The Staff and Pensions Committee meeting on 16 May 2025 addressed the appointment of members to sub-committees and bodies within the council. The committee was asked to make appointments to the Pension Fund Investment Sub-Committee and the Appointments and Disciplinary Appeals Sub-Committees. Determination of the membership of the Committee itself was deferred.

Appointments to Sub-Committees/Bodies

The Staff and Pensions Committee is responsible for appointing members to various sub-committees and bodies, relating to staff appointments, terms and conditions, and local government pensions. The report before the committee outlined the roles and membership requirements for these bodies.

Pension Fund Investment Sub-Committee

The Pension Fund Investment Sub-Committee is responsible for overseeing the investment policy of the pension fund and ensuring its appropriate management and administration.

The report noted that membership should consist of five county councillors, allocated proportionately to the representation of groups and individual members on the council. For the 2024/25 session, the allocation was:

• Conservative: 3
• Labour: 1
• Liberal Democrat: 1

Based on the current membership of the council, political proportionality would result in a split of:

• Reform UK: 2
• Liberal Democrat: 1
• Conservative: 1
• Green: 1

The Committee has the option to agree a different split of seats, provided that no member votes against it.

Appointments and Disciplinary Appeals Sub-Committees

These sub-committees are established as needed to determine individual appeals by employees and to appoint Directors, Executive Directors, and other statutory officers. Membership consists of three or more elected members drawn from a pool of members who have undergone relevant training.

For 2024/25, the pool comprised:

• Conservatives: 24
• Labour: 6
• Liberal Democrat: 4
• Green: 1

Any new members added to the pool are required to undertake training.