Members considered a report of the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services on proposals for alternative chairing arrangements for the Council, including the separation of the role of ceremonial head from that of chairing Council meetings.
The Leader clarified that the sum of £3500 available for the Civic Head of the Council would not be paid as an actual allowance but would fund the reimbursement of expenses incurred in attending events. In response to a question he also clarified how the chains of office would be used.
Having been proposed by Councillor R. Hollingworth and seconded by Councillor Mrs. M. A. Sherrey JP, it was
RESOLVED:
(a) that approval be given to the introduction of a Civic Head and a Deputy Civic Head, together with the changes to the role of the Chairman of the Council and Vice Chairman as described in paragraph 4.4 of the report;
(b) that the current Member Allowance for the Chairman be revised to create two allowances of £3500 each for the Chairman of the Council and the Civic Head of the Council, such amounts to be increased each year by the same percentage increase as is applied to the basic allowance;
(c) that approval be given to the revised Roles and Responsibilities for the four posts referred to in the report as set out in Appendix 1 and delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services to make the consequential changes to the Constitution.