Agenda and minutes

The following Honorary Aldermen were in attendance:

E G Benefer, J B Howling, Dr D P R Richards, Wg Cdr V Stapley OBE DFC, C L Walters

Apologies for absence were received from Honorary Aldermen:

Sir Jeremy Bagge, P Brandon, A Clery-Fox, C P Sharp, I M Stockwell

Prayers were led by the Mayor’s Chaplain, Father Ling.

The Mayor invited nominations for Mayor for 2015/16.

Councillor N J Daubney proposed that Councillor Colin Manning be elected to the office of Mayor and Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year this was seconded by Councillor Mrs E Nockolds.

Resolved:           That Councillor C Manning be elected to the office of Mayor and Chairman of the Council for 2015/16.

Councillor Manning took the Chair, read and signed the declaration of Acceptance of office and then, in addressing Members, thanked them for his election and informed the Council that his wife Mrs Julie Manning, would be his Mayoress.  The Mayor’s Chaplain for the year would be the Father Adrian Ling.

The Mayor also informed the Council that he would continue to appoint Mayor’s Cadets and those for this year would be: L\Cpl Joshua Chapman, Army Cadet, Cdt Elliot Simpson, Air Cadet, Leading Cadet Liam Connelly, Sea Cadet.

The Mayor’s Charity for the year would be The Bridge for Heroes.

It was proposed by Councillor A Beales and seconded by Councillor B Long that Councillor David Whitby be appointed to the office of Deputy Mayor and Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Resolved:           That Councillor D Whitby be elected to the office of Deputy Mayor and Vice-Chairman of the Council for 2015/16.

Councillor Whitby read and signed the declaration of acceptance of office, and informed the Council that his wife Mrs Mrs Linda Whitby, would be his Deputy Mayoress.

It was proposed by Councillor Daubney and seconded by Councillor Beales that a vote of thanks be made to the outgoing Mayor and Consort. 

RESOLVED:           That the Council place on record its sincere appreciation for the work undertaken by Councillor B Ayres and Mrs Ayres, during their period in office as Mayor and Mayoress of the Borough.

The Mayor then presented gifts to Councillor and Mrs Ayres.

The Returning Officers report was noted.

Councillor Daubney proposed recommendations i), ii) and iv) of the report, which was seconded by Councillor Beales.  Councillor J Collop expressed concern that it was unusual for such changes to be introduced without some prior discussion on the changes proposed.  He drew attention to the fact that he had previously wanted to retain 3 Panels which had not been supported, and the fact that the Cabinet Scrutiny Committee would now be proportionate, whereas the opposition previously had a majority. He would be voting against the proposals.

Councillor Daubney responded that the proposal reflected the position following the elections, but that Councillor Collop’s Group would be invited to input to discussion as part of a Task Group to look at the final scrutiny structures.  Councillor Long proposed that Council move to the vote.  On being put to the vote the proposal was carried.

Councillor Moriarty and McGuinness asked for guidance on the changes being permissible under the Constitution, to which the Monitoring Officer confirmed that with the removal of the recommendation iii) in the report relating to the deletion of the Scrutiny and Overview Liaison Committee, there were not formal constitutional changes so the Constitution would not have to be materially changed.  She explained that the law required scrutiny bodies to be proportionate, unless a “nem con” vote was taken, which had to be taken each year. In the event one wasn’t supported, a body would have to revert to proportionate.

RESOLVED:          i)        That three, 12 Member, proportional Policy Review and Development Panels,

• Environment and Community Panel
• Regeneration and Development Panel
• Resources and Performance/ Audit Committee Panel

ii)        The Environment & Community Panel and the Regeneration & Development Panel to meet jointly for the June and July meetings, with alternate chairing.

iii)       That Cabinet Scrutiny Committee be made up of 9 Members, with an Opposition Chairman and Vice-Chairman, its membership being on a proportionate basis.

RESOLVED:           That it be noted that Councillor N J Daubney is Chairman of the Cabinet and Leader of the Council for the forthcoming four years.

RESOLVED:           That the Membership of the Cabinet be noted as follows:

Deputy Leader - A Beales  

P Beal

G Howard

A Lawrence

B Long

Mrs E Nockolds

D Pope 

                                Mrs V Spikings

RESOLVED: 1) That the proportional allocation of seats with regard to Council Bodies in the Constitution be agreed in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (as amended by subsequent legislation), and in accordance with Section 16 of that Act.

