Issue - meetings

The report before the Council dealt with the governance arrangements for the Sheerwater Regeneration Scheme.  In May 2019 the Council had agreed to disband the Sheerwater Regeneration Project Board and replace it with a Sheerwater Regeneration Delivery Board.  The Sheerwater Regeneration Oversight Panel would continue in its role, focusing on the social, environmental and economic issues for the residents and businesses in Sheerwater.  Group Leaders had subsequently proposed that the Oversight Panel should be disbanded and that the Delivery Board should explore expanding its remit to include those matters previously overseen by the Oversight Panel.  The report formally recommended that the Oversight Panel should be disbanded and that its responsibilities should be transferred to the Delivery Board.

Councillor Barker moved and Councillor Aziz seconded the following amendments to the recommendation:

(i)      The relevant responsibilities of the Sheerwater Regeneration Oversight Panel and Sheerwater Regeneration Delivery Board be combined in a new Sheerwater delivery and oversight panel.

(ii)      The terms of reference for a new Sheerwater delivery and oversight panel be provided to councillors by Friday 6 September.

(iii)     The chair of the new panel to be an opposition member.

(iv)     The Portfolio Holder for the Development to be an ex-officio member of the panel

Councillor Bittleston welcomed the proposals.  The Council was advised that, if the proposals were agreed, draft terms of reference would be prepared and circulated to Group Leaders and Deputy Group Leaders for agreement.  The proposals would be based on a membership of 7, comprising 3 Conservative Councillors, 2 Liberal Democrat Councillors, 1 Labour Councillor and 1 Independent Councillor.  The Chairman of the new Group would be elected at the first meeting, and non-member Ward Councillors for Canalside would be able to attend.

RESOLVED

That  (i)    the relevant responsibilities of the Sheerwater Regeneration Oversight Panel and Sheerwater Regeneration Delivery Board be combined in a new Sheerwater Delivery and Oversight Panel;

          (ii)   the terms of reference for a new Sheerwater Delivery and Oversight Panel be provided to Councillors by Friday 6 September;

          (iii)  the Chair of the new Panel to be an opposition member; and

          (iv)  the Portfolio Holder for the Development to be an ex-officio member of the Panel.