Agenda and minutes

Discussion:

Councillor Kemp, supported by the current Mayor of Medway, Councillor Tejan, proposed the nomination of Councillor Aldous to the Office of Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year. Councillor Aldous was duly elected.

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services - Lead Member, Councillor Mrs Josie Iles, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Education and Schools, Councillor Potter, proposed the nomination of Councillor Carr to the Office    of Deputy Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year. Councillor Carr was duly appointed.

The newly elected Mayor made the declaration required by law and signed the declaration of acceptance of office. The Mayor also accepted the ceremonial sword and silver oar as symbols of her office as Constable of Rochester Castle and Admiral of the River Medway, from Sheerness to Hawkwood, respectively.

The newly appointed Deputy Mayor made the declaration required by law and signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

The Mayor then addressed the Council and announced that her nominated charities would be Parkinson’s UK and the Hands and Gillingham Volunteer Centre.

Councillor Buckwell, supported by Councillor Kemp, proposed a vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor, Councillor Tejan. The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Tejan, responded to the vote of thanks.

Decision:

a)    The Council elected Councillor Aldous to the Office of the Mayor of Medway for the 2021/2022 municipal year.

b)    The Council appointed Councillor Carr to the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Medway for the 2021/2022 municipal year.

Councillors Browne, Cooper, Curry, Mahil, Maple, McDonald, Murray, Osborne, Prenter and Chrissy Stamp requested that their abstentions in relation to decisions a) and b) be recorded in accordance with Council Rule 12.6.

The new Mayor announced that Major Ian Payne had accepted an invitation to act as her Chaplain for the forthcoming year.

During this period, it was informally agreed between the two political groups, due the Coronavirus pandemic, to run Medway Council meetings with a reduced number of participants. This was to reduce risk, comply with Government guidance and enable more efficient meetings. Therefore, the apologies given reflected that informal agreement of reduced participants.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Adeoye, Ahmed, Barrett, Bhutia, Bowler, Mrs Diane Chambers, Clarke, Etheridge, Fearn, Griffin, Hackwell, Howcroft-Scott, Hubbard, Johnson, Khan, Lloyd, Opara, Paterson, Price, Purdy, Andy Stamp, Thompson, Thorne, Tranter, Mrs Elizabeth Turpin and Williams. 

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct.  Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 5.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none. 

There were none. 

This report advises the Council of the Members of the Cabinet for 2021/2022, as appointed by the Leader of the Council, and their portfolios.

It also sets out appointments and nominations made by the Leader to Executive outside bodies and the delegation of executive functions to officers agreed by the Leader.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Members of the Cabinet for 2021/2022 as appointed by the Leader of the Council, and their Portfolios.

Details of the Cabinet portfolios, as set out in Appendix A to the report were included in Supplementary Agenda Number 2.

The report also included details of the delegation of executive functions to officers agreed by the Leader as well as incorporating the scheme of officer delegations for matters which were not the responsibility of the Cabinet and were a matter for Council. These details were set out in Appendix B to the report, included in Supplementary Agenda Number 1.

The report also referred to the appointments and nominations by the Leader to executive bodies, as set out in section F of Appendix C to agenda item 8 (Establishment of Committees, Appointments and Schedule of Meetings 2021/2022).

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council:

a)    Noted the details of those appointed by the Leader to serve as Deputy Leader and Members of the Cabinet and the extent of their individual portfolios as set out in Appendix A to the report.

b)    Noted the appointments and nominations to executive bodies as set out in section F of Appendix C to agenda item 8 (Establishment of Committees, Appointments and Schedule of Meetings 2021/2022);

c)    Noted the delegations to officers agreed by the Leader in relation to executive functions;

d)    Agreed to the delegation of non-executive functions to officers as set out in Appendix B to the report.

Councillors Browne, Cooper, Curry, Mahil, Maple, McDonald, Murray, Osborne, Prenter and Chrissy Stamp requested that their abstentions be recorded in accordance with Council Rule 12.6.

