To allow Members an opportunity to [a] declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in any items which appear on this agenda; and [b] record any items from which they are precluded from voting as a result of Council Tax/Council rent arrears; [c] the existence and nature of party whipping arrangements in respect of any item to be considered at this meeting. Members with a personal interest should declare that at the start of the item under consideration.  If Members also have a prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interest they must withdraw from the meeting during the consideration of the item.

In the absence of Councillor Karney the Committee was requested to nominate a member to chair the meeting.

Councillor Curley was proposed by Councillor Lanchbury and this was seconded by Councillor N Murphy.

Decision

To appoint Councillor Curley as Chair for the duration of the meeting.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2020.

Decision

To approve as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2020.

To consider proposed changes to the membership of committees and joint boards / joint committees. Since the Committee last met the political balance of the Council has changed and this will lead to changes in the membership of the Council’s Committees and in the Council’s nomination and appointments to external bodies and other authorities, in order for the legal requirements on political balance to be complied with.

Decisions

1.    To recommend that the Council appoints Daniel Vaughan (Head of Metrolink - Transport for Greater Manchester) to the Manchester Tramway Company Board.

2.    To recommend the Council to make the following changes in appointments to Committees and Joint Committees of the Council, and to the membership of GM bodies and committees.

3. To recommend to Council increase the number of members of the Planning and Highways Committee from 15 to 16 members. 

(*Amended at the meeting of Council on 28 October 2020.)

The report of the City Solicitor is enclosed.

Consideration was given to a report of the City Solicitor which sought to ask the Committee to recommend that a special meeting of the Council be convened on 25 November 2020 for the purpose of adopting a resolution granting Freedom of the City of Manchester to 103 Royal Artillery Battery 209 (The Manchester Artillery) in recognition of their distinctive and eminent service.

The Committee discussed the importance of recognising the contributions made by the City’s diverse population and how nominations are made for Freedom of the City.

It was reported that the Council can recognise individuals and organisations through the Freedom of the City and in addition, since October 2017 the introduction of the ‘City of Manchester Award’ to recognise outstanding and exceptional contributions to Manchester.

Decisions

1.    That the City Council be recommend to convene a special meeting on 25 November 2020 for the purpose of adopting a resolution, to be proposed by the Lord Mayor and seconded by the Leader of the Council, that 103 Royal Artillery Battery 209 (The Manchester Artillery) be granted Freedom of the City of Manchester in recognition of the Battery’s distinctive and eminent service.

2. That the Chief Executive be requested to submit a report to a future meeting to set out how the use of Freedom of the City and the ‘City of Manchester Award’ might better reflect the diversity of the City and the contributions made.