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To grant all Members a
dispensation to enable full debate and voting on Local Government
Reorganisation agenda items at both Cabinet and Council on
7th November 2025.

Reasons for the decision

Local Government Reorganisation
represents a significant potential change to the structure of local
government in two tier areas which the possible abolition of
Fenland District Council in March 2028.
 
Fenland District Council
Members are also Members of other local authorities and groups such
as Cambridgeshire County Council and Town and Parish Councils
whereby LGR may have been discussed and voted on.
 
This debate affects the future
of the structure of local government and the representation and
delivery of services to communities, therefore it is felt that all
Members should feel able to express their views in public to the
fullest extent to support the community and Council debate on this
matter.
 
This particularly affects
Cabinet Members whereby they will participate in Council prior to
taking the decision in regards which option to submit to government
on behalf of FDC at the Cabinet meeting thereafter. To allow
Cabinet Members to fully debate and express their views within the
Council meeting, it is important to grant them a dispensation to
enable them to speak freely without the restriction of the
perception of them being biased or predetermined.

Alternative options considered

To not grant the dispensation
which may prevent the full ability of Members to engage in the
debate which is not acceptable given the importance of the subject
matter.