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Report to: |
Lead Member Transport and Environment
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Date of meeting:
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14 March 2022 |
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By: |
Director of Communities, Economy and Transport
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Title: |
Member representation on the board of the Combe Valley Countryside Park Community Interest Company
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Purpose: |
To approve changes being recommended to the governance of the Combe Valley Countryside Park Community Interest Company
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RECOMMENDATIONS:
(1) To consider the changes to Local Authority Member representation on the Combe Valley Countryside Park Community Interest Company; and
(2) To support the proposed changes to Local Authority Member representation.
1.1 During the last year the Combe Valley Countryside Park (CVCP) Community interest Company (CIC) has been reviewing its governance to ensure it best reflects diversity and inclusion in decision-making and is best able to attract much needed funding to the CVCP. Following a recent review of its governing document, the Articles of Association, the CIC is consulting with each of the Local Authorities that are Members of the Company to seek agreement to reduce the number of local authority councillor representatives on the CIC Board from a maximum of 2 councillors each to a maximum of one councillor from each authority. The Local Authorities currently have 1 vote each on the Board and this will continue to be the case.
2.1 In October 2021 the CIC Board of Directors, which includes two County Councillors (Cllrs Pragnell and Beaver), discussed a change to their governing document, the Articles of Association, to reduce the number of local authority councillor representatives on the CIC Board from 2 councillors each to one councillor from each authority, and a decision was made to consult the relevant authorities on this proposed change. Hastings Borough Council, East Sussex County Council and Rother District Council all currently have two councillors on the Board, although each Local Authority has only one vote on the Board. The reason for this proposed change is in order to enable more community stakeholders to be represented on the Board. This proposal was supported unanimously by all Councillors present at the Board meeting in October. However, neither Cllrs Pragnell nor Beaver were present at that meeting. The views of the consulted local authorities were discussed at the CIC Board meeting which was held on 23 February 2022.
2.2 The proposed change to governance is a logical step in making the CIC less reliant on local authority support, which the County Council has long been keen to encourage and is probably a more efficient use of councillor time. Both Rother District Council and Hastings Borough Council support the proposed change, which they will confirm in writing. The main consequence for the County Council will be the need to decide which Councillor should continue to sit on the CIC Board.
3.1 Lead Member is recommended to support the proposed change to County Councillor membership of the Board of the Combe Valley Countryside Park Community Interest Company, as this will enable wider stakeholder representation on the Board and be a more efficient use of Councillor time.
Director of Communities, Economy and Transport
Contact Officer: Virginia Pullan
Tel. No. 07786171433
Email: Virginia.pullan@eastsussex.gov.uk
LOCAL MEMBERS
Cllrs Beaver, Pragnell, Scott, Webb, Marlow-Eastwood and Hollidge.
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
CVCP Articles of Association
CVCP Current Structure December 2021
Letter to the Leader of East Sussex County Council dated 4.1.22