Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 27th August 2008. 

The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 27th August 2008 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in addition to any Agenda Item.  Please see Notes 1 and 2 below.

No declarations were received.

To consider a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services on the outcome of an internal consultation exercise on the Council's future electoral arrangements.

Further to Minute No. 08/07 and by way of a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel were acquainted with details of the outcome of an internal consultation exercise undertaken with District Council Members on the Council's future electoral arrangements.  Members were reminded of details of an opportunity available to the District Council to move elections by thirds to whole Council elections and the associated financial implications of such a move. 

Following consultation undertaken with District Council Members on potential changes to the electoral arrangements, the Panel were advised that arising from the responses received the consensus of opinion was to make no change to the existing electoral arrangements.

Having discussed the relative merits and disadvantages of elections by thirds and by whole Council, the Panel

RESOLVED

  (a)  that no change be made to the existing electoral arrangements;

  (b)  that the Cabinet and Council be requested to make the necessary budgetary variation in the forthcoming Medium Term Plan to meet the associated costs of continuing to hold elections by thirds; and

  (c)  that an investigation be undertaken via the Department for Communities and Local Government as to whether elections for the multi-member wards could be held on the same day every four years.

The Panel received an update on progress of implementation of recommendations made following the conclusion of the review of parish arrangements in Huntingdonshire. 

Following receipt of a copy of a draft Huntingdonshire (Parishes) Order 2009 and feedback submitted to the Department for Communities and Local Government on its content, in particular the effective date of the Order, Members were informed that the Council was still awaiting details of its confirmation.