Purpose

Paragraph 1.29 of the Officer Scheme of
Delegation within the Constitution states that the Head of Service
with responsibility for Democratic Services (the Strategic Head of
Legal and Governance) is authorised to:
“Make changes to party representation on committees
(including adding/removing substitutes)”
Councillor Green was appointed as an Executive Member on 1st March
2025, and as an Executive Member is not permitted by law to sit on
the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and by a direct conflict of
interest as the Executive Member for Finance, Assets and
Governance, on the Audit Committee.

These two seats are therefore now currently vacant following
Councillor Green’s resignation from those committees.
On 6 March 2025, the Leader of the Council notified the Chief
Executive of his intention to appoint the following Members to sit
on the committees listed below, with effect from 6 March
2025:
• Councillor Blacker – conservative group vacancy on the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee, formerly held by Councillor
Green.
• Councillor Walsh – conservative group vacancy on the
Audit Committee, formerly held by Councillor Green.
• Councillor Buttironi – to replace Councillor Green on
the Planning Committee.

The Council has a duty to give effect to the allocation of
committee seats by making appointments thereto in accordance with
the wishes of the political groups, as soon as practicable,
according to the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups)
Regulations 1990, as amended.
Section 13 of the regulations state that “the wishes of a
political group are to be taken as those expressed to the proper
officer— (a)orally or in writing by the leader or deputy
leader of the group”.

The Scheme requires consultation with Group Leaders; however, this
decision only relates to the appointments to committee seats held
by the Conservative Group.
Therefore, it is only necessary to consult with the Conservative
Group Leader on this delegated decision to ensure it reflects their
wishes.

Decision

To appoint, according to the wishes of the
Conservative Group expressed by the Leader on 6 March 2025:
1. Councillor Blacker to sit in the vacant Conservative Group seat
on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, formerly held by Councillor
Green.
2. Councillor Walsh to sit in the vacant Conservative Group seat on
the Audit Committee, formerly held by Councillor Green.
3. Councillor Buttironi to replace Councillor Green on the Planning
Committee.