Agenda item

As Councillor Nigel Knapton had declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in this item, he left the room and did not participate in the debate or vote.

Considered

A report of the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer concerning requests from dual-hatted NYC councillors who also sit on or clerk potentially affected parish and town councils for a dispensation from the Committee to enable them to fully participate in meetings of Full Council when considering reports regarding the 2025/26 Community Governance Reviews (CGRs).

The Assistant Director Legal and Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced the report which sought authorisation from the Committee for similar dispensations to be granted for any further requests received by the Monitoring Officer after the Committee’s meeting but prior to the Council meeting on 18 March 2026. The report also sought a delegation from the Committee to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair of Full Council, to grant similar analogous dispensations to dual-hatted NYC councillors who may be affected by the 2025/26 CGR at any full Council meetings when the Review will be considered.

It was reported that Councillor Nigel Knapton had submitted a dispensation request to enable him to speak, vote and be included in the quorum at meetings of Full Council when it is considering business relating to the 2025/26 CGR.

The Principal Democratic Services Officer explained that all dual-hatted Members affected by the 2025/26 CGR had been contacted prior to the meeting.

Members thanked officers for the report and raised the following points:

• The Assistant Director Legal and Deputy Monitoring Officer clarified the distinction between a paid clerk with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) and an unpaid parish councillor with an Other Registrable Interest (ORI). Where an ORI directly relates to the matter under consideration, the councillor may be required to declare the interest and withdraw from the meeting unless a dispensation has been granted. It was emphasised that both DPIs and ORIs require a dispensation if a councillor wishes to participate fully.
• One Member commented that councillors representing divisions affected by CGRs should be able to speak about their areas, although statutory restrictions were acknowledged.
• Independent Person Louise Holroyd advised that granting a dispensation for dual‑hatted councillors would be reasonable, as requiring applications for each meeting would create administrative burden and could deter newer councillors.

It was moved by Councillor Melanie Davis and seconded by Councillor David Ireton that recommendation a) listed below be refused.

Two Members voted for the motion and two Members voted against and there was one abstention. As there was a hung vote, the Chair used his casting vote to vote against the motion of refusal. The motion was therefore passed.

It was moved by Councillor Peter Wilkinson and seconded by Councillor David Ireton that recommendation b) listed below be approved.

Four Members voted for the motion and one Member voted against.

Resolved

a)    That Members consider and determine any dispensation requests, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, submitted by dual-hatted Members who are members of/clerk a parish or town council which may be affected by the 2025/26 Community Governance Review, by the date of the Committee’s meeting, for a dispensation until the next local government elections in 2027 to enable them to speak, vote and be included in the quorum at meetings of full Council when it is considering business relating to the 2025/26 Community Governance Review.

b)    That if the Committee is minded to grant any such dispensation requests received by the date of the Committee’s meeting:

                         i.         That the Committee is requested to authorise similar dispensations for any further requests received by the Monitoring Officer after the Committee’s meeting but prior to the Council meeting on 18 March 2026; and

                       ii.         the Committee is requested to delegate to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair of full Council, the power to grant similar analogous dispensations, on similar terms, as may be requested by such dual-hatted Members (and confirmed by them in writing) who are members of/clerk to a parish/town council which may be affected by the 2025/26 Community Governance Review, at meetings of full Council on 18 March 2026, 15 July 2026 and any other full Council meetings when the Review will be considered.