Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Chishti and (in respect of the Joint Meeting of Committees) Jim Grogan, the Roman Catholic voting representative on the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Discussion:

Councillor Mackness proposed and Councillor Kemp supported the nomination of Councillor Iles to the Office of the Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year. Councillor Iles was duly elected.

Councillor Purdy proposed and Councillor Kemp supported the nomination of Councillor Etheridge to the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year. Councillor Etheridge 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 her 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 and announced that her nominated charities would be Demelza Kent, Help for Heroes, Medway Age UK and Caring Hands in the Community.

Councillor Brake proposed a vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor, supported by Councillor Kemp.

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 Consort. The outgoing Mayor (Councillor Hewett) responded to the vote of thanks.

Decision:

(a)   That Councillor Iles be elected to the Office of Mayor of Medway for the 2013/2014 municipal year.

(b)   That Councillor Etheridge be elected to the Office of Deputy Mayor for the 2013/2014 municipal year.

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

The Mayor announced that Reverend Dr Philip Hesketh had accepted an invitation to act as her Chaplain for the forthcoming year.

A Member need only disclose at any meeting the existence of a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) in a matter to be considered at that meeting if that DPI has not been entered on the disclosable pecuniary interests register maintained by the Monitoring Officer.

A Member disclosing a DPI at a meeting must thereafter notify the Monitoring Officer in writing of that interest within 28 days from the date of disclosure at the meeting.

A Member may not participate in a discussion of or vote on any matter in which he or she has a DPI (both those already registered and those disclosed at the meeting) and must withdraw from the room during such discussion/vote.

Members may choose to voluntarily disclose a DPI at a meeting even if it is registered on the council’s register of disclosable pecuniary interests but there is no legal requirement to do so.

In line with the training provided to Members by the Monitoring Officer members will also need to consider bias and pre-determination in certain circumstances and whether they have a conflict of interest or should otherwise leave the room for Code reasons.

There were none.  

The Mayor informed Members that the remaining business on the agenda would be followed by a short Joint Meeting of Committees.

This report advises the Council of the Members of the Cabinet for 2013/2014, as appointed by the Leader of the Council and their Portfolios, appointments made by the Leader to outside bodies and the delegation of executive functions to officers agreed by the Leader as set out in Appendix B (which also incorporates the scheme of officer delegations for matters which are not the responsibility of the Cabinet and have to be agreed by the Council).

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Members of the Cabinet for 2013/2014 as appointed by the Leader of the Council, and their Portfolios.

Appointments made by the Leader to the Cabinet were tabled at the meeting as Appendix A to the report (Supplementary Agenda No.1). The report also included details of the delegation of executive functions to officers agreed by the Leader as set out in Appendix B to the report. This also incorporated the scheme of officer delegations for matters which were not the responsibility of the Cabinet and were a matter for Council.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Rodney Chambers, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Jarrett, proposed the recommendations as set out in the report.

Decision:

(a)   The Council 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 together with appointment to the Bus Lane Adjudication Service Joint Committee, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

(b)   The Council noted the delegations to officers agreed by the Leader in relation to executive functions and agreed to the delegation of non-executive functions to officers as set out in Appendix B to the report.

This report sets out the position regarding the overall allocation of seats on committees. On 25 April 2013, the Council agreed to make recommendations to this meeting regarding the committees and other bodies to be appointed for 2013/2014 and a programme of meetings.

The Council is also asked to make recommendations to the Joint Meeting of Committees immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Council, in respect of the appointment of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of committees and the establishment and membership of sub-committees and task groups.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the position regarding the overall allocation of seats on committees and set out a number of recommendations regarding the membership of Committees, Joint Committees and other bodies, and the schedule of meetings for 2013/2014.

The report asked Council to make recommendations to the Joint Meeting of All Committees, immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Council, which set out details of the establishment and membership of Sub-Committees and Task Groups. It also included details relating to the appointment of an Independent Person in respect of Councillor conduct issues.

An addendum report was tabled at the meeting which provided an update and recommendations in relation to the appointment of an Independent Person in respect of Councillor conduct issues and also included appendices A and B to the report (Supplementary Agenda No.1).

Decision:

(a)   The Council agreed 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.

(b)   The Council agreed 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 Council agreed 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.

(d)   The Council agreed the appointments to Joint Committees, outside bodies and other bodies as set out in Appendix B to the report.

(e)   The Council agreed that the membership of the National Association of Councillors should be discontinued as suggested by Group Whips.

(f)     The Council agreed the timetable of meetings for the 2013/2014 municipal year as set out in Appendix C to the report.

(g)   The Council recommended to the Joint Meeting of Committees the appointment of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Committees as set out in Appendix A to the report.

(h)   The Council recommended to the Joint Meeting of Committees 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.

(i)     The Council agreed the appointment of Martin Pilkington as the Independent Person under section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011 from the date of this meeting until the end of the 2014/15 Municipal Year, to carry out the functions required by section 28(7). Note: A majority of Members of the Council agreed this recommendation.

(j)      The Council agreed the appointment of Rose Davies as the Independent Person under section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011 when Martin Pilkington has a conflict of interest which prevents him carrying out his roleor if the role of the Independent Person is vacant for any other reason from the date of this meeting until the end of the 2014/15 Municipal Year,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

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).

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Rodney Chambers, supported by the Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Maple, proposed a vote of thanks to staff.

The Leader paid tribute to staff's hard work during these challenging times and highlighted the Recognition Awards ceremony where staff had been rewarded for giving outstanding service above and beyond in delivering council services. The Leader also stated that a measure of how the Council was valued was by the positive comments he had received by external organisations. He was pleased to say that the Council and its staff were very well regarded by external organisations including members of the business community.

Councillor Maple also paid tribute to staff's hard work and indicated he had attended the most recent Recognition Awards ceremony. He had been impressed by staff giving outstanding service to the community, above and beyond their normal duties, especially during a period where staff were responding to difficult external circumstances.

The Chief Executive responded on behalf of staff.

Decision:

That a vote of thanks be given to staff.