Agenda item

Report of Monitoring Officer

Purpose of report

To note the results of the by-elections 1 May 2025 district elections and to consider the appointments and allocation of seats on Committees for municipal year 2025/2026 in accordance with the duty under Section 15 Local Government Housing Act 1989, to ensure that this reflects the political make-up of the Council following the elections. The political representation of members on committees needs to be considered on an annual basis.

Recommendations

Council resolves:

1.1         To note the results of the District by-elections held on 1 May 2025.

1.2         To note the constitution of Political Groups and notification of Group Leaders which has been notified in accordance with Regulation 8 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990.

1.3         To note the appointment of the Deputy Leader of the Council, the membership of the Executive and Executive portfolios for the municipal year 2025/2026.

1.4         To agree the allocation of seats on committees that are subject to the political balance requirements as set out in Appendix 2.

1.5         To agree that the allocation of seats on the Licensing Acts Committee reflects the General Licensing Committee.

1.6         To appoint members (and where required, substitute members) to serve on each of the committees in accordance with the nominations made by political groups (Appendix 3 – to follow).

1.7         To appoint a non-Executive representative to the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

1.8         To appoint a representative and named substitute to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

1.9         To appoint a representative and named substitute to the Police and Crime Commissioner Scrutiny Panel.

1.10      To appoint an Executive member representative and an Executive member substitute to the Oxfordshire Leaders Joint Committee.

1.11      That authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officer to make changes required to the Constitution as a result of the changes referred to in this report.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report for Council to note the results of the by-elections held on 1 May 2025 and to consider the appointments and allocation of seats on Committees for the municipal year 2025/2026 in accordance with the duty under Section 15 Local Government Housing Act 1989, to ensure that this reflected the political make-up of the Council following the elections. The political representation of members on committees needed to be considered on an annual basis.

Resolved

(1)            That the results of the district by-elections held on 1 May 2025 be noted.

(2)            That the constitution of Political Groups and notification of Group Leaders which has been notified in accordance with Regulation 8 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 be noted:

·       Liberal Democrat (17 Members, all Liberal Democrat party members)

o   Group Leader: Councillor David Hingley

·       Labour (12 Members, all Labour party and Labour & Co-operative party members)  

o   Group Leader: Councillor Amanda Watkins

·       Cherwell Conservative and Independent Alliance (12 Members, all Conservative Group members and 1 Independent Member, Councillor Ford) 

o   Group Leader: Councillor Eddie Reeves

·       Green and Independent Alliance (5 Members, comprising 4 Green members and 1 Independent Member, Councillor Broad)  

o   Group Leader: Councillor Ian Middleton

·       Independent (2 Members, comprising 2 Independent Members)

o   Group Leader: Councillor Les Sibley

(3)            That the appointment of the Deputy Leader of the Council, the membership of the Executive and Executive portfolios for the municipal year 2025/2026 be noted:

(4)            That the allocation of seats on committees that are subject to the political balance requirements be agreed (Annex to the Minutes, as set out in the Minute Book).

(5)            That it be agreed that the allocation of seats on the Licensing Acts Committee reflects the General Licensing Committee.

(6)            That members (and where required, substitute members) be appointed to serve on each of the committees in accordance with the nominations made by political groups ((Annex to the Minutes, as set out in the Minute Book).

(7)            That Councillor Dorothy Walker be appointed as Cherwell District Council’s representative to the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 2025/2026.

(8)            That Councillor Rob Pattenden be appointed as Cherwell District Council’s representative and Councillor David Hingley be appointed as Cherwell District Council’s named substitute to the Health and Wellbeing Board for the municipal year 2025/2026.

(9)            That Councillor Robert Parkinson be appointed as Cherwell District Council’s appointed representative and Councillor David Hingley be appointed as Cherwell District Council’s substitute to the Police and Crime Commissioner Scrutiny Panel for the municipal year 2025/2026.

(10)        That Councillor David Hingley be appointed at Cherwell District Council’s representative and Councillor Lesley McLean be appointed as Cherwell District Council’s substitute to the Oxfordshire Leaders Joint Committee.

(11)        That authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officer to make changes required to the Constitution as a result of the changes referred to in this report.