Agenda item

The Clerk to the Authority presented the proposed Chairs and Vice Chairs for the Authority's Committees and Working Groups. An amendment to the proposal was noted with Councillor D Smith proposed as Vice-Chair of the Member Training and Development Working Group.

It was noted that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Strategy Group were the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Authority.

Councillor D Smith remarked that he was surprised that the Chair and Vice-Chair proposals had been agreed ahead of the meeting as he felt that Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool Councillors had not been consulted, and that Progressive Lancashire had been over represented on committees. The Clerk confirmed that each party spokesperson had been asked to provide proposals for Chair and Vice-Chair of each committee but some spokespersons had felt that they did not have sufficient members to put forward a proposal. He confirmed that the political balance was accurate and that chairs and vice-chairs could be amended going forward. County Councillor A Riggott stated that he did not believe party spokespersons had been contacted as he had not been contacted. County Councillor D Howarth added that he also had not been contacted. The Clerk confirmed that party spokespersons had been contacted via email and County Councillor D Howarth had not been contacted as he was a single member of the Authority. County Councillor A Ali confirmed that he had been contacted as spokesperson for Progressive Lancashire, he also noted that the paper was presented as a proposal and amendments could be made. The Chair added that the proposal was far more diverse than he remembered from previous years when the Authority was dominated by one party, he started that he had had conversations with the spokespersons for Progressive Lancashire and Labour who were in agreement with the proposals when put forward. He further stated that he had done his best to share responsibilities.

County Councillor D Howarth requested that the proposals be voted on. The Clerk held a recorded vote,19 members voted in favour, 3 against and 3 abstained. 

Resolved: That in accordance with Standing Order 5.1(b) of the Authority, the following Members be appointed as Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Committees and Working Groups of the CFA for 2025/26:

Appeals Committee             Chair              Councillor Z Khan

                                                Vice-Chair     County Councillor M Ritson

Audit Committee                   Chair              County Councillor M Clifford

                                                Vice-Chair     Councillor J Hugo

Performance Committee     Chair             County Councillor E Worthington

                                                Vice-Chair     County Councillor J Tetlow

Planning Committee            Chair             County Councillor I Duxbury

                                                Vice-Chair     County Councillor S Asghar

Resources Committee         Chair              County Councillor A Ali

                                                Vice-Chair     County Councillor N Alderson

Member Training &                          Chair              County Councillor G Mirfin

Development Working Group        Vice-Chair     Councillor D Smith

Resources Sub-Committee            Chair              County Councillor A Ali

for Injury Pensions

ii) That the Authority confirmed appointment of the following four Member Champions for 2025/26 as:-

•           Community Safety – County Councillor L Parkinson;

•           Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - Councillor S Sidat;

•           Health & Wellbeing - County Councillor S Asghar;

•           Road Safety – County Councillor J Fox