Maidstone Borough Council

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Joint Health Protocols and Appointment of Substitute Members

Report of: Overview & Scrutiny Officer

 1.     Introduction

1.1 At the meeting held on 21 September 2010 the Committee raised objections against the use of Substitute Members.

1.2 The Scrutiny Officer was tasked with investigating the argument for and against Substitute Members on behalf of the Committee.

1.3 The Committee have previously agreed a set of protocols; these will need to be amended if the Committee agrees to the appointment of Substitute Members.

2.     Recommendation

2.1    The Committee is recommended to consider the report prepared by    the Scrutiny Officer at Appendix A and reconsider the inclusion of Substitute Members as part of the protocols of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee (Appendix B) in line with the constitutional and legal groundings of the respective authorities.

3.      Reasons for Recommendation

3.1    The Committee is at the start of a new Municipal year with newly appointed Members.  It is therefore timely that it revisits the issues raised by the previous Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee with regards to Substitute Members.

3.2    The report prepared (Appendix A) details the argument for and against and has been privy to legal inspection by Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone Borough Council. The report recommends the appointment of Substitute Members.