Move to make more councillors attend meetings

MORE councillors could soon be expected to attend committee meetings after it emerged key decisions can be made with just a quarter of members in attendance.

Members of Cheshire East Council’s constitution committee were told that all statutory committees have a quorum of 25 per cent – except licensing and cabinet, which are both 50pc.

The matter was brought to the meeting by Brian Reed, head of governance and democratic services, who asked for the quorum Licensing Committee to be lowered to 25pc.

But Councillor Hilda Gaddum, who represents Sutton, said she was ‘struggling’ to accept that the planning committee decision could be made with just a quarter of councillors in attendance.

Speaking at the meeting, she said: “It is far too low for decisions that are taken in public that can be very major.

“In practice it would be very rare that it would get that low, but if it got dangerously low, it could look as though it is not a reasonable thing when a lot of people pay quite a lot of money for the applications.”

Following her concerns, officers suggested that the council could adopt a quorum of 33pc for all committees in line with other local authorities.

Members from across the political spectrum agreed that more than a quarter of each committee should attend meetings.

Coun Nick Mannion, Labour member for Macclesfield West and Ivy, said: “I can entirely concur with Coun Gaddum and I do think it’s a bit low for a public committee.

“It’s the public perception of the work. It’s very visible, it’s very sensitive, and it’s very contentious at times.”

However, Coun Barry Burkhill, independent group leader and member for Handforth, felt that 33 per cent was still not high enough.

“If you are on the committee then you should be there,” he added.

Brian Reed said a lower quorum will result mean there is a less chance of being aborted.

He said: “I have to say that very rarely, and I don’t think ever, have we got to a situation where we went to the limit of the 25 per cent.

“However, we have got very close to at least one [licensing] meeting actually being aborted because not until the last minute has the eighth member arrived.”

The committee agreed to recommend a 33 per cent quorum to full council.