirements of the role and would be appointed for 2 years, with the potential to extend this by a further 2 years.

As part of the Debate, Councillor Ruth Brown endorsed the recommendation to approve this Reserve Independent Person and although regrettable someone resigned, Ms Hui would bring a different experience and background to the role to strengthen the team.

Councillor Alistair Willoughby proposed and Councillor Ian Albert seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That Council:

(1)   Appointed Ms Wai Bing Hui as Reserve Independent Person.

N.B. such appointments/ confirmation of continuing appointments under 2.1 be for a fixed term of up to 4 years from 16 January 2025, based on 2-years, with delegation to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Standards Committee to extend for a further 2-years.

(2)   Delegated to the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Standards Committee, the decision (if the current Independent Person decides within term to resign/unable to act/no longer qualifies), to appoint one of the existing Reserve Independent Persons as the Independent Person and/or to undertake any further recruitment, as may be required.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that the Council’s Standards processes can operate in accordance with legislative requirements if one or both IP and Reserve IPs are unable to advise on a matter. This should also allow for a degree of succession planning/ training whilst experienced persons are in place.