Agenda and minutes

Background:

Councillor Paterson, supported by Councillor Animashaun, proposed the nomination of Councillor Gurung to the Office of Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year.

Councillor Brake, supported by Councillor Doe, proposed the nomination of Councillor Barrett to the Office of Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year.

On being put to the vote, Councillor Gurung was duly elected to the Office of the Mayor of Medway.

Councillor Myton, supported by Councillor Coombs, proposed the nomination of Councillor Nestorov to the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year. Councillor Nestorov 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 water of 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 newly elected Mayor then addressed the Council and announced that her nominated charities would be SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Families Association), Medway Help for Ukrainians and Young Medway.

Councillor Hackwell, supported by Councillor Kemp proposed a vote of thanks to Councillor Aldous in her capacity as the outgoing Mayor.

The outgoing Mayor and her Consort, Tony Aldous, were each presented a past Mayoral badge. The outgoing Mayor responded to the vote of thanks.

Flowers were presented to the outgoing Mayor and the outgoing Deputy Mayor’s Consort.

Decision:

a)    The Council elected Councillor Gurung to the Office of the Mayor of Medway for the 2023/2024 municipal year.

b)    The Council appointed Councillor Nestorov to the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Medway for the 2023/2024 municipal year.

The Mayor announced to the Council that the Medway Interfaith Action Group would be supporting her during 2023/24 and that David Quirke-Thornton was present from the Buddhist faith. The Mayor presented him a scroll on behalf of Medway Interfaith. Mr Quirke-Thornton then gave a blessing to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Fearn. 

An apology for absence was also received from Clive Mailing, a voting co-opted Member of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the Joint Meeting of Committees, which followed this meeting.

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 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.

Background:

Councillor Murray, supported by Councillor Osborne, proposed the election of Councillor Maple 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 Maple was duly elected and he addressed the meeting accordingly.

The report stated that the Leader, once elected, was required to present to the Council a written record of delegations made by him for inclusion in the Council's scheme of delegation as Chapter 3 to the constitution, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

Appendix A to the report was tabled at the meeting within Supplementary Agenda No.2. Appendix A included details of the Cabinet portfolios for the new municipal year, including the appointment of Councillor Murray as Deputy Leader.

Decision:

a)       The Council elected Councillor Maple 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 as set out in Appendix A to the report.

c)        The Council 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 2023/24).

d)       The Council 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. The Council is asked to approve the recommendations in paragraph 6.1 relating to Committees and other bodies to be appointed for 2023/2024 and a programme of meetings.

The Council is also asked to make recommendations to the Joint Meeting of Committees to be held 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.

Background:

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

The Council was also asked to make recommendations to the Joint Meeting of Committees to be held 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.

An Addendum report set out updates to Appendices B and C to the report. These included updated information with regards to Committee memberships and nominations and appointments to outside bodies.

Councillor Myton, supported by Councillor Hamandishe, proposed the recommendations set out in report, subject to the change that Councillor Nestorov would become a Member of the Planning Committee instead of Councillor McDonald.

Decision:

1)             The Council agreed:

a)      The establishment of committees, their size and the allocation of seats to political groups as set out in Appendix A to the report, together with terms of reference as set out in the Council’s constitution, as referenced in paragraph 3.11 of the report.

b)      To appoint the membership of each Committee as set out in Appendix B to the addendum report, subject to the change that Councillor Nestorov would become a Member of the Planning Committee instead of Councillor McDonald, including the appointment of voting and non-voting co-optees on Committees as listed.

c)      The appointments and nominations to Joint Committees, outside bodies and other bodies as set out in Appendix C to the addendum report.

d)      The timetable of meetings for the 2023/2024 municipal year as set out in Appendix D to the report.

e)      To delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with Group Whips, to vary the schedule of meetings during the 2023/2024 municipal year as required, on the basis set out in paragraph 4.6 of the report.

f)       That consultation, if required with Cabinet Advisory Groups, is waived, as set out in paragraphs 3.12 and 3.13 of the report.

2)             The Council recommended to the Joint Meeting of Committees:

a)      The appointment of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of committees (excluding the Health and Wellbeing Board) as set out in Appendix B to the addendum report.

b)      The establishment of sub committees (with terms of reference as set out in the Council’s Constitution), their size, the allocation of seats to political groups and memberships as set out in Appendix C to the addendum report.

c)      That the requirement for political balance should be waived in respect of Licensing Hearing Panels and Licensing 1982 Act Hearing Panels and that the process for selection of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Panel Members for these Panels should be as set out in Appendix B to the addendum report.

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

Background:

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 Maple, supported by the Deputy Leader, Councillor Murray, proposed the recommendation set out in the report.

Decision:

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

This report presents the Cliffe and Cliffe Woods Neighbourhood Plan for formal adoption by the Council. The Council held a referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan in the parish of Cliffe and Cliffe Woods on 4 May 2023. The majority of voters were in favour of the plan. The Council must formally adopt or ‘make’ the plan within 8 weeks of the referendum. The Neighbourhood Plan forms part of the development plan for Medway and will be used to help decide planning applications in Cliffe and Cliffe Woods.

Background:

This report presented the Cliffe and Cliffe Woods Neighbourhood Plan for formal adoption by the Council.

The report advised that the Council had held a referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan in the parish of Cliffe and Cliffe Woods on 4 May 2023. The majority of those voting had voted in favour of the plan. The Council was, therefore, required to formally adopt or ‘make’ the plan within 8 weeks of the referendum.

The report explained that the Neighbourhood Plan formed part of the development plan for Medway and would be used to help decide planning applications in Cliffe and Cliffe Woods.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, Councillor Curry, supported by Councillor Etheridge, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council approved that the Cliffe and Cliffe Wood Neighbourhood Plan (as set out at Appendix 1) be ‘made’, as part of the statutory development plan for Medway Council.

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 significant interests

(3)  To appoint Committee Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen as set out in Appendix B 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, as set out in Appendix B to agenda item 8 on the Annual Meeting of Medway Council agenda.

Discussion:

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

The Leader expressed how proud he was to call Medway home. He paid tribute to the wide range of services provided for local people that was not often recognised in the media. The Leader said how proud he was of Medway Council staff and emphasised that the new administration was keen to work together as one Medway, with everyone working as a team for Medway and its residents. He also thanked everyone for the smooth transition into the new administration and gave particular thanks to all those involved in the recent Market Place event that had given Councillors such a warm welcome.

Councillor Gulvin, Leader of the Conservative Group and Cllr Crozer, Leader of the Independent Group echoed Cllr Maple’s praise with their own vote of thanks on behalf of all their members too.

The Chief Executive, Neil Davies, who was shortly due to retire, was thanked by Members for his leadership, hard work and support provided.

The Chief Executive responded on behalf of staff and thanked Councillors Maple, Gulvin and Crozer for their kind words. He endorsed the comments made and gave his own thanks to Council officers.

The Chief Executive said that the dedication and passion shown by staff was phenomenal, particularly during times of change and in the context of the financial challenges faced. He said he was proud of the response and resilience to continue to provide good services to the local community.

Decision:

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