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1 Feb 2022 9.1 Rept – Possible co-option of 8th councillor 220201

February 2022 Uploaded on January 27, 2022

REPORT TO PICKMERE PARISH COUNCIL
1st February 2022
AGENDA ITEM 9.1 POTENTIAL CO-OPTION OF 8th COUNCILLOR
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 At the last full election of parish councillors in 2019, insufficient candidates put themselves
forward to fill the 8 councillor places on the Parish Council. In fact only 5 candidates put
themselves forward and were duly elected unopposed. The newly formed Council subsequently
decided, in accordance with the relevant rules, to co-opt further members to fill the three
vacant posts. However only two councillors were co-opted through that process. Accordingly
since that time the Council has operated with 7 rather than its full complement of 8 councillors.
1.2 It is pointed out for information that the term remaining for the current Council expires in May
2023, and at that time full elections will again be required for all seats.
2. REPORT
2.1 It has become increasingly apparent that the demands being placed on members have
increased significantly in recent months, as a result of the current projects being undertaken by
the Council – in particular the commencement of the Neighbourhood Plan and the
refurbishment of the play area – together with increasing time and resources being spent on
asset maintenance matters, and also the likelihood that further time will be required to work
on the HS2 proposals. It is therefore suggested that Council may wish again to seek to co-opt
an eighth member who will be able to help share this burden.
2.2 Cheshire East Council, the Parish Council’s principal authority, together with CHALC have been
consulted on this matter and agree that this process would be appropriate in the circumstances.
2.3 Council has previously approved a process for such a co-option, although it is suggested that it
commences with an appropriate advertisement being placed on the Council’s noticeboards and
website. The question of whether the Council proceeds to appoint a further councillor (or not)
remains within the control of the Council no matter how many candidates express an interest
in being considered.
2.4 A copy of the principles previously approved for the selection of a co-option candidate are
appended.
2. RECOMMENDATION
2.1 That Council considers whether or not to seek to co-opt an eighth member.
2.2 Should Council decide to proceed with a co-option process, that the principles for the co-option
process be approved, commencing with the posting of appropriate notices on the Council’s
noticeboards and website.
Jack Steel
Clerk to the Parish Council
Appendix – Summary of Co-option process previously approved.
Applications should be invited by means of the Council’s minutes. There is nothing to prevent the
Council from inviting particular parish residents who comply with the statutory requirements for a
Parish Councillor to submit an application for co-option. Such invitations should be based on the
apparent skills, experience or ability of the person(s) involved to make a positive contribution to the
work of the Council and the wellbeing of the Parish as a whole.
Applications should be in the form of a brief CV, with some reasoning as to the contribution the
applicant can make to the operation of the Council and the enhancement of the Parish.
The Council will appoint a Committee of the Council (the Co-option Committee) and delegate to it the
power to assess applications for co-option, interview applicants and make decisions on who should or
should not be co-opted. The reasons for such decisions do not require to be explained or reported in
public.
Membership of the Committee should be at least 3 councillors and the quorum should be 3.
The Co-option Committee should meet and make its decisions in private.
Voting in Committee shall be by show of hands, in the normal way with the Chairperson having a
casting vote if required.
The decisions of the Committee should be reported to the Council as soon as practicable after the
decisions have been made.
The applicants should then be informed of the decisions of the Council as to their individual
applications, though not about the decisions as to other applicants.