Decision details
Review of political proportionalities on committees
Decision Maker: Council
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
To review the allocation of committee seats to
political groups following by-elections held in The Rissingtons and
The Beeches wards.
Decisions:
The purpose of the report was to review political proportionality following the outcome of two recent by-elections and the ensuing change in the political balance of the Council. Following the by-elections in The Rissingtons and The Beeches wards the Liberal Democrat Group now had 22 members, and the Leader had requested a review of the political proportionalities on committee to reflect this.
The Leader, Councillor Mike Evemy, introduced the report, supported by Annex A, which set out the revised proportionality and explained the allocation methodology. It was noted that the Council operated five committees: Overview and Scrutiny, Planning and Licensing, Audit and Governance, Performance and Appointments, and Appeals.
Officers had recalculated allocations based on the updated composition; the Council now comprised two political groups, Liberal Democrat and Conservative, with two non-aligned members. Councillor Mike Evemy proposed the recommendations to Council and confirmed that one of the non-aligned members, Councillor Claire Turner, would continue on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the second non-aligned member, Councillor Nikki Ind would join the Planning and Licensing Committee, having previously sat on the Performance and Appointments Committee
.
The following members were nominated to vacant committee seats:
· Audit and Governance Committee: Councillor Craig Thurling;
· Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Councillor Paul Evans (replacing Councillor Nick Bridges);
· Performance and Appointments Committee: Councillor Tony Dale;
· Appeals Committee: Councillor Mark Harris (replacing Councillor Tony Dale).
There were no questions for clarity
The proposal was seconded by Councillor Juliet Layton who had nothing further to add.
There was no debate on the matter.
The Chair invited Councillor Evemy to sum up.
Councillor Evemy clarified that the proposal included two changes as well as two proposals to fill existing vacant seats on Committees.
The Chair then moved to the vote on the resolution which was proposed by Councillor Mike Evemy and seconded by Councillor Juliet Layton.
Voting record:
28 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.
Councillor Julia Judd did not vote.
Report author: Andrew Brown
Publication date: 17/04/2026
Date of decision: 18/03/2026
Decided at meeting: 18/03/2026 - Council
Accompanying Documents:
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