Political Management Arrangements
Argyll and Bute Council · 23 February 2023
Back to Argyll and Bute Council — 23 February 2023 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL LEGAL AND REGULATORY SUPPORT 23 FEBRUARY 2023 POLITICAL MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Since the last meeting of Argyll and Bute Council, on 24th November 2022, a number of changes to political management arrangements have arisen. 1.2 The Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Jim Lynch, has notified the Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support that opposition councillors have joined together as the Argyll and Bute Strategic Opposition Partnership and have identified a number of Shadow Policy Leads which are duly notified to Council. 1.3 On 14th December 2022, Cllr Tommy Macpherson indicated his resignation from The Argyll, Lomond and the Isles Group (TALIG) and from the role of Depute Policy Lead for Roads and Transport. The latter role is connected to an appointment to the outside body, the Northern Roads Collaboration, and a vacancy therefore arises on that body as a result. 1.4 Cllr Andrew Vennard advised on 16th December 2022 that he would require to step down from his position as a Council representative on the Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) board with immediate effect. 1.5 Cllr Liz McCabe advised on 2nd February 2023 that she would be stepping down from her position as a Council representative on the Fyne Homes Management Committee with immediate effect. 1.6 The Council is invited to consider what action it wishes to take in light of the vacancies and appointments detailed in the recommendations and report below. 1.7 The Council is asked to note the updated political composition of the Council as set out at Appendix 1. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Council is invited to consider what action it wishes to take in light of the vacancies on the Northern Roads Collaboration and the appointment to the Fyne Homes Management Committee.
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2.2 The Council is asked to note the updated political composition of the Council as set out in Appendix 1, and to note the identification of Shadow Policy Leads by the Argyll and Bute Strategic Opposition Partnership. 3. DETAIL 3.1 Argyll and Bute Strategic Opposition Partnership Cllr Jim Lynch, Leader of the Opposition, has notified the Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support that opposition councillors have joined together as the Argyll and Bute Strategic Opposition Partnership. The Partnership has identified a number of Shadow Policy Leads who are listed below: Portfolio Finance, Economy and Rural Growth Cllr Jim Lynch Cllr Mark Irvine Climate Change and Renewables Cllr Luna Martin Cllr Reeni Kennedy- Boyle Roads, Transport and Amenities Cllr John Armour Cllr Willie Hume Community Planning and Corporate Cllr Gordon Blair Planning and Regulatory Services Cllr Jan Brown Education Cllr Audrey Forrest (Cllr Blair currently deputising) Cllr Math Campbell- Sturgess Health and Care Services Cllr Dougie Philand Cllr Iain Shonny Paterson Housing, Communities, Culture and Sport Cllr Dougie McFadzean Cllr Iain MacQuire 3.2 Cllr Tommy Macpherson Cllr Tommy Macpherson indicated his resignation from The Argyll, Lomond and the Isles Group (TALIG) on 14th December 2022, and also from the role of Depute Policy Lead for Roads and Transport. The Council’s Political Composition has been updated to reflect this change. At the Council meeting on 19th May 2022, Cllr Macpherson was appointed to the Northern Roads Collaboration as a result of his Depute Policy Lead role. There now, therefore, arises a vacancy for one representative on the Northern Roads Collaboration.
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. 3.3 Appointment to Argyll Community Housing Association Board Cllr Andrew Vennard was appointed as one of the Council’s three representatives on the Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) Board at the Council meeting on 19th May 2022. He has now resigned from that position. Further to that, ACHA have advised the Council that in terms of the Regulation of Social Housing (Influence of Local Authorities) (Scotland) Regulations 2018, the percentage of officers of a registered social landlord who are local authority officers may not now exceed 24% of the total number of officers. The consequence of this is that the Council are entitled to 2 representatives on the Board. The Council has nominated Councillors Alastair Redman and Jan Brown to the Board and is not, currently, entitled to any further representation on the Board beyond that number. 3.4 Appointment to Fyne Homes Management Committee Cllr Liz McCabe was appointed as the Council representative on the Fyne Homes Management Committee at the Council meeting on 19th May 2022. She has now resigned from that position. Fyne Homes have advised that as they have housing stock in the Bute, Cowal, Mid Argyll and Kintyre areas they would seek a replacement appointment from a Member representing one of those areas. 3.5 Political Composition of the Council The Political Composition of the Council has been updated to reflect the changes to The Argyll, Lomond and the Isles Group (TALIG) and to include the Argyll and Bute Strategic Opposition Partnership. 4. CONCLUSION 4.1 This report advises Council of a number of changes relating to political management arrangements which have arisen since the last Council meeting. It sets out detail of the vacancies which arise as a result of these changes and invites Council to consider what action it wishes to take in this regard. An update on the Council’s political composition is also provided for noting.
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5. IMPLICATIONS 5.1 Policy – none 5.2 Financial – The Council will incur costs arising from Elected Members’ participation in some meetings, except where the body has 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 Douglas Hendry Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support 16th January 2023 For further information please contact Aileen McNicol on 01546 604014 or by email on aileen.mcnicol@argyll-bute.gov.uk
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Appendix 1 - Political Composition of Argyll and Bute Council, 23rd February 2022 Argyll and Bute Council - Political Composition ARGYLL AND BUTE STRATEGIC OPPOSITION PARTNERSHIP (17) ARGYLL FIRST (2) Donald Kelly (Ind) (Depute Leader of Argyll First) Douglas Philand (Ind) (Leader of Argyll First) INDEPENDENT (1) Mark Irvine 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
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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) NOT AFFILIATED Tommy Macpherson (Ind Conservative and Unionist) Note: Con - Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Ind - Independent LibDem - Scottish Liberal Democrat Party