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.

The Civic Mayor Adjourned the Council Meeting at 6:00pm due to protestors disrupting the meeting.

The meeting resumed at 6:40pm

The Civic Mayor and Group Leaders then spoke to the adjournment.   

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 Graham Davies, Jenny Johnson, Daisy Kenny, Ritchie Pitt, and Paul Martin.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 18 March 2024

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 18 March 2024 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 18 March 2024 be approved and adopted as a correct record.

In accordance with Standing Order 1.3 four matters had been submitted for approval by the Council (see minutes 5 to 8 post).

To consider the recommendations from the Constitution and Standards Committee of 28 February 2024 on revisions to the Officer Code of Conduct, Member Officer Protocol, Media Protocol, Financial Procedure Rules, Members Allowance Scheme, Public Questions and Petitions, Minor amendments and Licensing Code of Good Practice.

The first item requiring approval was a referral from Constitution and Standards Committee, to adopt a revised Constitution including revision to the Officer Code of Conduct, Member Officer Protocol, Media Protocol, Financial Procedure Rules, Members Allowance Scheme, Public Questions and Petitions, the Licensing Code of Good Practice. Also included was a recommendation from the Monitoring Officer for 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 Pat Cleary, seconded by Councillor Jo Bird, that,

‘In addition to the recommendations detailed in the report, that a further recommendation 3 be included,

(3) That in respect to Part 3(B) Responsibility for Functions – (B) Committees, an additional paragraph be included as follows - 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, a number of Members rose to request a recorded vote on the amendment in accordance with Standing Order 17.4 as follows,

For

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

Against

(46) Councillors Ann Ainsworth, Colin Baldwin, Paula Basnett, Gary Bennett, Stephen Bennett, Max Booth, Allan Brame, Helen Cameron, Chris Carubia, Tony Cox, Angie Davies, George Davies, Steve Foulkes, Gardener Phil Gilchrist, Jeff Green, Liz Grey, Brenda Hall, Andrew Hodson, Kathy Hodson,  Paul Jobson, Tony Jones, Mary Jordan, Stuart Kelly, Brian Kenny,  Tom Laing, Ian Lewis, Louise Luxon-Kewley, Grahame McManus, Julie McManus, Simon Mountney, Tony Murphy, 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, Jerry Williams, Vida Wilson and Gill Wood.

Abstentions

(1)  Councillor Cherry Povall

As the amendment was lost, the original motion was then put to the vote and was carried (60:0) (1 abstention) it was therefore –

Resolved – that,

(1) the proposed amendments to the Constitution, as detailed in sections 3.2 to 3.15 of the report as recommended by the Constitution and Standards Committee be endorsed.

(2) 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.

It was moved by the Civic Mayor, seconded by Councillor Paul Stuart, that the appointment of committees as detailed in the Council Summons be approved for the 2024/25 municipal year.

An amendment was then moved by Councillor Jo Bird and Seconded by Councillor Pat Cleary that allocation of committee places be amended as set out in the Council Summons Supplement (pt 2)

Following a number of members speaking to the amendment, the amendment was put to the vote and lost (14:46) (1 abstention). The original motion was then put to the vote and was carried (46:14) (1 abstention). It was therefore –

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.

The recommendation was then put to the vote and was carried (46:14) (1 abstention). It was therefore

A.  Resolved – (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.

The recommendation was then put to the vote and was carried (46:14) (1 abstention) it was therefore -

B.  Resolved – (2) That Councillor Jean Robinson be appointed Deputy Leader of the Council (Vice-Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee).

In relation to the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs, it was moved by Councillor Paul Stuart, seconded by Councillor Jean Robinson, that the Chairs and Vice-Chairs as listed in the supplementary agenda be appointed for the 2025/25 municipal year.

The Civic Mayor advised Members there were amendments to the appointment of Chairs and Vice Chairs by the Green group, to which the Director of Law and Corporate Services advised that these amendments were permissible within the constitution.

It was proposed by Cllr Amanda Onwuemene, seconded by Cllr Judith Grier. that Cllr Amanda Onwuemene is appointed as Chair of Children, Young People and Education committee.

It was proposed by Cllr Gail Jenkinson, seconded by Cllr Jason Walsh-McDonald that Cllr Gail Jenkinson is appointed as Chair of Audit & Risk Management committee.

It was proposed by Cllr Naomi Graham and seconded by Cllr Harry Gorman, that Cllr Naomi Graham is appointed as Vice Chair of Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport committee.

It was proposed by Cllr Kieran Murphy, seconded by Cllr Chris Cooke that

Cllr Kieran Murphy is appointed as Vice Chair of Regulatory & General Purposes committee.

Following a number of members speaking to the amendment, and Councillor Paul Stuart exercising his right of reply as mover of the original motion, Councillor Jeff Green moved that standing order 15.6 (b) be put aside and the Green Group amendments be voted for en bloc. This was seconded by Councillor Paul Stuart.

This motion was put to the vote and carried (45:15) (1 Abstention)

Therefore, the amendments were put to the vote and lost (14:46) (1 abstention).

The original motion was then put to the vote and was carried (46:1) (1 abstention). It was therefore –

That Chairs and Vice-Chairs be appointed to Committees as referred to in the list circulated in the supplementary agenda, and that the appointments be as set out below.

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.

It was moved by Councillor Paul Stuart, seconded by Councillor Jean Robinson, that the recommendations as detailed in the report be agreed.

It was then moved by Councillor Ed Lamb, seconded by Councillor Ruth Molyneux, that the requested additional wording (in bold) be added to recommendation 2,

‘Council is recommended to, (1) Note the list of outside bodies

(2) Authorise the Monitoring Officer as proper officer to carry out the wishes of the Leaders of Political Groups during the course of the municipal year, 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 with the exception of the Transport Committee of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority whereby the nominations will be made on a politically proportionate basis – Labour Group 2 / Conservative Group 1/ Green Group’

Following a number of members speaking to the amendment, and Councillor Paul Stuart exercising his right of reply as mover of the original motion, the amendment was put to the vote and lost (14:46) (1 abstention).

The original motion was then put to the vote and was carried (60:0) (1 abstention). It was therefore,

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.