Political Management Arrangements
Argyll and Bute Council · 26 September 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute Council — 26 September 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL LEGAL AND REGULATORY SUPPORT 26th September 2024 POLITICAL MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 When the Council met on 27th June 2024, it confirmed a number of political management appointments and agreed to consider remaining vacancies following the by-election due to take place in Ward 2, Kintyre and the Islands, on 19th July 2024. 1.2 The Council is asked to give consideration to the vacancies set out in the report below, to note the change to membership of the Budget Working Group and the updated Political Composition of the Council attached at Appendix 1. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Council is invited to consider the vacancies set out at paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3 below; 2.2 The Council is asked to note that Councillor Andrew Vennard has taken up a position on the Budget Working Group following the resignation of Councillor Yvonne McNeilly; 2.3 The Council is asked to give consideration to appointing a Member to the Argyll and Bute Licensing Board; and 2.4 The Council is asked to note the updated Political Composition of the Council attached at Appendix 1. 3. DETAIL 3.1 Background: The passing of Councillor Robin Currie resulted in a number of vacancies on Council committees and external organisations. At the meeting of the Council on 27th June 2024, appointments were made to certain vacancies
Page 2
with other appointments being held over until the by-election for Ward 2, Kintyre and the Islands, had taken place on 19th July 2024. 3.2 Committee Vacancies: There are remaining vacancies and positions on the Council committees noted below: a) Argyll Islands Sounding Board – Vice Chair, one vacancy b) Community Services Committee – one vacancy Councillor Currie was also a member of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee and any councillor subsequently elected will automatically become a member of that committee. 3.3 Appointments to External Organisations: Vacancies remain on the following external organisations: a) West Highland Housing Association Board – one vacancy for a councillor from either the Oban, Lorn and the Isles or Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands areas. b) Clyde, Kintyre and the Islands Ferry Stakeholders Group – one vacancy. c) Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle (ICCI), The Gaelic Centre, Islay – one vacancy. d) SOILLSE, National Network for Gaelic Research Consultative Committee – one vacancy. 3.4 Policy Lead Portfolio Councillor Currie also had the Policy Lead Portfolio for Economic Development, Islands and Rural Communities and Housing. 3.5 Budget Working Group The Leader of the Opposition Group has advised that Councillor Yvonne McNeilly has resigned her position on the Budget Working Group. It is noted that Councillor Andrew Vennard has been nominated to take up that vacant position. 3.6 Argyll and Bute Licensing Board At the meeting of Council held on 25th April 2024 appointments were made to the Licensing Board from the Regulatory Cohort, with 7 Members appointed by the Administration. The remaining 3 positions were offered to the Opposition for appointment, but at that time only 2 of the positions were
Page 3
taken up. Therefore, there is still one vacancy to be filled on the Licensing Board from those Members who are part of the Regulatory Cohort. 3.7 Political Composition of the Council: The updated Political Composition of the Council is provided at Appendix 1 and sets out political group membership and leadership. 4. CONCLUSION 4.1 This report sets out remaining vacancies both within the council and with external organisations and invites Council to consider what action it may wish to take in this regard. It also provides the updated Political Composition of the Council. 5. IMPLICATIONS 5.1 Policy – Appointments to external organisations are in keeping with the Council’s commitment to working in partnership with other agencies to benefit the people and communities of Argyll and Bute. 5.2 Financial – The Council may incur costs relating to elected members’ participation in some meetings, except where an external organisation may have its own allowances scheme. 5.3 Legal – None 5.4 HR – None 5.5 Fairer Scotland Duty - None 5.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics – None 5.5.2 Socio-Economic Duty - None 5.5.3 Islands - None 5.6 Climate Change - None 5.7 Risk – None 5.8 Customer Service – None
Page 4
5.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – None Douglas Hendry Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support 17th September 2024 For further information please contact Shona Barton on 01436 657605 or by email on shona.barton@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Page 5
Appendix 1 - Political Composition of Argyll and Bute Council Argyll and Bute Council - Political Composition ARGYLL FIRST (2) Douglas Philand (Ind) (Leader of Argyll First) * Jennifer Kelly INDEPENDENT (3) Mark Irvine * Andrew Kain * Kieron Green * INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE AND UNIONIST (1) Tommy Macpherson SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY (1) Luna Martin* SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY (1) Fiona Howard * SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS (4) Ross Moreland * (Leader of Scottish Liberal Democrat Group) Graham Hardie * Paul Donald Kennedy * William Sinclair * SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (13) John Armour * Gordon Blair * Jan Brown * Math Campbell-Sturgess *
Page 6
Audrey E Forrest (Depute Leader, SNP Group) * Anne Horn * Willie Hume * Reeni Kennedy Boyle * Jim Lynch (Leader of the SNP Group) * Ian James MacQuire * Dougie McFadzean * Julie McKenzie* Iain Shonny Paterson * * Member of the Administration Partnership The Argyll, Lomond and the Isles Group (TALIG) (11) Garret Corner (Con) Maurice Corry (Con) Amanda Hampsey (Con) Daniel Hampsey (Con) Liz McCabe (Ind) Yvonne McNeilly (Con) Gary Mulvaney (Con) (Leader, TALIG) Gemma Penfold (Con) Alastair Redman (Ind) Andrew Vennard (Con) Peter Wallace (Con) Note: Con - Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Ind - Independent