Our Ref: 9926  

Dear Mr Madderson,

INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your request for information which will be dealt with under
the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, we
will let you know the likely charges before proceeding.

If you have any queries about this matter please contact us. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Kind regards
 
Julia

Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk

Dear Mr Madderson,
Please accept our apologies for the delay in provide the response for
9926.
We will contact the area dealing with your request to chase them up and
remind them it is now overdue.

kind regards

Julia

Information Governance Office

(t)  0345 600 6400

(e) [email address]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Bill Madderson <[FOI #801634 email]>
Sent: 20 November 2021 18:11
To: FOI Mailbox <[Northumberland County Council request email]>
Subject: Re: FOI/EIR Acknowledgement
 
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organisation. Do not
click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and know
the content is safe.

Dear Northumberland County Council,

When will the information be sent to me.

Yours faithfully,

Bill Madderson

show quoted sections

Our Ref: 9926   

Dear Mr Madderson, 
 
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST 
 
I refer to your Freedom of Information request in relation to Council
Members and Committees. 
 
Right of Access 
 
Section 1(1) of the Act provides any person making a request for
information to a public authority is entitled. 
 
(a) to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds
information of the description specified in the request (which Section
1(6) of the Act designates as the "duty to confirm or deny"), and 
 
(b) if that is the case, to have that information communicated to him. 
 
The right is to obtain access to the information itself and not to the
document or record which contains it. 
 
The Act creates a general right of access to information held by public
authorities subject to various exemptions. 
 
Northumberland County Council confirms that it holds the information you
have requested, please see the attached and following information in
response. 
 
Q.1     Can you please provide the formula used by the Council to
calculate the number of Council Members on each committee? 

A.1     The proportional seat allocation is calculated after an election
as required by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. This requires
that where a council is a membership divided into different political
groups, appointments to committees are allocated in the same proportion as
that in which the council as a whole is divided.  There is a duty to
review the representation of political groups and to determine the
allocation of seats to be filled to the different political groups.
This has to be based on the following principles:- 

a) that not all seats are allocated to the same political group 

b) that a political group with an overall council majority gets a majority
of seats allocated 

c) subject to a) and b), that the total number of seats each political
group has on ordinary committees is in proportion to that group's share of
the total council elected membership 

d) subject to a) and c), that each political group has the same proportion
of seats as it holds on the council as a whole.    

The current spreadsheet is attached:  9926 - 06.05.21 Actual _ - Ready
Reckoner1 IG checked 

Q.2     Has the formula been altered since 2009 if so when and how? 

A.2     As mentioned above, the proportional seat allocation is calculated
after each election once the political groups are established to reflect
the composition of the Council as a whole, so there is no set "formula" as
such.    

Q.3     Apart from short term working groups and task and finish
committees, How many times has Northumberland County Council altered the
number of seats on its committees to realign political balance
in favour of the administration 

In the years 2009-2013? 

In the years 2013-2017? 

In the years 2017-2021? 

May 2021 to present day 

A.3     We can't give a definitive answer to this question. What we would
say is that generally, if there is a change mid-term because of a
resignation or death for example, one change makes very little difference
to the overall picture, particularly on smaller committees. In many cases,
the new councillor will often be of the same political party as their
predecessor so there is no requirement for a change in those
circumstances. However, if there is a change in political party, then the
figures would be run again to see which committees would be impacted.   

Q.4     Is the Council currently planning to alter the number of members
of Council Committees in favour of the administration? 

A.4     We do not hold this information.  

 
Complaints 
 
If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled, you can request an internal review by writing within 2
months from the date of this response to the Information Governance
Office: 
 
Information Governance Office, Northumberland County Council, County
Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF 
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email] 
 
Information Commissioner 
 
If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have a
right by Section 50 of the Act to apply to the Information Commissioner
for a decision as to whether your request has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act at: 
 
The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water
Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF 
Tel: 0303 123 1113 
Email: [email address] 
 
There is no charge for making an appeal. 
 
Yours faithfully 
 
FOI Coordinator – Central Team 
Information Governance Office 
Northumberland County Council 
County Hall 
Morpeth 
Northumberland 
NE61 2EF 
 
Tel: 0345 600 6400 
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email] 
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk