Agenda and minutes

Venue: Floral Pavilion

Items
No. Item

1.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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.

Minutes:

The 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 such interest.

 

No such declarations were made.

2.

Honorary Alderman Mrs Kate Wood

Minutes:

The Civic Mayor informed the Council of the sad news of the recent death of Honorary Alderman Kate Wood, former Conservative Councillor for Wallasey Ward 1973-2013 and Civic Mayor in 2000/01. The Council stood in silence, as a mark of respect.

3.

CIVIC MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Minutes:

The Civic Mayor thanked all those within the Council and throughout the Borough who had supported him and the Mayoress in the wide variety of activities that they had undertaken throughout his year of office. In particular, the Civic Mayor thanked the staff of Civic and Member Services and the Attendants for their valued assistance, and all those involved in the work of the Civic Mayor’s Charity Fund. He stated how grateful, humble and proud both he and the Mayoress were to have served as Civic Mayor and Mayoress.

4.

ELECTION OF CIVIC MAYOR 2014/15

To elect the Civic Mayor for the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral for the municipal year 2014/15.

Minutes:

The Civic Mayor invited nominations for election of the Civic Mayor for the ensuing municipal year.

 

On a motion moved by Councillor Phil Davies, seconded by Councillor Gilchrist and, in the absence of any other nominations, it was:

 

Resolved (50:5) (10 abstentions) – That Councillor Steve Foulkes be elected Civic Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral for the 2014/15 municipal year.

 

Councillor Foulkes made the declaration of acceptance of office required by law, and the retiring Civic Mayor (Councillor Mitchell) vacated the Chair. Councillor Foulkes occupied the Chair.

 

The Civic Mayor welcomed his guests and spoke to his election.

5.

DEPUTY CIVIC MAYOR 2014/15

To appoint the Deputy Civic Mayor.

Minutes:

The Civic Mayor invited nominations for the appointment of a Deputy Civic Mayor for the ensuing municipal year.

 

On a motion moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Phil Davies, and in the absence of any other nominations, it was:

 

Resolved (unanimously) – That Councillor Les Rowlands be appointed Deputy Civic Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral for the 2014/15 municipal year.

 

Councillor Rowlands made the declaration of acceptance of office required by law.

6.

ADJOURNMENT

To agree that, pursuant to the Annual Council procedure (Standing Order 5A), the meeting stand adjourned to 6.15pm on Monday, 9 June 2014.

Minutes:

The Council agreed, without a vote, pursuant to Standing Order 5A (1), that the meeting stand adjourned to 6.15pm on Monday, 9 June 2014.

7.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

The members of the Council are invited 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.

Minutes:

The Members of the Council were invited to consider whether they had 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.

 

No such declarations were made.

8.

CIVIC MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Minutes:

The Civic Mayor welcomed everyone to the meeting, including the public and the nine newly elected Members. He also expressed his gratitude to those former Councillors who had stood down or who weren’t returned to office by the electorate and stated that he would be writing to them to thank them for their services to the Council.

 

The Civic Mayor thanked all those Members who had attended Honorary Alderman Kate Wood’s funeral.

 

The Civic Mayor drew to Members’ attention two forthcoming dates for diaries:

 

·  Civic Sunday service would be at St James, Birkenhead, 10.00am, on 10 August, 2014

·  Civic Mayor’s Charity Ball at Thornton Hall, Thornton Hough on Friday 17 October, 2014

9.

PETITIONS

To receive petitions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 21.

Minutes:

In accordance with Standing Order 21, the Civic Mayor received petitions submitted by –

 

(i).  Councillor Tom Anderson on behalf of 107 signatories objecting to a cut in the Council Tax discount to the over 70s.

 

(ii).  Councillor Jim Crabtree on behalf of 76 signatories objecting to the loss of community grass at the rear of Balliol Close, Bidston.

 

(iii).  Councillor Jim Crabtree on behalf of 73 signatories requesting lighting at the Bidston by-pass bus stop.

 

(iv).  Councillor Bruce Berry on behalf of 254 signatories supporting a campaign for ‘taxes paid by people in Wirral should be used for services in Wirral’.

 

Resolved – That the petitions be noted and referred to the appropriate Chief Officer in accordance with Standing Order 34.

10.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 170 KB

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 10 March, 2014.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 10 March, 2014 had been circulated to Members and, it was –

 

Resolved – That the minutes be approved and adopted as a correct record.

11.

ELECTION RESULTS - 22 MAY 2014 pdf icon PDF 53 KB

To receive and note the report of the Returning Officer on the results of the Local Government Election held on 22 May 2014.

Minutes:

The Chief Executive and Returning Officer presented a summary of the results of the Local Government Elections held on 22 May 2012.

 

Resolved – That the report be noted.

12.

LEADER'S ANNOUNCEMENT

The Leader will confirm his Cabinet and Cabinet Portfolios and Holders (or otherwise confirm to Council that such details shall be communicated to all Members as soon as practically possible after the meeting).

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council confirmed appointments to his Cabinet for 2014/15 as follows:

 

Portfolio

Councillor

Party

Address

Ward

 

 

 

 

 

Leader

Phil Davies Leader of the Council

Labour

16 Westbourne Grove West Kirby

Wirral CH48 4DL

Birkenhead and Tranmere

Governance, Commissioning and Improvement

Ann McLachlan Deputy Leader

Labour

27 Danefield Road Greasby

 Wirral CH49 3BP

Bidston and

St James

Neighbourhoods, Housing and Engagement

George Davies

Labour

46 Shamrock Road Claughton

Birkenhead

Wirral CH41 0EQ

Claughton

Support Services

Adrian Jones

Labour

10 Elmswood Road Seacombe

Wallasey

Wirral CH44 8DB

Seacombe

Adult Social Care and Public Health

Christine Jones

Labour

10 Elmswood Road Seacombe

Wallasey

Wirral CH44 8DB

Seacombe

Leisure, Sport and Culture

Chris Meaden

Labour

19 Inglemere Road Rock Ferry Birkenhead

Wirral CH42 4QL

Rock Ferry

Economy

Pat Hackett

Labour

7 Wood Lane Wallasey

Wirral CH45 8QP

New Brighton

Children and Family Services

Tony Smith

Labour

27 South Drive

Upton

Wirral CH49 6LA

Upton

Environment and Sustainability

Bernie Mooney

Labour

30 Brompton Avenue Liscard

Wallasey

Wirral CH44 0BD

Liscard

Highways and Transport

Stuart Whittingham

Labour

16 Fender Way Prenton

Birkenhead

Wirral CH43 7ZJ

Upton

 

The Leader outlined changes he had made to three of the portfolios. With the Council increasingly becoming a commissioner of services rather than as a provider, the Deputy Leader had been given responsibility for commissioning. Public Health would become a key element of the Adult Social Care brief. The new portfolio of Leisure, Sports and Culture reflected the core challenge of remodelling the Council’s leisure services and how within current financial constraints the Council could maintain its cultural assets. A list of the responsibilities of the ten portfolios would be published within the next few days.

 

The Leader welcomed Councillors Bernie Mooney and Stuart Whittingham to the Cabinet and placed on record his thanks to Councillor Harry Smith, who was standing down from the Cabinet, for his excellent work he had undertaken whilst on the Cabinet.

 

Resolved – That the Cabinet appointments be noted.

13.

MATTERS REQUIRING APPROVAL BY THE COUNCIL pdf icon PDF 74 KB

A.  To consider the reports of the Head of Legal and Member Services on the following matters:

 

(i).  Appointment and Constitution of Council Committees for 2014/15.

(Pages 25 - 43)

 

(ii).  Appointments to Statutory and Advisory Committees, Working Parties and Panels 2014/15.

(Pages 45 - 57)

 

(iii).  Appointment of Members (and/or other individuals) to Outside Bodies and organisations 2014/15.

(Pages 59 - 73)

 

B.  To consider recommendations from the Policy and Performance Coordinating Committee of 1 April, 2014, in respect of proposed Joint Health scrutiny arrangements covering the Merseyside and Cheshire area.

(Pages 75 - 90)

 

C.  To consider recommendations from the Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee of 28 April, 2014, in respect of the Council’s Ethical Framework relating to Member conduct and related issues.

(Pages 91- 128)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council was requested to consider the reports of the Head of Legal and Member Services and Committee referrals on the following matters –

 

(i).  Appointments and Constitution of Council Committees and the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs to such Committees.

 

(ii).  Appointments to Statutory and Advisory Committees, Working Parties and Panels.

 

(iii).  Appointment of Members (and/or other individuals) to Outside Bodies and Organisations.

 

(iv).  Recommendations of the Policy and Performance Coordinating Committee held on 1 April, 2014, in respect of proposed Joint Health scrutiny arrangements covering the Merseyside and Cheshire area.

 

(v).  Recommendations of the Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee held on 28 April 2014 in respect of the Council’s Ethical Framework relating to Member conduct and related issues.

 

In respect of the first matter requiring approval, it was moved by Councillor Phil Davies and seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan –

 

‘That the recommendations in the report be approved.’

 

An amendment was then submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12 (1).

 

Proposed by Councillor Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Pat Williams

 

‘Council believes that taking away the opportunity for members of opposition parties to chair the Scrutiny process is a backward step.

 

Council is concerned that this was done by the Leader without consultation or discussion with the opposition parties.

 

In particular, Council respects and notes the role of the Policy and Performance Committees as described in the Constitution where they are expected to…

“foster and encourage an inclusive, structured, non-partisan and non-adversarial approach to overview and scrutiny”.

 

In addition, the Constitution states that Chairs and Members are expected to “….undertake Overview and Scrutiny functions in a constructive and non-partisan way”.

 

Council therefore does not accept that the Chairs should be drawn in their entirety from the controlling party and calls upon the Leader to enter into a meaningful dialogue on this issue.

 

 Council therefore resolves that:

 

1. With regard to the appointment of Chairpersons to the Policy and Performance Committees, the three Group Leaders shall within the next seven days enter into dialogue with a view to agreeing the Chairperson of each Policy and Performance Committee. Those appointments shall take effect once the names of the Chairpersons have been confirmed in writing to the Head of Legal and Member Services.

 

2. In the event that the three Group Leaders are unable to reach agreement as to the Chairpersons of the Policy and Performance Committees (pursuant to 1 above), the matter will be referred back to Council for determination at its meeting on 14 July 2014. In the interim, the Chairperson of each Policy and Performance Committee shall be appointed by each Committee from amongst its membership.’

 

Two further amendments were then submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12 (1).

 

First amendment -

 

Proposed by Councillor Jeff Green

Seconded by Councillor Lesley Rennie

 

‘Council notes that opposition Members of the Council have previously raised concerns regarding the size and scope of the Families and Wellbeing Policy and Performance Committee and its ability to adequately scrutinise the performance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Appendix A Committee Membership 2014-15 pdf icon PDF 91 KB

Appendix A Committee Membership 2014-15

 

Appendix B Statutory and Advisory Committees, Working Parties and Panels 2014/15

 

Appendix C Outside Organisations 2014/15

Additional documents: