Agenda item

1. Ms Kemkaran proposed, and Mr Collins seconded the motion that:

“County Council is asked to:

a.    Approve the establishment of Political Assistant posts for qualifying Political Groups in accordance with section 9 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989;

b.    Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer to make the necessary consequential amendments to the Constitution;

c.    Authorise the Chief Executive to appoint Political Assistants in accordance with the relevant legislation and guidance and for her to develop and agree a local protocol in relation to Political Assistants, incorporating a job description and salary for the role, in consultation with the Leaders of the Political Groups who qualify for appointment of a Political Assistant; and

d.    Authorise the Corporate Director for Finance to identify the options for funding the roles for 2025/26 and to agree the most appropriate funding source, in consultation with the Leaders of the Political Groups who qualify for appointment of a Political Assistant.”

2. Following the debate, the Chairman put the motion in paragraph 1 to the vote and the voting was as follows.

For (45)

Mr J Baker, Mr M Brown, Mr D Burns, Mr A Cecil, Mr P Chamberlain, Mr W Chapman, Mr B Collins, Mr J Defriend, Mr S Dixon, Ms S Emberson, Mr J Eustace, Mr L Evans, Mr P Evans, Mr J Finch, Ms B Fordham, Mrs G Foster, Mr B Fryer, Mr M Harrison, Mr J Henderson, Mr C Hespe, Ms L Kemkaran, Mr A Kibble, Mr P King, Ms M Lawes,, Mr T Mallon, Mr R Mayall, Mr M Fraser Moat, Mr T Mole, Ms D Morton, Mr M Mulvihill, Mr P Osborne, Mrs C Palmer, Mr R Palmer, Mr M Paul, Ms B Porter, Ms S Roots, Mr T Shonk, Mr D Sian, Dr G Sturley, Mr D Truder, Mr R Waters, Mr P Webb, Mr N Wibberley, Mrs P Williams and Mr D Wimble.

Against (26)

Mr B Barrett, Mr B Black, Mr O Bradshaw, Mr A Brady, Mr M Brice, Mr M Ellis, Mr R Ford, Mrs M Fothergill, Mr S Heaver, Mr M Hood, Mr A Hook, Mrs S Hudson, Miss I Kemp, Mr A Kennedy, Mr J Moreland, Ms C Nolan, Mr T Prater, Ms A Randall, Mr H Rayner, Mr A Ricketts, Ms C Russell, Mr C Sefton, Mr M Sole, Mr R Streatfeild, Mr P Thomas and Mr N Williams.

Abstain (1)

Mr C Burwash.

Motion Carried.

3. RESOLVED that Council:

a.    Approves the establishment of Political Assistant posts for qualifying Political Groups in accordance with section 9 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989;

b.    Delegates authority to the Monitoring Officer to make the necessary consequential amendments to the Constitution;

c.    Authorises the Chief Executive to appoint Political Assistants in accordance with the relevant legislation and guidance and for her to develop and agree a local protocol in relation to Political Assistants, incorporating a job description and salary for the role, in consultation with the Leaders of the Political Groups who qualify for appointment of a Political Assistant; and

d.    Authorises the Corporate Director for Finance to identify the options for funding the roles for 2025/26 and to agree the most appropriate funding source, in consultation with the Leaders of the Political Groups who qualify for appointment of a Political Assistant.