(To seek approval for a change of Responsible Officer. (Contact Officers: Clive Heaphy  Tel: 01462 611421 / Barbara Morris  Tel: 01462 611029))

Members received a report seeking approval for a change of Responsible Officer.

The Committee was informed that, in the interim, David Sutherland and Nick Murley had fulfilled the duties of S.151 Officer and Deputy respectively.

If was felt that, now a Director of Corporate Resources and Head of Finance had been appointed, they should be designated the roles.

RESOLVED

that the Director of Corporate Resources be designated as S.151 Officer and the Head of Finance as Deputy S.151 Officer for Central Bedfordshire, with immediate effect.

(To seek approval for confirmation of Responsible Officer. (Contact Officers: Clive Heaphy  Tel: 01462 611421 / Barbara Morris  Tel: 01462 611029))

Members received a report which recommended that the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be designated the Monitoring Officer for Central Bedfordshire Council.

The report explained that Barbara Morris has been the interim Monitoring Officer but as the Head of Legal and Democratic Services had been appointed (in this instance Barbara was the appointee), the designation should be made.

Members queried why there was no nomination of a Deputy and were informed that the Monitoring Officer had within their power to appoint deputies and that, in view of the level of work that might arise, it was likely that several deputies might need to be appointed and the system needed to be as flexible as possible.

RESOLVED

that the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be designated the Monitoring Officer for Central Bedfordshire with immediate effect.

(To adopt a unified scale of fees. (Contact Officer: Brian Dunleavy  Tel: 0845 849 6225))

Members received a report which informed them of the proposals for the scale of fees for elections.

It was explained that South and Mid Bedfordshire had different fee structures, but that this was due to the fact that Mid Bedfordshire held elections every 4 years whereas South Bedfordshire elected in thirds – which in effect meant that they held an election every year – three for District elections and the fourth for County elections.

Comparisons had been made with neighbouring authorities and the fees proposed within the report were mid way between the high and low end of the authorities compared.

Members were advised that the fees would be paid, initially, from the Central Bedfordshire budget but that some of the costs would be recovered from central government in respect of any General Election or European Election costs.

The budget at the three legacy authorities already earmarked for elections had been ring-fenced and would be brought forward to Central Bedfordshire.

RESOLVED

1.         that the election fees for the year commencing 1 April 2009, as shown in the appendix to the report, be adopted.

2.         that the fees set out in the appendix are up-rated annually to reflect inflation as advised by the Director of Corporate Resources for Central Bedfordshire Council and that provision be made within the draft Central Bedfordshire Scheme of Delegation to Officers to enable the Returning Officer to adjust fees annually on that basis.