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Matter for
Decision
The City Council appointed two Councillors to the Clay Farm (Joint
Venture Company) as directors of the company. The third director is a County
Councillor.
The decision to appoint Directors was deferred from 28 May 2015 so that
officers could take advice on how to address the change in circumstances now
that Andy Blackhurst was no longer a city councillor. Advice had now been
received and the Executive Councillor decided to replace him as a director with
another appointee. Former Councillor Blackhurst had been informed of this
intention. The ruling group wished to have two Labour City Councillors as
directors.
Decision
of Executive Councillor for Communities
Approved that Councillor Johnson be the City Council representative on
the Clay Farm Management Committee, together with Councillor Robertson in place
of former Councillor Blackhurst.
Reason for the Decision
As set out in the Officer’s report.
Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected
Not applicable.
Scrutiny
Considerations
The Committee received an oral report from the Executive Councillor for
Communities.
In response to Members’ questions the Executive Councillor for
Communities said the following:
i.
Undertook to provide a copy of his introductory
statement to committee members.
ii.
Councillor Johnson (as Executive Councillor with
the relevant portfolio) and Councillor Robertson were proposed as City Council
appointments to the Clay Farm Management Committee.
iii.
Councillor Robertson was proposed due to his
project management and scrutiny committee experience.
iv.
The Clay Farm management structure would be decided
in August 2015. It was important to choose the correct option to ensure the
sustainability of the Centre and protect the interests of Trumpington
residents. The Executive Councillor re-iterated the City Council was a
significant budgetary contributor, therefore the ruling group wished to have
two Labour City Councillors as directors to retain financial control.
The Director of Customer and Community
Services added that it was a Council decision as to how funding was spent.
Directors managed how the Clay Farm Centre operated.
Liberal Democrat Councillors made the following comments in response to
the oral report from the Executive Councillor for Communities:
i.
The political affiliation of the County Council
appointed director should not influence the City Council’s appointees.
ii.
Appointees to the Clay Farm Management Committee
should be multi-party representatives, preferably including a local Ward
Councillor.
Councillors requested a change to the recommendations. Councillor
Reid (seconded by Councillor Austin) formally
proposed that Councillor O’Connell be the City
Council representative on the Clay Farm Management Committee in
place of former Councillor Blackhurst, together with Councillor Johnson.
This
amendment was lost by 5 votes to 3.
The Committee resolved by 5 votes to 3 to endorse the recommendation
that Councillor Robertson be the City Council representative on the Clay Farm
Management Committee in place of former Councillor Blackhurst, together with Councillor
Johnson.
The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.
Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor
(and any Dispensations Granted)
No conflicts of interest were
declared by the Executive Councillor.