Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Avey, Mrs Diane Chambers, Chishti, Cooper, Griffiths, Howard, Khan, McDonald, Osborne, Saroy and Stamp.

An apology for absence was received from Clive Mailing (Roman Catholic Church representative), a co-opted member with voting rights on the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, for the Joint Meeting of Committees, which would follow this meeting.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

Discussion:

Councillor Purdy, supported by Councillor Griffin, proposed the nomination of Councillor Wildey to the Office of Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year. Councillor Wildey was duly elected.

Councillor Carr, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, proposed the nomination of Councillor Opara to the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year. Councillor Opara 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 his 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.

Councillor Carr, supported by Councillor Tolhurst, proposed a vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor, Councillor Tranter. The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Tranter, responded to the vote of thanks.

The Mayor then addressed the Council and announced that his nominated charities would be Macmillan Cancer Support, Samaritans and MAGIC (Medway Autism Group and Information Centre).

Flowers were presented to the outgoing Mayoress (Mrs Tranter) and the incoming Mayoress (Mrs Wildey), Councillors Purdy and Griffin. 

Decisions:

a)    The Council elected Councillor Wildey to the Office of the Mayor of Medway for the 2017/2018 municipal year.

b)    The Council appointed Councillor Opara to the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Medway for the 2017/2018 municipal year.

The Mayor announced that Reverend Elaine Cranmer had accepted an invitation to act as his Chaplain for the forthcoming year.

There were none. 

This report advises the Council of the Members of the Cabinet for 2017/2018 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 as set out in Appendix A (to follow) 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 2017/2018 as appointed by the Leader of the Council, and their Portfolios.

Details of the Cabinet portfolios and appointments and nominations to executive bodies were tabled at the meeting as Appendix A to the report. 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 Jarrett, supported by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, 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 appointments and nominations to Executive bodies, 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 as set out in Appendix B 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 sets out the position regarding the overall allocation of seats on committees. On 27 April 2017, the Council agreed to make recommendations to this meeting regarding the committees and other bodies to be appointed for 2017/2018 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.

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.

Revisions to Appendix A (Committee memberships) were tabled at the meeting which highlighted some changes to the memberships of the Business Support, Health and Adult Social Care and Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Decisions:

(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 and in Appendix A to 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, including the changes to Committee memberships as set out in revisions to Appendix A, as tabled at the meeting.

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

(e)  The Council agreed the timetable of meetings for the 2017/2018 municipal year as set out in Appendix C to the report.

(f)   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.

(g)  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), one Task Group, their size and the allocation of seats to political groups as set out in Appendix A to the report.

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

Joint Meeting of Committees (except 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 as set out in Appendix A to agenda item 8 on the Annual Meeting of Medway Council agenda

(4)  To agree the establishment, allocation of seats to political groups and membership of Sub-Committees and one Task Group, as set out in Appendix A to agenda item 8 on the Annual Meeting of Medway Council agenda.

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, Councillor Jarrett thanked staff for the council’s achievements over the past 12 months in ensuring the delivery of high quality services. In particular, he praised the following teams:

·         Children’s Services – for developing innovative ways of working, managing financial pressures and continuing to safeguard vulnerable children through a remodelled service.

·         Elections Team – for the continued successful delivery of elections including the forthcoming General Election on 8 June 2017.

·         Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation – for many aspects of the service, including the delivery of regeneration projects such as Rochester Station, staff delivering front line services such as parking enforcement, and staff promoting Medway across Kent and beyond to bring more wealth and opportunity to Medway.

·         Finance Team – for the achievement of the closure of accounts in record time and the work towards the delivery of a balanced budget.

Councillor Vince Maple, Leader of the Labour Group, supported the vote of thanks. He also paid tribute to staff with particular reference to early help services, planning officers, Public Health staff and health colleagues working with Medway Maritime Hospital which has recently come out of special measures, as well as everyone developing the council’s vision for the next 20 years.

In addition, Councillor Roy Freshwater, Leader of the UKIP Group, also praised staff and thanked Democratic Services for their help.

The Chief Executive responded on behalf of staff.

Decision:

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

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