Agenda and minutes
PDF 36 KBVenue: Parkside Suite - Parkside. View directions
Contact: Sheena Jones Rosemary Cole / Amanda Scarce / Pauline Ross
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
apologies for absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C. J. Bloore, R. J. Deeming, J. M. L. A. Griffiths, P. M. McDonald and M. J. A. Webb.
In giving apologies from Councillor Griffiths, Councillor B. T. Cooper also stated that Councillor Griffiths had requested that her grateful thanks be conveyed to all those who had provided assistance when she had fallen ill at the recent County Council Election Count, including Dr Sian Hotham. Members from all parties expressed their good wishes to Councillor Griffiths for a speedy recovery.
|
|
|
Election of Chairman Following election the Chairman will make a Declaration of Acceptance of office
Minutes: It was proposed by Councillor G. N. Denaro and seconded by Councillor K. J. May that Councillor H. J. Jones be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.
It was
RESOLVED that Councillor H. J. Jones be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.
Councillor Jones signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and thanked Members of the Council for electing her to the Office of Chairman.
|
|
|
Election of Vice-Chairman Following election the Vice-Chairman will make a Declaration of Acceptance of Office
Minutes: It was proposed by Councillor G. N. Denaro and seconded by Councillor K. J. May that Councillor Mrs C. J. Spencer be elected Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.
It was
RESOLVED that Councillor C. J. Spencer be elected Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.
Councillor C. J. Spencer signed the Declaration of Acceptance of office and thanked Members of the Council for electing her to the Office of Vice-Chairman of the Council
|
|
|
Vote of thanks to retiring Office Holders Minutes: The Chairman thanked the retiring Vice-Chairman, Councillor M. Glass for the support he had given her over the past year and presented him with a small gift as a mark of the Council’s appreciation.
|
|
|
Declarations of Interest To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests. Minutes: No Declarations of Interest were received. |
|
|
announcements from the Chairman Minutes: The Chairman was pleased to announce that to date in excess of £4,300 had been raised during her previous year of office for her Charity, Sunfield Special School. The Chairman thanked all those who had supported the various fund raising events.
The Chairman also announced that she had not yet selected her Charity or Charities for the forthcoming year, but was seeking suggestions (by 31st May) from local residents of suitable, possibly smaller organisations which must be located within the Bromsgrove District and be Registered Charities.
|
|
|
announcements from the Leader Minutes: The Leader announced that the Cabinet Membership and responsibilities would be unchanged from the existing arrangements:
· Councillor G. N. Denaro – Leader of the Council without Portfolio (Retaining Overarching Governance/Policy and Performance/HR;
· Councillor K. J. May – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, the Town Centre and Strategic Partnerships;
· Councillor B. T. Cooper – Portfolio Holder for Finance and Enabling;
· Councillor M. A. Sherrey – Portfolio Holder for Health and Well Being and Community Safety;
· Councillor C. B. Taylor – Portfolio Holder for Planning and Strategic Housing;
· Councillor P. J. Whittaker – Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Cultural Services, Environmental Services and Regulatory Services
|
|
|
Appointment of Committees 2017- 18 To consider the report of the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Leader reported that he had agreed with the other Group Leaders that this matter would be reconsidered if necessary at the 21st June Council meeting following the forthcoming by election.
It was proposed by Councillor G. N. Denaro and seconded by Councillor K. J. May and
RESOLVED: (a) that for the ensuing Municipal Year, the Committees set out in the table in Appendix 1 of the report be appointed and that the representation of the different political groups on the Council on those Committees be as set out in that table until the next Annual Meeting of the Council, or until the next review of political representation under section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, whichever is the earlier (subject to review if necessary following the outcome of the forthcoming by election);
(b) that Members be appointed to the Committees and as substitute Members in accordance with nominations to be made by Group Leaders;
(c) that the terms of reference for the Boards and Committees as set out at Appendix 2 be confirmed. |
|
|
Appointments to Outside Bodies To consider the report of the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services
Additional documents: Minutes: It was proposed by Councillor G. N. Denaro and seconded by Councillor K. J. May that the existing appointments to Outside Bodies as listed in the appendix to the report remain in post.
Arising from discussion on this matter the following points were raised:
· whether the organisations concerned would consider extending terms of Office; · the possibility of amending the Council’s Constitution to enable normal items of business to be considered at the Annual Council Meeting; · a request that as previously discussed attendance records for the various Outside Bodies be made available. In particular reference was made to the Worcestershire Regulatory Services Board which a number of different Members had attended during the past year. In this regard Councillor K. J. May offered to make available a report on the meetings of the WRS Board which she had attended to any interested Member.
RESOLVED that the existing appointments to Outside Bodies as listed in the appendix to the report remain in post for the forthcoming year. |
|
|
Scheme of Delegation To consider the report of the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services
Additional documents:
Minutes: It was proposed by Councillor G. N. Denaro and seconded by Councillor K. J. May that the current version of the Scheme of Delegation as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.
As an amendment it was proposed by Councillor S. P. Shannon and seconded by Councillor M. Thompson that the current delegation in relation to planning applications be altered to require that all planning applications for between 3 and 10 dwelling houses be determined by the Planning Committee.
During the debate on the amendment a number of Members expressed the view that it was not appropriate to amend the delegation in isolation with no supporting evidence or understanding of the potential impact such a change may have.
On being put to the vote the amendment was LOST.
As a further amendment it was proposed by Councillor C. A. Hotham and seconded by Councillor S. R. Colella that the delegations in respect of Worcestershire Regulatory Services be approved for a period of 3 months only and that within this period an investigation process be undertaken to determine whether the service provided by WRS to the Bromsgrove District constitutes value for money.
During the debate on the amendment some Members queried the assumption that WRS was not providing a good service. In addition Members were reminded that WRS provided a service to all District Councils within Worcestershire. Councillor P. J. Whittaker as the responsible Portfolio Holder for WRS stated that complaints had not been brought to his attention.
On being put to the vote the amendment was LOST.
The Leader stated that he was in favour of a review of the Scheme of Delegations being undertaken, potentially by the Constitution Working Group or another similar Group involving Group Leaders and officers, but that the timescale for this process needed to be realistic.
During the discussion some Members expressed the view that the Constitution Working Group was not the most appropriate forum at which to consider this matter.
It was proposed by Councillor G. N. Denaro and seconded by Councillor K. J. May and
RESOLVED: (a) that the existing Scheme of Delegations as set out in appendix 1 to the report be approved; and (b) that a Working Group be established comprising Group Leaders and appropriate officers to review the Scheme of Delegations and that a report be submitted to Council within six months.
|
Copyright Bromsgrove District Council