Agenda and minutes

Report by the Returning Officer.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Returning Officer at the Elections held on 4 May 2017.  The report detailed those persons elected to serve as Members of Scottish Borders Council, and highlighted a number of other issues related to the election including resources and media coverage.

DECISION

NOTED the list of Members elected to the Council, a copy of which forms the Appendix to this Minute.

Consider the appointment of the Convener.

The Council considered the appointment of the Convener.  Councillor Mountford, seconded by Councillor Weatherston, moved that Councillor Parker be elected as Convener and this was unanimously approved.  Councillor Bell spoke in support of Councillor Parker’s appointment.  Councillor Parker thanked Members for his appointment and advised how he intended

DECISION

AGREED that Councillor Parker be appointed as Convener of the Scottish Borders Council.

Consider appointment of Leader.

Councillor Ballantyne, seconded by Councillor Aitchison, moved that Councillor Haslam be appointed as Leader of the Council and this was unanimously agreed.

DECISION

AGREED that Councillor Haslam be appointed as Leader of the Council.

MEMBER

Councillor Paterson joined the meeting during consideration of the following item of business.

Consider Motion by Councillor Ballantyne, seconded by Councillor Aitchison.  (Copy attached.)

4.1     Councillor Ballantyne, seconded by Councillor Aitchison, moved an amended version of the Motion circulated with the agenda, a copy of which was tabled at the meeting in the following terms:-

“That Scottish Borders Council approves the following:

(a)     Changes to Senior Councillor Roles (in compliance with the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Regulations 2007) and appointments:

(b)   that the Council continues to adopt an Executive/Scrutiny model of decision making, and that Area Forums are replaced by newly focused Locality Committees with greater powers to make relevant local decisions;

(c)   that the following amendments are made to the Scheme of Administration:

(i)      the existing constitution of the Executive Committee is changed to reflect the Executive Member roles1 to 9 above along with the Council Leader (noting that Opposition Councillors will no longer be Members of the Executive);

(ii)     the Scrutiny Committee is removed and a revised Scrutiny function is added to the functions of the Audit & Risk Committee, with an ad-hoc Scrutiny Sub-Committee appointed as required by the Audit & Risk Committee for particular reviews.

(d)     that the Clerk to the Council, in consultation with the Chief Executive, brings forward an Interim Scheme of Administration for consideration by Council on 25 May 2017, reflecting proposals a) to c) above, on the understanding that a final Scheme of Administration will be considered by Council no later than 30 September 2017.”

4.2     Councillor Ballantyne spoke in support of her Motion.  Councillor Bell, seconded by Councillor Anderson, proposed an amendment to the Motion as follows:-

          “(a)    at paragraph (c) (i) above put a full stop after “….Council Leader”, then delete all of the text in brackets; and

           (b)    at paragraph (c)(ii) above delete all after “….Audit & Risk Committee,” and replace with “to become a combined Audit & Scrutiny Committee.”

4.3     Following a discussion on the various proposals it was unanimously agreed that amendment 4. 2(b) above be accepted.  A vote by show of hands was then taken as follows:-

          Motion as amended       -           19 Votes

          Amendment 4.2(a)        -           10 Votes

          The Motion as amended was accordingly carried.

          DECISION

          DECIDED:

(a)     Changes to Senior Councillor Roles (in compliance with the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Regulations 2007) and appointments:

Consider amended Calendar of Meetings for June 2017.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of an amended Calendar of Meetings for the month of June to take account of the forthcoming General Election and Scottish Parliament By-election.

DECISION

APPROVED the amended Calendar of Meetings which forms Appendix II to the Minute.

Under Section 50B(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the Convener was of the opinion that the item dealt with in the following paragraph should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency, in view of the need to make an early decision.

It was noted that under the terms of the Partnership Agreement that the Council were required to appoint representatives to SESTRAN at their first meeting following the Council elections.  Councillor Haslam, seconded by Councillor Aitchison, moved that Councillors Edgar and Fullarton be appointed and this was unanimously approved.

DECISION

AGREED that Councillors Edgar and Fullarton be appointed as the Council’s representatives on SESTRAN.