Members of the Council are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest, in connection with any matter to be debated or determined at this meeting and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

Members of the Council were invited to consider whether they had any disclosable pecuniary and / or any other relevant interest in connection with any matters to be determined at this meeting and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the interest.

No such declarations were made.

To receive the Civic Mayor's announcements and any apologies for absence.

The Civic Mayor announced that apologies for absence were received from Councillors Colin Baldwin and Jenny Johnson. It was further announced that Councillor Andrew Gardner was due to arrive once the meeting had commenced.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting(s) of the Council held on 20 March 2023.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 20 March 2023 had been circulated to Members. On a motion by the Civic Mayor, seconded by Councillor Paul Stuart, it was –

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2023 be approved and adopted as a correct record.

To receive and note the report of the Returning Officer on the results of the Local Government Election held on 4 May 2023.

The Chief Executive / Returning Officer presented a summary of the results of the Local Government Elections held on 4 May 2023.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

To consider the following reports of the Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer) which require the approval or consideration of the Council.

In accordance with Standing Order 1.3 five matters had been submitted for approval by the Council (see minutes 10 to 13 post).

To consider the recommendation from the Constitution and Standards Committee of 13 April 2023 on revisions to the Council Procedure Rules and Overview and Scheme of Delegations of Authority to Officers, alongside the recommendation from the Monitoring Officer for a number of minor amendments, with a revised Constitution for Council’s adoption.

The first item requiring approval was a referral from Constitution and Standards Committee, to adopt a revised Constitution including revisions to the Council Procedure Rules and Overview and Scheme of Delegations of Authority to Officers, alongside the recommendation from the Monitoring Officer for a number of minor amendments.

It was moved by Councillor Tony Cox, seconded by Councillor Phil Gilchrist, that the recommendations as detailed in the report be agreed.

It was then moved by Councillor Jo Bird, seconded by Councillor Pat Cleary, that ‘In addition to the amendments identified in the report, that the Constitution be further amended in the following way:

Part 3(B) Responsibility for Functions – Committees (B) para 1 - now include a statement to say:

All committees adhere to the requirements of Section 15 (as amended) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 in their composition for political proportionality.  In the appointment of Chairs and Vice Chairs, the Council chooses to apply the principle of proportionality so that the number of Chairs and Vice Chairs appointed represents the same proportionality as its council membership.’

Following a number of members talking to the amendment, the amendment was put to the vote and lost (19:43) (1 abstention).

Councillor Gilchrist spoke as seconder of the original motion, before the motion was put to the vote and carried (62:0) (1 abstention). It was therefore –

Resolved – That

(1)  the amendments to the Constitution recommended by the Constitution and Standards as detailed in paragraphs 3.2 to 3.5 of the report be endorsed.

(2)  the minor amendments to the Constitution recommended by the Monitoring Officer as detailed in paragraph 3.7 of the report be endorsed.

(3)  the revised Constitution be adopted.

To determine such committees as the Council considers appropriate for the municipal year and, determine the number of members to form the committees and the allocation of seats.

The second item requiring approval was in relation to the appointment of committees.

On a motion by the Civic Mayor, seconded by Councillor Jean Robinson, it was –

Resolved – That

(1)  the formation of those Committees set out in Part 3(B) of the revised Constitution be agreed and seats on the Committees be allocated as set out in Appendix 1.

(2)  the Monitoring Officer be authorised as proper officer to carry out the wishes of the Leaders of Political Groups in allocating Members to membership and substitute membership of the committees or other authorities, and to appoint those Members with effect from the date at which the proper officer is advised of the names of such Members.

(3)  the appointment of sub-committees, panels and statutory/advisory committees be delegated to the appropriate parent Committee of Council.

(4)  Authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, to appoint Members to the Regulatory Panel of the Regulatory and General Purposes Committee and appoint Members to the Licensing Panel of the Licensing Committee, in consultation with the Chair and Spokespersons of these Committees, to enable meetings of either, or both, of these panels, if required, prior to their appointment at the first meetings of each of these committees.

To appoint:

(i)  the Leader of the Council (Chair of Policy and Resources Committee)

(ii)  the Deputy Leader of the Council (Vice-Chair of Policy and Resources Committee)

(iii)  the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of all other Council committees, at A above, other than those which the Council has decided should be appointed by the committee itself.

