Agenda and minutes

Apologies received from Councillors David Carter, Nick Churchill and Russell Perrin.

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

None.

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2014.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 20 March 2014 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman welcomed all six new Councillors following the recent local elections.

The Chairman’s review of the municipal year had been given at her recent thanksgiving service.

A cheque for £1,500 was presented to each of the Chairman’s charities for 2013/14: Canalability and Street Pastors.

Thanks were given and flowers were presented to two officers from the Governance and Corporate Support Team for the personal support that had been provided to the Chairman throughout her term in office.

The Chairman presented the following Civic Awards to local individuals and organisations, in recognition of their commitment and contribution to the local community:

Sam Snelling

Jane Chivrall

Rev. Robert Findlay

The Chairman will call for nominations for the appointment of Chairman of the Council for 2014/15 (if there is more than one nomination, there will be a vote in the usual way).

The Chairman will declare the successful nominee to be elected and invest him/her with the chain and badge of office.

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

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

Councillor Jon Clempner proposed and Councillor Emma Toal seconded the nomination of Councillor Ian Beckett.

RESOLVED that Councillor Ian Beckett is elected as Chairman of the Council for 2014/15 and is invested with the chain and badge of office.

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

He thanked his colleagues and fellow Councillors for his appointment as Chair of the Council and also thanked Councillor Linda Pailing for her service to the town during her term in office.

He announced that his chosen charities during his term of office would be No Child Without, The Chocolate Run and The Gibberd Gardens.

From this point, Councillor Ian Beckett chaired the meeting.

The Chairman will call for nominations for the appointment of Vice-Chairman of the Council for 2014/15 (if there is more than one nomination, there will be a vote in the usual way).

The Chairman will declare the successful nominee to be elected and invest him/her with the chain and badge of office.

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

Councillor Simon Carter proposed and Councillor Joel Charles seconded the nomination of Councillor Tony Hall.

RESOLVED that Councillor Tony Hall is elected as Vice-Chairman of the Council for 2014/15 and is invested with the chain and badge of office.

Councillor Tony Hall signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

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

The Chairman will declare the successful nominee to be elected.

Councillor Emma Toal proposed and Councillor Waida Forman seconded the nomination of Councillor Jon Clempner.

RESOLVED that Councillor Jon Clempner is elected as Leader of the Council.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner and seconded by Councillor Tony Durcan it was:

RESOLVED that

A         the Constitution of the Council be changed to enable the Leader of the Council to appoint a Cabinet comprised of Administration Councillors only

B         that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any consequential alterations to the Council’s Constitution arising from A above.

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

Councillor Jon Clempner announced his Cabinet (including three

non-voting attendees) as detailed in the supplementary document accompanying Agenda Item 10. 

Council noted the Conservative Group Opposition Spokepersons for the Cabinet Portfolios, as detailed in the supplementary document accompanying Agenda Item 10.

The Chairman will call for nominations to the membership of Committees, Sub-Committees and Panels of the Council and their Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen.

RESOLVED that the membership of Committees, Sub-Committees and Panels and their Chairman and Vice-Chairman are agreed as listed in the supplementary document accompanying Agenda Item 11.

A The Council’s Committee structure is established for 2014/15 as outlined in Tables 1 and 2 of the report.

B The Council notes the political balance calculation for 2014/15 and agrees that Committee seats are allocated to political groups as set out in Tables 1 and 2 of the report.

C Councillors are appointed as members/substitute members of Council Committees, Sub Committees and Panels as set out in the separately circulated Appendix B to the report.

D Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Committees, Sub Committees and Panels are appointed as set out in the separately circulated Appendix B.

The Chairman will call for nominations for appointment of Council representatives on outside bodies.

RESOLVED that the Council representatives nominated for appointment to the outside bodies are agreed as detailed in the supplementary document accompanying Agenda Item 12.

To approve the calendar of meetings for the 2014/15 municipal year.

RESOLVED that the calendar of meetings for 2014/15, as outlined in Agenda Item 13 is approved.

None.