In the first three months of 2016 Patrick McAuley missed 18 key meetings.
January
4 January 2016: Meeting: Portfolio briefing, Reason for absence: “I completely forgot about the meeting.”
13 January 2016: Meeting: Town Centre Committee. Reason for absence: None given, substitute arranged.
14 January 2016: Meeting: Executive Briefing Meeting, Reason for absence: None recorded
18 January 2016: Meeting: Portfolio briefing, Reason for absence: Patrick cancelled the meeting 3 minutes after it had begun.
21 January 2016: Meeting: Executive Team Meeting, Reason for absence: None recorded
25 January 2016: Meeting: Portfolio briefing, Reason for absence: Patrick cancelled the meeting 9 minutes before the meeting was due to begin.
28 January 2016: Meeting: Full Council, Reason for absence: None recorded
February
4 February 2016: Meeting: E & E Scrutiny, Reason for absence: None given.
4 February 2016: Meeting: Executive Team Meeting, Reason for absence: None recorded
4 February 2016: Meeting: Executive Briefing Meeting, Reason for absence: None recorded
8 February 2016: Meeting: Portfolio briefing, Reason for absence: Patrick cancelled the meeting 15 minutes before the meeting was due to start: “I’ve got two assessments tomorrow I need to revise for I don’t see anything urgent on the agenda is there anything urgent?”
16 February 2016: Meeting: Executive, Reason for absence: None recorded
25th February 2016: Meeting: Executive Team Meeting, Reason for absence: None recorded
March
7 March 2016: Meeting: Portfolio briefing, Reason for absence: Patrick cancelled the meeting with less than one hour’s notice: “I’m going to have to cancel this meeting again, as I’m not well again, which means I won’t be at committee either.”
7 March 2016: Meeting: Health Scrutiny, Reason for absence: unwell (see above)
10 March 2016: Meeting: E & E Scrutiny Agenda, Reason for absence: None given.
10 March 2016: Meeting: Executive Team Meeting, Reason for absence: None recorded
10 March 2016: Meeting: Executive Briefing Meeting, Reason for absence: None recorded
Notes
Portfolio briefings
These do not appear in the Council website but are essential for a Portfolio holder to carry out their role. They usually involve a number of senior officers so if they don’t happen are quite disruptive and a waste of valuable time.
Scrutiny committees
Executive members do not appear on the list of attendees to scrutiny committees they are there so members of the Council can question them on Portfolio issues. Attendance is expected of Portfolio holders.
Executive Team Meetings
The Executive meets to discuss the issues and work collaboratively. Attendance is a part of Portfolio responsibilities. Meeting times had been re-arranged to suit Patrick’s external commitments.
Executive Briefing Meetings
Wider briefings with the most senior officers of the Council on issues that are coming up for future consideration, again crucial to the role of Portfolio holder.
Full Council
The monthly meeting of all councillors. Executive members are expected to attend and take questions from members of the council.