Agenda and minutes

Discussion:

Councillor Chishti, supported by Councillor O’Brien, proposed the nomination of Councillor Kemp to the Office of Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year. Councillor Kemp was duly elected.

In response to a question, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that there was nothing in the Council’s Constitution which prevented a Councillor from holding the positions of both the Mayor of Medway and Group Whip.

Councillor Tejan, supported by Councillor Chitty, proposed the nomination of Councillor Iles to the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year. Councillor Iles 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 River 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.

Councillor O’Brien, supported by Councillor Chishti, proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor, in his capacity as outgoing Mayor.

The Mayor then addressed the Council and announced that his nominated charities would be:

• Friends of the Wisdom Hospice
• The Oliver Fisher Special Baby Care Trust
• Holding on, Letting Go
• Making Miracles.

Flowers were then presented to the Mayoress (Mrs Kemp) and the Deputy Mayoress (Mrs Maisey), as well as the incoming Deputy Mayoress (Mrs Iles).

Decisions:

a)     The Council elected Councillor Kemp to the Office of the Mayor of Medway for the 2015/2016 municipal year.

b)     The Council elected Councillor Iles to the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Medway for the 2015/2016 municipal year.

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Fearn and Joy. Clive Mailing (Roman Catholic voting representative on the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee) had submitted apologies for absence for the Joint Meeting of Committees.  

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.

Members should also ensure they disclose any other interests which may give rise to a conflict under the council’s code of conduct.

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.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

The Mayor stated that whilst he had no announcements to make, he would invite Councillor Purdy to address the Council.

Councillor Purdy thanked Members, past and present, and officers who had provided support to her during her recent difficult time. 

This report requests the Council to elect a Leader of the Council for a four-year period in accordance with Article 7 of the Council’s Constitution.

The Council is also asked to agree the Council side delegations to officers.

Discussion:

Councillor Rodney Chambers OBE, supported by Councillor Doe, proposed the election of Councillor Jarrett as Leader of the Council for a four year term until the day of the next Annual Meeting of the Full Council following the ordinary election of all Councillors. Councillor Jarrett was duly elected.

Appendix A to the report had been tabled at the meeting and Appendix B to the report had been circulated within the main agenda. Appendix A included details of the Cabinet portfolios for the new municipal year, including the appointment of Councillor Doe as Deputy Leader.

Decisions:

a)     The Council agreed to elect Councillor Jarrett as Leader of the Council for a four year term until the day of the next Annual Meeting of the Full Council following the ordinary election of all Councillors.

b)     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 appointments to the Bus Lane Adjudication Service Joint Committee (Councillor Filmer) and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership Accountability Board (Councillor Jarrett and Councillor Rodney Chambers OBE (Substitute)) as set out in Appendix A to the report.

c)      The Council agreed the delegation of non-executive functions to officers as set out in Appendix B to the report.

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 2015/2016.  

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.

An addendum report, which included Appendices A and B, was tabled at the meeting. This also provided details of the establishment of three Political Groups on the Council, the cancellation of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee scheduled for 4 July 2015 and a proposed change to the Full Council meeting date in April 2016.

Decisions:

a)     The Council agreed the establishment of committees and their size as set out in paragraph 2.2 of the addendum report and the allocation of these seats to political groups as set out in paragraph 3.5 and Appendix A to the report together with terms of reference as set out in the Council’s Constitution, copies of which had been provided to all Members of the Council.

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 and other bodies as set out in Appendix B to this report.

e)     The Council agreed the timetable of meetings for the 2015/2016 municipal year as set out in Appendix C to the report subject to the April 2016 Full Council meeting being held on Thursday 28 April 2016.

f)        The Council recommended to the Joint Meeting of Committees to agree the appointment of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Committees (excluding the Health and Wellbeing Board) as set out in Appendix A to the report.

g)     The Council recommended to the Joint Meeting of Committees to agree the establishment of sub committees (with terms of reference as set out in the Council’s Constitution), their size and the allocation of seats to political groups as set out in Appendix A to the report.

h)      The Council recommended to the Joint Meeting of Committees to agree that the requirement for political balance should be waived in respect of Licensing Hearing Panels and Licensing 1982 Act Hearing Panels.

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

Discussion:

This report provided details of the allocation of Political Assistant posts to each of the qualifying political groups represented on the Council, as set out under section 9 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

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

Decision:

The Council agreed to allocate Political Assistant posts to the Conservative and Labour Groups.

JOINT MEETING OF COMMITTEES (EXCEPT FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING BOARD)

AGENDA

(1)   Election of Chairman

(2)   Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and other interests

(3)   To appoint Committee Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen

(4)   To agree the establishment and membership of Sub-Committees 

Discussion:

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

In making the proposal, the Leader paid tribute to staff for their hard work and commitment over the last year together with the enthusiasm that staff brought to their roles and the pride they took in their work and in Medway.

Councillor Maple also paid tribute to staff including those who directly worked for the Council and those who worked for other employers which provided Council services.

The Chief Executive responded on behalf of staff.

Decision:

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