Decision details

51.1   The Committee was reminded that at its last meeting it had asked for a more detailed report on substitution with a view to considering whether to recommend the a system to allow substitutes at select committee meetings. 

51.2   Members considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance which set out why the previous system of substitutes on select committees had been abolished in 2005, how to establish substitution and also contained an option for presuming that a member could speak at a select committee if that member’s political group would otherwise be unrepresented (copy appended to the signed minutes).

51.3   The Committee considered the two possible approaches set out in section 2 of the report and supported the proposal set out in paragraph 2.2 that there should be a mechanism of formal substitution on select committees.

51.4   Members recommended that there should be one named substitute per political group for each select committee and that substitutes should automatically receive papers for each meeting, irrespective of whether they were likely to be called on to substitute.

51.5   Members noted that the Constitutional changes required to put the proposals into effect would be taken to the next meeting of the County Council in February for approval.  The Committee supported the introduction of the new system with immediate effect after the Council meeting and therefore asked that nominations for substitutes be sought for approval at the same meeting.

51.6  Resolved – That the County Council be recommended that a system of formal substitutes be introduced for select committees, with one named member per political group for each select committee, to be adopted with immediate effect.