Agenda item

Consider Motion by Councillor Rowley as detailed in the attached document.  (Copy attached.)

Councillor Rowley, seconded by Councillor Aitchison, moved his Motion as circulated with the agenda in the following terms:-

“Consequent to the resignation of Councillor Haslam last month from the role of Leader, I now propose that Scottish Borders Council approves the following reallocation of responsibilities:–

·                The Executive Member for Economic Regeneration & Finance portfolio title  is changed to the Executive Member for Finance and Budget Oversight

·                The Scheme of Administration is amended to take account of the change in Portfolio title

·                Further amending the Scheme of Administration so that the Chair of the Major Contracts Governance Group is the Executive Member for Finance and Budget Oversight

·                That Councillor Haslam is appointed to the role of Executive Member for Finance and Budget Oversight,with responsibilities for Budget oversight and development.

·                Establishes a new role, being the Executive Member for Homes and Housing. The role is not a Senior Councillor role as defined in the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Regulations 2007 and so does not affect the Scheme of Remuneration.

·                Appoints Councillor Linehan to the role of Executive Member for Homes and Housing.

·                Amends the Scheme of Administration to change the Constitution of the Executive Committee from 11 to 12 Members and adding to the Members list the Executive Member for Homes and Housing.

·                Amends the Scheme of Administration by amending the Constitution of the Sustainability Committee from reading “Nine Members of the Council, being 5 members of the Administration and…” to read “Ten Members of the Council, being 6 members of the Administration and…”

·                Appoints Cllr Rowley, as Leader, to be a Member of that Committee

·                The Leader shall have responsibilities for Economic Development, Regeneration, Tourism, Inward Investment and Broadband & Digital Connectivity

·                Appoints Councillor Rowley as a COSLA representative in place ofCllr Haslam.

·                Appoints Councillor Aitchison to the South of Scotland  Regional Economic Partnership in place of Councillor Haslam

·                Notes that Cllr Rowley, as Leader, is now appointed to the Joint Committee of the Edinburgh and East of Scotland City Region Deal and agrees that he can appoint any Member of the Administrationto be substitute as and when required as permitted by the Joint Committee Standing Orders.

·                Notes that Cllr Rowley, as Leader, is now appointed to attend the Borderlands Partnership Board and agrees that he can appoint any Member of the Administration to be the substitute as required by the Collaboration Agreement.”

Councillor Rowley spoke in support of his Motion.  Councillor Bell, seconded by Councillor H. Anderson, proposed the following amendment:-

Bullet point 8: change to read –

“Amends the Scheme of Administration by amending the Constitution of the Sustainability Committee from reading ‘Nine members of the Council, being 5 members of the Administration and…’ to read “Eleven members of the Council, being 6 members of the Administration and 5 members of the Opposition.”

Bullet point 9: change to read –

“Appoints Councillor Rowley, as Leader, and Councillor Thornton- Nicol to be members of that Committee.”

Councillor Rowley accepted this amendment.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Motion, as amended and as detailed above.