Agenda item

The Chair briefly introduced the report which set out the Board’s Terms of Reference and Membership.  In doing so, he highlighted the importance of developing a flexible way of working to enable the Board to manage the broad range of policy areas within its remit with only four formal meetings a year.

In the discussion that followed, Members made a number of comments, including:

·        In discussing the importance of developing a flexible, inclusive and consensual way of working outside the formal Board structure, suggestions included: the creation of ad hoc task and finish groups as and when required; linking pieces of work to improvement activities; and the creation of a secure online area to facilitate information sharing in between Board meetings which all members and substitutes could access.

·        There was unanimous support for the proposal that each of the Board’s Lead Members be assigned a portfolio area which they would be responsible for championing.  The portfolios were agreed as follows:

Cllr Peter Box              Growth, Infrastructure and Transport             

Cllr Mike Jones           Planning

Cllr Keith House          Housing

Cllr John Northcott      Environment

·        Members agreed that the political group offices would coordinate the Board’s appointments to outside bodies, which would be signed off by Lead Members. 

Decisions

That the Board:

       i.          noted its Terms of Reference and Membership;

      ii.          agreed that each of the Board’s Lead Members be assigned a portfolio area to champion as set out above;

     iii.          agreed that the Board’s appointments to outside bodies would be approved by Lead Members; and

    iv.          agreed that the Board’s Lead Members would agree a flexible and inclusive way of working to enable the Board to effectively fulfil its mandate.

Actions

Lead Members to meet to agree: (a) working practises to enable the Board to fulfil its remit; and (b) appointments to outside bodies.  These decisions to be circulated to the Board for information.  Member Services Officer.

Circulate the legacy reports, and previous Chair’s reports, from former Environment and Housing and Economy and Transport Boards to Board Members. Member Services Officer.