Political Management Arrangements
Argyll and Bute Council · 28 September 2023
Back to Argyll and Bute Council — 28 September 2023 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL LEGAL AND REGULATORY SUPPORT 28th September 2023 POLITICAL MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 This report provides an update on the Political Composition of the Council and the various arrangements which will be required following the recent resignation of Donald Kelly as a Councillor for Ward 1, South Kintyre. 1.2 The Council is asked to note the updated political composition of the Council as set out at Appendix 1; to give consideration to the current vacancies on committees and other organisations; and to note that arrangements are being put in place for a by-election in Ward 1, South Kintyre. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Council is asked: a) To note the updated Political Composition of the Council as set out at Appendix 1; b) To give consideration to the current vacancies on committees and other organisations, noting that area-based appointments will be dealt with at the appropriate time by the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee; c) To note that arrangements are being put in place for a by-election in Ward 1, South Kintyre.
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3. DETAIL 3.1 Political Composition of the Council On 25th August 2023, Donald Kelly advised that he was resigning as a Councillor for Ward 1, South Kintyre, with immediate effect, following several years as an elected member for the area. 3.2 Vacancies arising There are a number of vacancies on council committees, external organisations and area-based organisations as a result. Vacancies for the Council’s consideration are - one space on the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee, and one representative position on the A83 Taskforce, an external organisation. The arrangements for the Campbeltown Common Good Fund are that all three Ward 1, South Kintyre elected members shall sit as Fund Trustees. It is assumed that, following the by-election for the vacant seat in Ward 1, the newly elected Councillor will become a Trustee accordingly and that this will be confirmed to the Council. Councillor Kelly was also a trustee of the Kintyre Education Trust, this position will be taken up by the newly Elected Ward 1 Councillor and will be confirmed to the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee. 3.3 By-election, Ward 1, South Kintyre Following the resignation of Donald Kelly on 25th August 2023, the Chief Executive of the Council, as Returning Officer for Argyll and Bute, has instructed arrangements to be made for a by-election for one vacancy in Ward 1, South Kintyre. Polling Day will be Thursday 2nd November 2023 and arrangements will be made for counting of votes to commence immediately following close of poll at 10pm, in Campbeltown. All details about the by-election and the associated election timetable will be updated on the Council’s website at South Kintyre By-Election | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
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4. CONCLUSION 4.1 This report provides an update on the Council’s political composition and an overview of the various arrangements that are required following the resignation of Donald Kelly as a Councillor for Ward 1, South Kintyre. 5. IMPLICATIONS 5.1 Policy – none 5.2 Financial – Administration of a by-election will incur costs to the Council. 5.3 Legal – The Council is required to make arrangements for by-elections in line with national legislation. 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 Douglas Hendry Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support 5th September 2023 For further information please contact Shona Barton on 01436 657605 or by email on shona.barton@argyll-bute.gov.uk
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Appendix 1 Political Composition of Argyll and Bute Council, 28th September 2023 Argyll and Bute Council - Political Composition ARGYLL FIRST (1) Douglas Philand (Ind) * INDEPENDENT (1) Mark Irvine * INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE AND UNIONIST (1) Tommy Macpherson SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY (1) Luna Martin SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY (1) Fiona Howard * SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (12) John Armour * Gordon Blair * Jan Brown * Math Campbell-Sturgess * Audrey E Forrest (Depute Leader, SNP Group) * Willie Hume * Reeni Kennedy Boyle * Jim Lynch (Leader of the Opposition) * Ian James MacQuire * Dougie McFadzean * Julie McKenzie Iain Shonny Paterson * * Member of the Strategic Opposition Partnership (SOP) – an informal partnership arrangement and not a formal political group
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THE ARGYLL, LOMOND AND THE ISLES GROUP (18) Garret Corner (Con) Maurice Corry (Con) Robin Currie (LibDem) Kieron Green (Ind) Amanda Hampsey (Con) Daniel Hampsey (Con) Graham Hardie (LibDem) Andrew Kain (Ind) Paul Donald Kennedy (LibDem) Liz McCabe (Ind) Yvonne McNeilly (Con) (Leader, TALIG) Ross Moreland (LibDem) Gary Mulvaney (Con) Gemma Penfold (Con) Alastair Redman (Ind) William Sinclair (LibDem) Andrew Vennard (Con) Peter Wallace (Con) VACANCY – WARD 1, SOUTH KINTYRE One vacancy – by-election to take place on 2nd November 2023 Note: Con - Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Ind - Independent LibDem - Scottish Liberal Democrat Party