Agenda and minutes

One nomination has been received for the office of the Chair of the Council for Councillor Lesley Boniface.

The nomination will be voted upon.  Following the appointment, the Chair of the Council will be invited to make a Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

The Chair of the Council, Councillor Ian Alexander, welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair advised that one nomination had been received for the Chair of the Council in advance of the meeting for Councillor Lesley Boniface for 2024/25.

Councillor Brett proposed and Councillor Davies seconded the nomination of Councillor Boniface.

The proposal was put to the vote and was approved unanimously.

RESOLVED that Councillor Lesley Boniface be elected as the Chair of the Council for 2024/25.

Councillor Boniface then made the statutory declaration of acceptance of office as Chair of the Council and took the chair. 

In her speech of acceptance of her election, Councillor thanked the Council for electing her and advised that she would let Councillors know her theme for the year.  She thanked Councillor Alexander and, his consort, Mrs Julie Alexander for their work over the last year and they were presented with a gift and flowers respectively. 

One nomination has been received for the office of the Vice-Chair of the Council for Councillor Paul Keene.

The nomination will be voted upon.  Following the appointment, the Vice-Chair of the Council will be invited to make a Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Councillor Boniface advised that one nomination had been received for the role of Vice-Chair from Councillor Keene.  However, following publication of the agenda, Councillor Keene had withdrawn from consideration. The Chair therefore asked for another nomination.

Councillor Nicholson proposed and Councillor Sharkey seconded a nomination for Councillor Alexander to be appointed as Vice-Chair for 2024/25.

The nomination was put to a vote and approved unanimously.

RESOLVED that Councillor Ian Alexander be appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Council for 2024/25.

Councillor Alexander then made the statutory declaration of acceptance of office as Vice-Chair.  

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Coupland, Denis, Fabry and Keene.

Disclosure by councillors of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the councillor regards the interest as prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) under the terms of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Council dated 19  February 2024.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 19 February 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Items not on the agenda which the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances as defined in Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no urgent matters for decision.

To receive any announcements from the Chair of the Council, Leader of the Council, Members of the Cabinet or the Chief Executive.

A list of the engagements carried out during the last year by Councillor Alexander as Chair of the Council is attached. 

The Council received a list of the outgoing Chair of the Council’s engagements carried out between May 2023 and May 2024.  Councillor Alexander thanked members for giving him the opportunity to be Chair.  He had had a busy year, and attended a wide range of events, including meeting royalty twice, and he had enjoyed the opportunity to see the excellent work taking place in the community and charities working together. 

There were no other announcements made.

a)    To note any changes to the Leader of the Council’s appointments to Cabinet, the individual areas of responsibility allocated to the Cabinet and the allocation of those areas of responsibility to the members of the Cabinet (to be reported verbally by the Leader at the meeting); and

b)    To consider and determine proposals set out in the report of the Head of Democratic Services.

The Chair drew members’ attention to the report of the Head of Democratic Services and an update to Appendix 1 which was set out in an agenda supplement.

At the Chair’s invitation, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Nicholson, advised that her appointments to the Cabinet for the forthcoming year were unchanged. 

Councillor Nicholson moved and Councillor Maples seconded the recommendations set out in the appointments report.  

It was noted that there were no contested nominations but where there were gaps in nominations these could be dealt with by the Head of Democratic Services in consultation with Group Leaders or where specified, referred to the first meeting of the relevant Committee.

The Chair put the recommendations to a vote and they were approved unanimously.

RESOLVED:

1.    To approve the proposed number and allocation of seats and nominations to Committees, Other Bodies and Outside Bodies, and to Chairs and Deputy Chairs (as set out in minute appendix 1);

2.    To appoint all members of the Council to the ‘approved list’ of members appointed as substitute members in accordance with Council’s Rules of Procedure, except where prohibited by those rules such as for Licensing Committee and Cabinet;

3.    To note the Leader of the Council’s appointments to Cabinet, the individual areas of responsibility allocated to the Cabinet and the allocation of those areas of responsibility to the members of the Cabinet, as reported at the meeting (shown in minute appendix 1);

4.    That Paul Cummins and Neal Robinson be re-appointed as Independent Persons until their tenure ends on 31 July 2027; and

5.    To delegate to the Head of Democratic Services to resolve in consultation with Group Leaders any vacant appointments.

To consider the report of the Director for Tourism, Culture and Organisational Development.

The Council received the report of the Director of Tourism, Culture and Organisational Development, presenting the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2024/25 for approval by the Council.  

Councillor Collier moved and Councillor Cohen seconded the recommendations set out in the report.

The recommendations were put to a vote and approved unanimously.

RESOLVED – That the Council approves and recommends the updated Pay Policy Statement for publication on the Council’s website.

To consider the calendar of meetings 2024/25 for ratification.  

The following changes have been made to the calendar since considered at the last meeting:

·         The Cabinet meeting on 6 June 2024 will be held at noon (not 2.30pm)

·         The Licensing Committee meeting on 13 June is not required for normal business so will be used only for member training.

Councillor Collier moved and Councillor Gauntlett seconded approval of the Calendar of Meetings for 2024/25.

This was put to a vote and agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED – That the Calendar of Meetings for 2024/25 as set down on the agenda be approved.

In accordance with Policy and Performance Procedure Rule 17, to receive details of any urgent decisions taken by the Cabinet or Cabinet members since the previous meeting (if any). 

There were no urgent decisions to report.

The next meeting of Full Council is scheduled to take place at 6 pm on Monday 22 July 2024.

It was noted that the next meeting was scheduled to take place at 6 pm on Monday 22 July 2024.