The third matter requiring approval was in relation to the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Committees.

In relation to the election of the Leader of the Council (and Chair of Policy & Resources Committee), it was moved by Councillor Angie Davies, seconded by Councillor Jean Robinson, that Councillor Paul Stuart be elected.

It was moved by Councillor Pat Cleary, seconded by Councillor Harry Gorman, that Councillor Pat Cleary be elected.

The Civic Mayor indicated that there would be no debate and that the Council would vote on the nomination of Councillor Paul Stuart as the first nomination received in time.

Prior to the vote, a number of Members rose to request a recorded vote in accordance with Standing Order 17.4. A recorded vote was then taken on the appointment of Councillor Paul Stuart as Leader of the Council (and Chair of Policy & Resources Committee) as follows:

For

(49) Councillors Ann Ainsworth, Paula Basnett, Gary Bennett, Stephen Bennett, Max Booth, Allan Brame, Helen Cameron, Chris Carubia, Tony Cox, Angie Davies, Graham Davies, George Davies, Steve Foulkes, Phil Gilchrist, Jeff Green, Liz Grey, Brenda Hall, Andrew Hodson, Kathy Hodson, Gail Jenkinson, Paul Jobson, Tony Jones, Mary Jordan, Stuart Kelly, Brian Kenny, Daisy Kenny, Tom Laing, Ian Lewis, Louise Luxon-Kewley, Paul Martin, Grahame McManus, Julie McManus, Simon Mountney, Tony Murphy, Richie Pitt, Cherry Povall, Sue Powell-Wilde, Helen Raymond, Mike Redfern, Lesley Rennie, Jean Robinson, Mark Skillicorn, James Stewart Laing, Kaitlin Stuart, Paul Stuart, Mike Sullivan, Janette Williamson, Vida Wilson and Gill Wood.

Against

(13) Councillors Jo Bird, Pat Cleary, Chris Cooke, Harry Gorman, Naomi Graham, Judith Grier, Ed Lamb, Craig McDonald, Ruth Molyneux, Kieran Murphy, Amanda Onwuemene, Ewan Tomeny and Jason Walsh.

Abstentions

(1) Councillor Jerry Williams

As the motion was clearly carried, the Civic Mayor informed Council that no further vote was required and therefore declared that –

(1)  Councillor Paul Stuart be appointed Leader of the Council (Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee).

Having been invited by the Civic Mayor to make his acceptance speech, Councillor Stuart then spoke to his election as Leader.

In relation to the election of the Deputy Leader of the Council (and Vice-Chair of Policy & Resources Committee), it was moved by Councillor Paul Stuart, seconded by Councillor Angie Davies, that Councillor Jean Robinson be elected.

It was moved by Councillor Jo Bird, seconded by Councillor Ed Lamb, that Councillor Jo Bird be elected.

The Civic Mayor indicated that there would be no debate and that the Council would vote on the nomination of Councillor Jean Robinson as the first nomination received in time.

Prior to the vote, a number of Members rose to request a recorded vote in accordance with Standing Order 17.4. A recorded vote was then taken on the appointment of Councillor Jean Robinson as Deputy Leader of the Council (and Vice-Chair of Policy & Resources Committee) as follows:

For

(49) Councillors Ann Ainsworth, Paula Basnett, Gary Bennett, Stephen Bennett, Max Booth, Allan Brame, Helen Cameron, Chris Carubia, Tony Cox, Angie Davies, Graham Davies,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Appoint Members to miscellaneous other bodies and appoint Members (and/or other individuals) to outside bodies and organisations, unless otherwise delegated.

The fourth matter requiring approval was in relation to the appointment of Members (and/or other individuals) to outside bodies and organisations.

On a motion by Councillor Paul Stuart, seconded by Councillor Jean Robinson, it was –

Resolved – That Council authorises the Monitoring Officer as proper officer to carry out the wishes of the Leaders of Political Groups in allocating Members to membership and substitute membership where relevant, of the Outside Bodies listed at Appendix 1, and to appoint those Members with effect from the date at which the proper officer is advised of the names of such Members.