The Southend-on-Sea Council meeting on 13 June 2024 primarily focused on proposed changes to the constitution regarding the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees. The Council voted in favour of the recommendations from the General Purposes Committee, despite significant debate and opposition. Additionally, the Council agreed to undertake a comprehensive review of the constitution, aiming to complete it by the end of the calendar year.

Changes to the Appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Scrutiny Committees

The main topic of discussion was the proposed changes to the constitution concerning the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees. The General Purposes Committee had recommended that these positions be chosen by the committees themselves, rather than being appointed by the opposition groups. This proposal was met with extensive debate.

Councillor Davidson argued against the change, stating that for the past ten years, these positions had been held by members of the opposition groups without issue. He expressed concern that allowing the administration to appoint these roles could diminish the effectiveness of the scrutiny process. He said, One of the key functions of the Scrutiny Committee is to hold the administration to account.

Councillor Campbell supported this view, emphasizing the need for checks and balances. He suggested that constitutional changes should require a two-thirds majority to ensure broad support and protect the integrity of the council's governance.

On the other hand, Councillor Ayland supported the proposal, stating that it would eliminate the practice of offering chairmanships as political incentives. He noted, This is how it used to be done, very good and I fully support it.

The Monitoring Officer clarified that the report presented balanced background facts and included recommendations, countering claims that it lacked clear guidance. Ultimately, the Council voted in favour of the recommendations, with 27 votes for and 17 against.

Comprehensive Review of the Constitution

Following the debate on the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs, the Council discussed the need for a comprehensive review of the constitution. Councillor Cowan highlighted that the constitution had not been fully reviewed since the authority was formed and had become unwieldy due to piecemeal amendments over the years. He stated, We need a constitution that works for everyone.

Councillor Cox agreed, emphasizing the importance of cross-party support for constitutional changes. He suggested that the review should aim to achieve a two-thirds majority for any amendments to ensure they stand the test of time.

Councillor Moyes recalled previous attempts to rewrite the constitution, which had been halted despite cross-party agreement. He urged the Council to stick together and ensure that agreed changes are implemented.

The Council agreed to proceed with the comprehensive review, with the goal of completing it by the end of the calendar year.

For more details, you can refer to the Agenda frontsheet 13th-Jun-2024 19.30 The Council and the Public reports pack 13th-Jun-2024 19.30 The Council.