Agenda and minutes

Discussion:

Councillor Hicks proposed and Councillor Chishti supported the nomination of Councillor Baker to the office of the Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year.

Councillor Godwin proposed and Councillor Maple supported the nomination of Councillor Bowler to the office of the Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year.

In accordance with rule 11.4 of the Council Rules at the request of six members a vote on the proposal to elect Councillor Bowler to the office of Mayor was recorded as follows:

For

Councillors Bowler, Colman, Craven, Gilry, Christine Godwin, Paul Godwin, Harriott, Hubbard, Igwe, Juby, Kearney, Maple, Murray, Osborne, Price, Shaw and Smith – total – 17

Against

Councillors Avey, Baker, Brake, Bright, Carr, Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers, Chishti, Chitty, Clarke, Doe, Filmer, Griffin, Adrian Gulvin, Pat Gulvin, Hewett, Hicks, Iles, Irvine, Jarrett, Kemp, Mackinlay, Mackness, Maisey, Mason, O’Brien, Purdy, Rodberg, Royle, Turpin, Watson, Wicks and Wildey – total – 33

Abstain

Councillors Cooper and Stamp – total – 2

On being put to the vote, the proposal to elect Councillor Bowler to the office of Mayor was lost.

Councillor Baker was duly elected.

Councillor Filmer proposed and Councillor Irvine supported the nomination of Councillor Maisey to the office of Deputy Mayor for the forthcoming municipal year. Councillor Maisey was duly elected.

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 his office as Constable of Rochester Castle and Admiral of the Water of Medway from Sheerness to Hawkwood respectively.

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

The Mayor then addressed the Council, following which Councillor Carr     proposed a vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor supported by Councillor Kemp.

The Mayor then announced that his nominated charities were The Samaritans, Age UK – Medway, Wisdom Hospice, Cerebal Palsy Care and Parkinsons UK – Rochester.

The Mayor presented the outgoing Mayor and Mayoress each with a past mayoral badge and flowers were presented to the retiring Mayoress and the Deputy Mayoress. The outgoing Mayor responded to the vote of thanks.

Decision:

(a)               That Councillor Baker be elected to the office of Mayor of Medway for the 2011/12 municipal year.

(b)               That Councillor Maisey be elected to the office of Deputy Mayor for the 2011/12 municipal year.

(c)               That a vote of thanks be given to the Outgoing Mayor.

The Mayor announced that Reverend Gary Colville had accepted his invitation to act as his Chaplain for the forthcoming year.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Griffiths and Tolhurst.

There were none. 

The Mayor announced that Doug MacInnes CBE, who was the Leader of Rochester Upon Medway City Council from 1981 - 1991 passed away at the beginning of May in Cardiff General Hospital. He stated that he would be sending condolences to the family.

This report asks the Council to elect a Leader and receive details of Cabinet portfolios and delegations.  

Discussion:

Councillor Jarrett, supported by Councillor Kemp, proposed the election of Councillor Rodney Chambers as Leader of the Council until the day of the next annual meeting of the Full Council following the ordinary election of all Councillors. Councillor Rodney Chambers was duly elected.

Appendix A to the report had been tabled at the meeting and appendix B to the report had been circulated with the main agenda. Appendix A included details of the Cabinet portfolios for the new municipal year.

Decision:

(a)       That Councillor Rodney Chambers be elected as Leader of the Council.

(b)       That details of those appointed by the Leader to serve as Deputy Leader and Members of the Cabinet, as set out in Appendix A of item 7A of the agenda, and the overview of their individual portfolios be noted together with the delegations of executive functions to officers as set out in Appendix B.

(c)        That the delegation of non-executive functions to officers as set out in Appendix B be agreed.

This report asks the Council to agree the establishment of Committees, the appointment of Members to serve on Committees and other bodies and a programme of meetings for 2011/2012. 

Discussion:

Members considered a report proposing the establishment of Committees and the appointment of Members to serve on Committees and other bodies and the programme of meetings.

Appendix A had been circulated separately to the main agenda and Appendix B had been tabled at the meeting.

Councillor Kemp, referring to Appendix B, advised of a proposed change to the membership of the Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority by the removal of Councillor Royle and his replacement by Councillor Mason.

Decision:

(a)       That the establishment of committees, their size and the allocation of seats to political groups as set out in paragraph 3.5 of the report together with terms of reference as set out in the Council’s constitution be agreed;

(b)       That the establishment of an ad hoc committee to consider the removal of Council appointed school governors as and when necessary be agreed and political balance in respect of this Committee be waived;

(c)        That the membership of each committee as set out in Appendix A to the report, including the appointment of voting and non-voting co-optees on committees as listed be agreed;

(d)       That appointments to Joint Committees and other bodies as set out in Appendix B to the report be agreed subject to the following change to the membership of the Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority:-

Removal of Councillor Royle and replacement by Councillor Mason.

(e)               That the timetable of meetings for the 2011/2012 municipal year as set out in Appendix C to the report be agreed;

(f)         That the following be recommended to the Joint meeting of All Committees:

(i)         the appointment of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Committees;

(ii)        the establishment of sub committees (with terms of reference as set out in the Council’s constitution), task groups, their size and the allocation of seats to political groups as set out in Appendix A to the report.

This report asks the Council to make a decision regarding the allocation of Political Assistant posts to each of the qualifying political groups represented on the Council.

Discussion: 

Members considered a report asking the Council to determine the allocation of Political Assistant posts to each of the qualifying political groups represented on the Council.

Councillor Kemp, supported by Councillor Jarrett proposed that

(a)               The Council allocate Political Assistant posts to the Conservative and Labour Groups and

(b)               That the post allocated to the Conservative Group be full time and the post allocated to the Labour Group be for 18.5 hours as previously agreed by the Council.

Councillor Godwin, supported by Councillor Maple, proposed that the recommendation be amended as follows:-

That the Council allocate Political Assistant posts to the Conservative and Labour Groups and that the Council agrees to review the contracted hours for the Political Assistants to reflect the new composition of the Council and in view of the increase in size of the Labour Group by 50% agrees to raise the weekly contracted hours of the Labour Group Political Assistant to 25 per week.

On being put the vote, this amendment was lost.

Decision:

(a)               The Council allocate Political Assistant posts to the Conservative and Labour Groups and

(b)               That the post allocated to the Conservative Group be full time and the post allocated to the Labour Group be for 18.5 hours as previously agreed by the Council.

JOINT MEETING OF COMMITTEES

At the conclusion of the Annual Meeting there will be a brief Joint Meeting of Committees.

AGENDA

(1)               Election of Chairman

(2)               Declarations of interest

(3)               To appoint Committee Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen

(4)               To agree the establishment and membership of Sub-Committees and task groups (as set out in Appendix A of item 8) on the agenda for the Annual Council meeting). 

Discussion:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Rodney Chambers, supported by Councillor Godwin proposed a vote of thanks to staff. The Chief Executive responded on behalf of staff.

Decision:

That a vote of thanks be given to staff.