Councils can appoint members of the public to serve on specific bodies as co-opted members.
The benefits of co-opting Members onto specific bodies are to enable the potential for local input or specialist expertise to take part in meetings and to vote on decisions.
Currently, at South Hams District Council co-opted Members can be appointed onto the Salcombe Harbour Board and, in certain instances, the Overview and Scrutiny Panel.
Salcombe Harbour Board
In addition to having four serving South Hams District Council Members, the Salcombe Harbour Board has six Co-opted Members.
Each Member, will be appointed through assessment of each nominee's skills, knowledge, experience and commitment on matters such as the following:
- Knowledge of port/marine or other nautical experience;
- General finance/business knowledge;
- Understanding of harbour users;
- Awareness of environmental issues;
- Aspects relating to tourism, leisure and marketing;
- Knowledge or interest in the local and/or the wider community.
All co-opted Members will be bound by the Council's Members' Code of Conduct.
All Members shall have full voting rights on all matters before the Board.
A co-opted Member's term of appointment shall be three years from the date of appointment to expire on the date of annual Council of the relevant year.
A co-opted Member may be appointed to a second three-year term without recourse to open competition, subject to the agreement of both the Chairman and the Member, and the Board's assessment that the Member has performed satisfactorily during their first term.
Reappointment for a third term shall be regarded as the exception and involve competition with other candidates.
The appointment is part-time, typically one to two days a month.
Travel expenses can be reimbursed.
The current Co-opted members on Salcombe Harbour Board are listed at Salcombe Harbour Board.
Overview and Scrutiny Panel
The Overview and Scrutiny Panel is entitled to co-opt up to two people at any time (including members of the public). The appointment of co-optees is time limited and at the discretion of the Panel. For further information on the work of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Panel please go to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee page.