To agree a policy for appointments to outside bodies.

THAT:

(a) the draft policy for appointments to outside bodies at appendix 1 be approved; and

(b) having regard to that policy and the outcome of the recent consultation the

council no longer make appointments to the following outside bodies:

·         The Courtyard Board Ltd

·         Jarvis Educational Charity

·         Kington Tourist Group

·         Leominster Area Regeneration Company (LARC) Development Trust

·         Leominster Museum Committee

·         Leominster Undenominational Educational Charity

·         Ross Charity Trustees

·         Shopmobility Hereford

·         Shopmobility Leominster

·         Three Choirs Festival

·         Coppett Hill Trust

·         Encore

·         Herefordshire vision links

·         Welcome to our future, and

·         West Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association

To provide a transparent framework for deciding which bodies the council will make

appointments to, and clarity about the roles and responsibilities of those individuals

appointed by the council to any outside body.

The alternative option is to maintain current practices. This is not felt to be satisfactory. Membership of an outside body brings into play different considerations

to those which relate to council membership. As members of outside bodies, elected

members will have different duties, obligations and liabilities depending upon the type

of organisation involved. Members’ roles on these outside bodies may appear to

conflict, sometimes with each other, and sometimes with their position as a

Herefordshire Council councillor. This can be eased by giving clear guidance, which

the draft protocol provides. Representation also has a small cost implication to the

authority for member’s attendance and officer time on those outside bodies that fall

outside of the county.