North Yorkshire Council

 

Executive

 

18 July 2023

 

Appointment of Member Champions

 

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive – Legal & Democratic Services

1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT 1.1 To provide an opportunity for the Executive to comment on the appointment of the remaining Member Champion roles, if they so choose, prior to the Leader making the appointments.

 

2.0       BACKGROUND

 

2.1       Member Champions are elected Members who act as an advocate or spokesperson for a specific area of the Council’s business. The main responsibility of each Member Champion is to encourage communication and positive action over the issue they represent.

 

2.2       The other responsibilities of Member Champions are set out in the North Yorkshire Constitution. They will:

 

i)             represent their area of interest both within and outside the Council in line with Council policy;

 

ii)            contribute to the review and development of policies pertaining to their area of interest;

 

iii)           challenge and question the Council, the Executive Members and the Chairs of Committees on issues relevant to their area of responsibility;

 

iv)           monitor the Forward Plan and seek information from the Leader, Committee Chairs and Officers about forthcoming business and exert influence on behalf of the interest;

 

v)            keep Members of all parties up to date with activities in relevant to the area of interest;

 

vi)           provide positive support and on occasions constructive challenge to Officers on relevant issues; and

 

vii)          act as the Council’s representative on relevant external bodies where appointed to by the Council

 

2.3       The Council currently has three Member Champions in place:

 

·                     Older People’s Champion - Councillor Caroline Dickinson

·                     Young People Champion - Councillor Alyson Baker

·                     Climate Change Champion - Councillor Paul Haslam

 

These appointments are made by Full Council as a special responsibility allowance is attached, with the Member Champions joining the meetings of Scrutiny Board and presenting an annual report to the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

 

           

2.4       The Leader may designate an elected member as a Champion for a particular issue. The other Member Champion roles listed in the Constitution with any proposed postholders are as listed below:

 

·           Armed Forces Community Champion - Councillor Carl Les

·           Digital Champion – Councillor Gareth Dadd (as the relevant Executive portfolio holder)

·           Flooding – Councillor Keane Duncan (as the relevant Executive portfolio holder)

·           Cycling/Active Travel – Councillor Keane Duncan (as the relevant Executive portfolio holder)

·           Road Safety - Councillor Keane Duncan (as the relevant Executive portfolio holder)

 

2.5       There is no special responsibility allowance attached to the Member Champion roles in section 2.4, and no legal requirement to apply the political balance rules to the appointment of Member Champions. As such, they will be made based on skills, knowledge and suitability for the role.

 

2.6       In the interests of openness and transparency, the Leader has brought notice of these proposed appointments to the Executive prior to making them.

 

3.0       FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

3.1       There is no Special Responsibility Allowance attached to the Member Champion roles requiring appointment.

 

4.0       LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

4.1       None

 

5.0       EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

           

5.1       None

 

6.0       CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

 

6.1       None

 

 

 7.0

RECOMMENDATION   

 

 

That the Executive note the appointment to the Member Champion roles outlined in section 2.4 to be made by the Leader.

 

 

       Barry Khan

Assistant Director – Legal and Democratic Services

County Hall

Northallerton

18 May 2023

 

Report Author – Daniel Harry, Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager

 

Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.