Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded that this meeting will be audio-recorded.

Members were reminded that the meeting would be audio-recorded.

There were no apologies for absence received.

Members are reminded that the Members’ Code of Conduct requires the disclosure of Statutory Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Non-Statutory Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Disclosable Non-Pecuniary Interests.

There were no declarations of Members’ interests.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Governance and Constitution Committee held on 4^th July 2018.

RESOLVED: That

[1]       the minutes of the meeting of the Governance and Constitution Committee held on Wednesday 4^th July 2018 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Director of Governance and Commissioning introduced the report which asked Members to extend the benefit of the existing dispensations to a new Member of the Fire Authority.

Appendix 1 to the report contained a copy of the legislation and Appendix 2 to the report contained an extract which explained the rationale for the granting of the original dispensations.

The Director of Governance and Commissioning informed the Committee that Councillor Beverly Dooley had requested the dispensations be extended so that she could benefit from them.

RESOLVED: That

[1]      the dispensations granted to Fire Authority Members on 5^th October 2016 be extended to benefit Councillor Beverley Dooley, thereby allowing her to take part in debates and votes on the setting of the Council Tax precept and the approval of the Members’ Allowances Scheme (and any changes and/or additions to it).

The Director of Governance and Commissioning introduced the report which was intended to allow Members to consider the Members’ Allowances Scheme and make a recommendation to the Fire Authority about the Scheme for 2019-20.

The Members’ Allowances Scheme was reviewed with the assistance of a member of Cheshire East’s Independent Remuneration Panel in 2016-17. The Members’ Allowances Scheme had been based on the outcome of that review for 2017-18 and 2018-19. No increase was applied in 2018-19.

Members were satisfied with the current draft of the Members’ Allowance Scheme 2019-20 and felt an uplift should be included in 2019-20.

RESOLVED: That

[1]       the Members’ Allowance Scheme for 2019-20 as drafted be presented to the Fire Authority.

The Director of Governance and Commissioning introduced a report which allowed Members to consider an initial draft of guidance on the use of social media prior to it being distributed more widely for comment.

The issue was discussed informally by members of the Governance and Constitution Committee earlier this year. Members felt that a short guidance document would be appropriate and could sit alongside the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Members commended the document for its conciseness. It was suggested that the document should be reviewed annually. Members were satisfied that the document could be circulated more widely for further comment.

RESOLVED: That

[1]      the guidance on the use of social media for Members, as currently drafted, be widely circulated for further comment.