Agenda item

The Council is requested to consider the report and its appendix and make the following recommendations:

 

2.1 That the Council do not amend the timing of statutory meetings.

 

2.2  That the Calendar of Meetings for 2024/25 (as set out in the Appendix 2) be approved.

The Chair invited Cllr Moss to introduce the item and his amendment. Mr Bennett was then invited to comment on the report.

 

Some members commented that scheduling meetings in the evening could have a detrimental effect on council engagement, specifically parents with young children who may find it difficult to attend council meetings in the evening. It was also noted that hosting meetings in the evenings could exclude people who have to commute from far distances. In addition it was noted that a guillotine of 9.30pm could result in excluding Questions to the Executive being heard on a regular basis.

 

Many members however agreed with the proposed amendment motion and stated that they often struggled to attend daytime meetings due to work commitments. Additionally, some members mentioned that a mixed hybrid approach if the law allowed would go further.

 

Members in favour of the amendment commented that a move to an evening meeting would be more inclusive.

 

Cllr Moss was invited to sum up his amendment motion.

 

Cllr Hickson proposed that the Housing and Communities Panel be held in person rather than online which was seconded by Cllr Briscoe. The Chair of the Panel Cllr Betts was in agreement so it was agreed to include this amendment in the substantive vote below.

 

Following a call for a recorded vote in the line with the Constitution Mrs Shepherd then carried out a recorded vote on the amendment motion. The results were as follows:

 

a)    That Council amend the start time for Full Council to 6pm.

 

Cllr Apel – For

Cllr Ballantyne – For

Cllr Bangert – For

Cllr Bates – Absent

Cllr Betts – For

Cllr Boulcoutt – For

Cllr Brisbane – For

Cllr Briscoe – Against

Cllr Brookes-Harmer – Absent

Cllr Brown – For

Cllr Brown-Fuller – Absent

Cllr Burkhart – Against

Cllr Burton – For

Cllr Chant – Absent

Cllr Chilton  – For

Cllr Corfield– Absent

Cllr Cross - For

Cllr Desai – For

Cllr Evans – For

Cllr Hamilton – Against

Cllr Hastain – Absent

Cllr Hickson – For

Cllr Hobbs – Against

Cllr Donna Johnson – For

Cllr Stephen Johnson – For

Cllr Timothy Johnson – For

Cllr Moss - For

Cllr Newbery – For

Cllr O’Kelly – For

Cllr Potter – Against

Cllr Quail – For

Cllr Sharp – Absent

Cllr Todhunter – For

Cllr Vivian – Absent

Cllr Weller – For

Cllr Young – Against

 

For = 22

Against = 6

Absent = 8

 

b)    a guillotine shall apply to Full Council at 9.30pm.

 

Cllr Apel – Against

Cllr Ballantyne – Against

Cllr Bangert – Against

Cllr Bates – Absent

Cllr Betts – For

Cllr Boulcoutt – For

Cllr Brisbane – For

Cllr Briscoe – Against

Cllr Brookes-Harmer – Absent

Cllr Brown – For

Cllr Brown-Fuller – Absent

Cllr Burkhart – Against

Cllr Burton – For

Cllr Chant – Absent

Cllr Chilton  – Against

Cllr Corfield– Absent

Cllr Cross - For

Cllr Desai – For

Cllr Evans – For

Cllr Hamilton – Against

Cllr Hastain – Absent

Cllr Hickson – For

Cllr Hobbs – Against

Cllr Donna Johnson – For

Cllr Stephen Johnson – For

Cllr Timothy Johnson – For

Cllr Moss - For

Cllr Newbery – For

Cllr O’Kelly – For

Cllr Potter – Against

Cllr Quail – For

Cllr Sharp – Absent

Cllr Todhunter – For

Cllr Vivian – Absent

Cllr Weller – For

Cllr Young – For

 

For = 19

Against = 9

Absent = 8

 

A vote was then taken for recommendations 1.C and 2.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.    That:

 

a) The Council amend the start time for Full Council to 6pm.

b) A guillotine shall apply to Full Council at 9.30pm.

c) The Council do not amend the timing of any other statutory meetings.

 

2.    That the Calendar of Meetings for 2024/25 (as set out in Appendix 2) as amended be approved subject to the above modifications.