Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Tony Hall.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any items on the agenda.

None.

To formally ratify the decision of the Chief Executive to adopt the Virtual Committee Procedure Rules (attached as Appendix A to the report) with immediate effect until 7 May 2021 and that they be inserted into Part 4 of the Constitution.

Councillor Mark Ingall proposed and Councillor Eugenie Harvey seconded the formal ratification of the decision of the Chief Executive to adopt the Virtual Committee Procedure Rules (attached as Appendix A to the report).  

RESOLVED that the Virtual Committee Procedure Rules are adopted with immediate effect until 7 May 2021 and are inserted into Part 4 of the Constitution.

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 30 January and 27 February 2020.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 30 January 2020 and 27 February 2020 are agreed as correct records and signed by the Chair.

The Chair of the Council, Councillor Clive Souter, welcomed everyone to the first virtual Council meeting. The Chair held a minute’s silence for the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Chair announced that he had raised £11,800 for his two chosen charities. The Chair had personally topped the amount raised up to £12,000. Livewire and Addenbrooks Renal Unit would both be presented with a cheque for £6,000 each for 2019/20.

The Chair gave his thanks for the Municipal Year. Councillor Souter gave his thanks to Councillor Frances Mason for donating to his two chosen charities each month. He also thanked Playhouse Manager Rory Davies, Vice-Chair Councillor Maggie Hulcoop, Corporate and Governance Support Officer Lisa Thornett and his wife, Stephanie, for their support throughout the year.

The Chair will call for nominations for the appointment of Chair of the Council for 2020/21 (if there is more than one nomination, there will be a vote in the usual way).

The Chair will declare the successful nominee to be elected.

The Chief Executive will call on the elected Chair of the Council to sign a declaration of acceptance of office.

The newly elected Chair of the Council will give an acceptance speech.

Councillor Emma Toal proposed and Councillor Mark Wilkinson seconded the nomination of Councillor Maggie Hulcoop as Chair of the Council.

RESOLVED that Councillor Maggie Hulcoop is elected as Chair of the Council for 2020/21 and is invested with the chain and badge of office.

Councillor Hulcoop signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and gave an acceptance speech.

She thanked her colleagues for her appointment as Chair of the Council and also thanked Councillor Clive Souter for his service to the town during his term in office.

Councillor Hulcoop announced that her chosen charities would be Petals and Mind.

From this point, Councillor Hulcoop chaired the meeting.

The Chair will call for nominations for the appointment of Vice Chair of the Council for 2020/21 (if there is more than one nomination, there will be a vote in the usual way).

The Chair will declare the successful nominee to be elected.

The Chief Executive will call on the elected Chair of the Council to sign a declaration of acceptance of office.

The newly appointed Vice Chair of the Council will give an acceptance speech.

Councillor Chris Vince proposed and Councillor Frances Mason seconded the nomination of Councillor Bob Davis as the Vice Chair of the Council.

RESOLVED that Councillor Bob Davis is appointed as Vice Chair of the Council for 2020/21 and is invested with the chain and badge of office.

Councillor Davis signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

The Chair will call for the Leader to announce his/her Deputy Leader and appointments to the Cabinet.

Councillor Mark Ingall announced his Cabinet as follows:

Councillor Eugenie Harvey – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resilience and Recovery

Councillor Chris Vince – Portfolio Holder for Community and Wellbeing

Councillor Tony Durcan – Portfolio Holder for Growth and Prosperity

Councillor Danny Purton – Portfolio Holder for Environment

Councillor Frances Mason – Portfolio Holder for Governance, Equality and Diversity

Councillor Mark Wilkinson – Portfolio Holder for Housing

Councillor Mike Danvers – Portfolio Holder for Resources

Councillor Ingall thanked Councillors Lanie Shears and John Strachan for their work last year.

The Chair will call for nominations to the membership of Committees, Sub Committees and Panels of the Council and their Chairs and Vice Chairs.

RESOLVED that Councillors are appointed as members/substitute members of Council Committees, Sub Committees and Panels as appended to the minutes.

The Chair will call for nominations for appointments of Member Champions.

RESOLVED that Councillors are appointed as Member Champions as appended to the minutes.

The Chair will call for nominations for appointment of Council representatives on the outside bodies as listed.

RESOLVED that the Council representatives nominated for appointment to the outside bodies as appended to the minutes.

Audit and Standards Committee recommended to Full Council that the revised Code of Conduct (attached as Appendix A to the report) be adopted, subject to the amendment of paragraph 14.1 of the Code to set a limit of £25 or totalling £50 over a year from a single source.

Councillor Stefan Mullard proposed and Councillor Eugenie Harvey seconded the adoption of the revised Code of Conduct (attached as Appendix A to the report).

RESOLVED that the revised Code of Conduct was adopted subject to the amendment of paragraph 14.1 of the Code to set a limit of £25 or totalling £50 over a year from a single source.

Licensing Committee recommended to Full Council that the revised Licensing Committee, Licensing Sub Committee and Regulatory Sub Committee Terms of Reference (attached as Appendix A to the report) are adopted.

Councillor Stefan Mullard proposed and Councillor Eugenie Harvey seconded the adoption of the Licensing Committee, Licensing Sub Committee and Regulatory Sub Committee Terms of Reference (attached as Appendix A to the report).

RESOLVED that the Licensing Committee, Licensing Sub Committee and Regulatory Sub Committee Terms of Reference were adopted.

To approve the calendar of meetings for 2020/21 municipal year.

RESOLVED that the calendar of meeting for 2020/21, as amended at the meeting and as appended to the minutes, is approved.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.