2) That Members be appointed to the proportional Council Bodies as follows :

i) APPOINTMENT BOARD

(9 Members – 7 Con, 2 Lab)

B Anota (C), A Beales (C), N J Daubney (C), I Gourlay (L), C Kittow (L), B Long (C), Mrs K Mellish (C), G Middleton (C), A Morrison(C),

ii) PLANNING COMMITTEE

(18 Members – 15 Con, 3 Lab)

C Bower (C), T Bubb (C), S Buck (L), J Collingham (C), P Colvin (C), C J Crofts (C), I Gourlay (L), G Middleton (C), J Moriarty (L), A Morrison (C), M Peake (C), Mrs V Spikings (C), M S Storey (C), G Wareham (C), E Watson (C), A White (C), A Wright (C), S Young (C)

iii) LICENSING COMMITTEE

(Licensing Act 2003 & Gambling Act)

(15 Members -12 Con, 3 Lab)

L Bambridge (C), S Buck (L), C Crofts (C), S Fraser (C), I Gourlay (L), M Hopkins (C), G McGuinness (L), P Rochford (C), C Sampson (C), S Sandell (C), S Squire (C), D Tyler (C), D Whitby (C), A White (C), S Young (C)

iv) LICENSING AND APPEALS BOARD

(All other Licensing and Appeals matters)

(15 Members -12 Con, 2 Lab, 1 Ind)

T Bubb (C), S Buck (L), C Crofts (C), S Fraser (C), M Hopkins (C), G McGuinness (L), P Rochford (C), C Sampson (C), S Sandell (C), S Squire (C), J M Tilbury (I), D Tyler (C), D Whitby (C), A White (C), S Young (C)

v) STANDARDS COMMITTEE

(7 Cllrs: 6 Con, 1 Lab, & 2 Parish, 1 Ind person)

B Ayres (C), I Devereux (C), P Gidney (C), C Manning (C), M Shorting (C), A Tyler (L), S Young (C)

vi) CABINET SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

(9 Members – 6 Con, 2 Lab, 1 Ind)

R Blunt (C), J Collop (L), J Collingham (C), P Gidney (C), I Gourlay (L), P Kunes (C), K Mellish (C), T Wing-Pentelow (C), Vacancy (I).

vii) ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY PANEL

(12 Members – 10 Con, 2 Lab)

L Bambridge (C), C Bower (C), S Collop (L), S Fraser (C), G Hipperson (C), M Hopkins (C), J Moriarty (L), P Rochford (C), C Sampson (C), T Smith (C), S Squire (C), J Westrop (C)

viii) REGENERATION AND DEVELOPMENT PANEL

(12 Members – 10 Con, 1 Lab, 1 Ind)

M Chenery of Horsbrugh (C), C J Crofts (C), M Howland (C), P Kunes (C), K Mellish (C), M Shorting (C), JM Tilbury (I), A Tyler (L), D Tyler (C), E Watson (C), D Whitby (C), Mrs A Wright (C)

ix) RESOURCES & PERFORMANCE PANEL

(15 Members – 10 Con, 2 Lab)

B Anota (C), R Blunt (C), J Collop (L), I Devereux (C), I  ...  view the full minutes text for item C9

RESOLVED: That Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Council Bodies be elected for 2015/16 as follows:

i) APPOINTMENTS BOARD

Chairman – N J Daubney (C)

Vice-Chairman – B Long (C)

ii) PLANNING COMMITTEE

Chairman – Mrs V Spikings (C)

Vice-Chairman – M Peake (C)

iii) LICENSING COMMITTEE

Chairman – C Crofts (C)

Vice-Chairman – D Tyler (C)

iv) LICENSING AND APPEALS BOARD

Chairman – D Tyler (C)

Vice-Chairman – C Crofts (C)

v) STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Chairman – M Shorting (C)

Vice-Chairman – B Ayres (C)

vi) ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY PANEL

Chairman – C Sampson (C)

Vice-Chairman – L Bambridge (C)

vii) REGENERATION AND DEVELOPMENT PANEL

Chairman – K Mellish (C)

Vice-Chairman –A Wright (C)

viii) RESOURCES AND PERFORMANCE PANEL

Chairman – R P Beal (C)

Vice-Chairman – H Humphrey (C)

ix) CABINET SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

The Chairman and Vice-Chairman will be formally appointed at the first meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED: That the political proportionality formula for Task Groups be agreed as follows:

- Task Groups with 9 members be: 7 (Con):2 (Lab)

- Task Groups with 5 members be: 4 (Con): 1 (Lab)

RESOLVED:           That any Members previously appointed to an outside body continue to serve until the 30 June 2015 Council meeting unless appointed by Cabinet on 10 June 2015.