The Council is asked to determine the committees and other bodies to be appointed for 2021/2022, to agree the appointment of Members to serve on committees and other bodies and a programme of meetings.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the establishment of Committees and the appointment of Members to serve on Committees and other bodies and the programme of meetings.

The list of proposed committees and sub-committees, set out as Appendix B to the report and the list of proposed joint committees and outside and other bodies, set out as Appendix C to the report were included in an addendum report. The addendum report also included an additional recommendation.

The Mayor of Medway, Councillor Aldous, supported by Councillor Kemp, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council agreed:

a)    the establishment of committees, their size and the allocation of seats to political groupsas set out in Appendices A and B to the report, together with terms of reference as set out in the Council’s constitution;

b)    the establishment of an ad hoc committee to consider the removal of Council-appointed school governors as and when necessary and to waive political balance in respect of this Committee;

c)    the appointment of members to each Committee as set out in Appendix B to this report, including the appointment of voting and non-voting co-optees on Committees as listed;

d)    that appointments should be made to Joint Committees, outside bodies and other bodies as set out in Appendix C to the report;

e)    the timetable of meetings for the 2021/2022 municipal year as set out in Appendix D to the report.

f)      to delegate authority to the Chief Executive to vary the timetable of meetings during 2021/2022, including the cancellation or re-arrangement of meetings, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the relevant Committee Chairman and the Leader of the Labour and Co-operative Group, as necessary, in response to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Councillors Browne, Cooper, Curry, Mahil, Maple, McDonald, Murray, Osborne, Prenter and Chrissy Stamp requested that their votes in favour of the decision be recorded in accordance with Council Rule 12.6. 

Discussion:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Leader of the Labour and Co-Operative Group, Councillor Maple, proposed a vote of thanks to Medway Council staff in recognition of their hard work, commitment and dedication over the previous year.

Councillor Jarrett paid tribute to staff for continuing to provide such a diverse range of services for local people, from providing important social care for vulnerable residents to keeping Medway clean. In particular, he recognised the invaluable role of staff in keeping Council services running in the face of the challenges presented by Covid-19.

The work highlighted by Councillor Jarrett included:

·       Adaptability of staff – officers had risen to the challenges posed by new ways of working, including working from home, staff redeployment and in many cases, increased working hours.

·       Public Health – the team was thanked for its excellent response to Covid-19 in Medway. This had included Medway becoming the first area in the South-East to make symptom-free testing available.

·       Waste and Recycling – the excellent job done by Medway Norse, in maintaining the weekly household collection service during the pandemic, was highlighted. The team had continued to deliver one of the best weekly collection services of waste and recycling.

·       Children and Adults – those working with vulnerable adults and staff providing mental health services were praised for the efforts. Special recognition was given to staff working with vulnerable children for keeping services running effectively and for the significant improvements made since the previous inspection.

·       Support staff – the role of back-office staff in keeping services running was recognised as was the role of senior officers as members of the Gold, Silver and Bronze Command teams. These had been set up under the Civil Contingencies Act to deal with the consequences of the pandemic.

·       Finance – Nearly £100million of grant funding had been provided to individuals and small businesses.

Councillor Maple supported the vote of thanks. In particular, he recognised the role of public sector staff during the pandemic, both Council officers and those in other public professions.

Councillor Maple also praised the flexibility and dedication shown by Council officers throughout the pandemic and recognised the work of the Council’s ICT team to enable committee meetings to continue and for them to be livestreamed, which had allowed the public to view them while lockdown restrictions were in place.

The Chief Executive responded on behalf of all staff, thanking Councillors Jarrett and Maple for their kind words acknowledging how particularly fitting it was, in view of the challenges presented by COVID, that staff were thanked at the Annual Council meeting. He said it was a great pleasure and privilege to work with colleagues at Medway and that staff were talented and dedicated. The Chief Executive concluded that the efforts made by staff during the pandemic to serve, support and care for the people of Medway had been outstanding.

Decision:

The Council agreed that a vote of thanks be given to staff. 

Councillors Browne, Cooper, Curry, Mahil,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.