The Council are asked to agree any changes to the appointments made to committees and outside bodies, statutory and other panels, as requested by Group Leaders.

The Mayor enquired whether Group Leaders wished for any changes to be made to the appointments previously made to Committees and outside bodies, statutory and other panels.

The Leader of the Council apologised that Councillor Brookes was not in attendance to present his Communities and Public Protection Cabinet Member Report and answer the questions that had been submitted. The Leader of the Council remarked that this, combined with his non-attendance at the previous meeting, was unacceptable and as a result declared that Councillor Pothecary would replace Councillor Brookes as Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Protection.

As a result of the appointment of Councillor Pothecary to the Cabinet, the Leader of the Council informed the Chamber that he wished to make the following changes:

·         for Councillor Kerin to be appointed as a member of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee to replace Councillor Pothecary.

·         for Councillor Liddiard to be appointed as a member of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to replace Councillor Pothecary.

·         for Councillor Pothecary to be removed from the membership of the Licensing Committee, and for the appointment to the Labour vacancy created to be confirmed at a later date.

As a result of the appointment of Councillor Kerin to the membership of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, he would thereby cease to be a substitute for that Committee.

The Leader of the Conservative Group confirmed that he did not wish to make any changes to appointments that had previously been made.

The Leader of the UKIP group informed the Chamber that he wished to make the following change, in light of the resignation of Councillor Churchman from the UKIP group:

·         for Councillor Churchman to be removed from the membership of the Planning Committee, and for the appointment to the UKIP vacancy created to be confirmed at a later date.

At 7.27 pm there was a disturbance from the Public Gallery, during which the Mayor warned the person concerned not to interrupt, when the individual continued to do so he was removed from the meeting.

Councillor Ray, Independent Member, confirmed that he did not wish to make any changes to appointments that had previously been made but advised that changes would be made at the next Council meeting.

The Mayor advised that she had accepted a request from Councillor Churchman to make a short statement.

Councillor Churchman thanked the Mayor for allowing him to make a short statement in light of his recent resignation from the UKIP group. Councillor Churchman explained the reason for his resignation was because he felt that the leader of the group had tried to use his influence and position to interfere with his work and as a result advised that he had decided to resign in order to maintain his integrity.

The Mayor permitted Councillor Snell, Leader of the UKIP Group the right to reply.

In response Councillor Snell, Leader of the UKIP Group, stated that he had consulted with the Monitoring Officer and was confident that he had neither said anything unreasonable to Councillor Churchman nor made any unreasonable requests of him. He said that as had been reported in the press, the group had hoped to benefit of Councillor Churchman’s years of experience, but it proved difficult to do so as Councillor Churchman refused to attend meetings to resolve some of the issues which he had felt strongly about. Councillor Snell observed that communication was important and that a failure to communicate nearly always resulted badly.

Councillor Snell accepted that he and Councillor Churchman did not agree regarding the decision that had been exercised by Councillor Churchman, and whilst recognising that Councillor Churchman’s resignation was on a point of principle and a courageous thing to do, he called on Councillor Churchman to act again on a point of principle and do what he believed would be the courageous thing to do, to put his seat up for a by-election in order for the residents of Stanford East and Corringham Town to have their say on the matter.

Members voted unanimously in favour of the changes to Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies, Statutory and Other Panels.

RESOLVED:

1.         That Councillor Kerin be appointed as a member of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee to replace Councillor Pothecary; and thereby for Councillor Kerin to be removed as a substitute for that Committee.

2.         That Councillor Liddiard be appointed as a member of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to replace Councillor Pothecary.

3.         That Councillor Pothecary be removed from the membership of the Licensing Committee, and for the appointment to the Labour vacancy created to be confirmed at a later date.

4.         That Councillor Churchman be removed from the membership of the Planning Committee, and for the appointment to the UKIP vacancy created to be confirmed at a later date.

Addendum to the Minutes:

Subsequent to the meeting it was clarified that Councillor Liddiard should have also been appointed as Vice-Chair of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, following his replacement of Councillor Pothecary as Member and Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Group Leaders were consulted and for clarity it was agreed for Councillor Liddiard to be appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to replace Councillor Pothecary, ahead of the next meeting scheduled for September.

5.         That Councillor Liddiard be appointed Vice-Chair of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to replace Councillor Pothecary.