Issue - meetings

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Barker, introduced the recommendation of the Executive which sought to strengthen the Council’s oversight and governance of its companies.  The Executive had agreed to replace the Shareholder Advisory Group with the Shareholder Executive Committee, and the Council was now invited to agree the necessary changes to the Constitution.  The new Committee would comprise of the Executive and an independent Co-Opted Member and would have scheduled public meetings.

The proposals were welcomed and Councillor Barker responded to the points raising during the debate.

reSOLVED

That Part 6 of the Council’s Constitution be amended as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

Reporting Person – Kevin Foster

The Executive received a report which set out proposals to further strengthen the Council’s oversight and governance of its companies.  Following changes to the governance of Council companies approved by Council in July 2022, further detailed work was undertaken as part of the Improvement and Recovery Plan which led to the Executive adopting the Companies’ Governance Framework at its meeting on 16 November 2023.  As part of the Council’s continuous improvement, it was proposed to replace the Shareholder Advisory Group (SAG) with a formal Shareholder Executive Committee (SEC) in order to enhance, improve and strengthen governance.  The SEC would comprise of the Executive and an Independent Co-opted Member, and would have scheduled public meetings in order to increase transparency.  It was noted that Part Two commercially confidential matters would be kept to a minimum.  Practical issues were raised such as the increase in face-to-face meetings, and resource requirements to properly manage the SEC.

Following a question on Appendix 2, it was clarified that COE referred to Council Owned Entities.

RESOLVEd

That  (i)    the Shareholder Advisory Group cease to exist as a group and the Shareholder Executive Committee be established as its replacement;

          (ii)   the Terms of Reference for the new Committee, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved; and

recommended to Council

That Part 6 of the Council’s Constitution be amended as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

Reason:   Establishing a new Committee will formalise arrangements for the oversight and governance of the Council’s companies in the interests of accountability and transparency.