Agenda and minutes

Background:

Councillor Etheridge, supported by Councillor Fearn, proposed the nomination of Councillor Clarke to the Office of Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year.

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

Councillor Perfect, supported by Councillor Tejan, proposed the nomination of Councillor Spring to the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year. Councillor Spring was duly appointed to the Office of Deputy Mayor.

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 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 his wife, Mandy Clarke, would be the Mayoress with assistance from former Councillor and Mayoress, Sylvia Griffin. The Deputy Mayor’s wife, Sara Spring, would serve as Deputy Mayoress with assistance from Ffion Spring. The Mayor advised that his nominated charities would be Caring Hands in the Community and Slide Away.

Councillor Browne, supported by Councillor Stamp proposed a vote of thanks to Councillor Nestorov in his capacity as the outgoing Mayor.

The outgoing Mayor and the past Mayoress, Councillor Nestorova, were each presented a past Mayoral badge. The outgoing Mayor responded to the vote of thanks.

Flowers were presented to the outgoing Mayoress and the outgoing Deputy Mayoress.

Decision:

a)    The Council elected Councillor Clarke to the Office of the Mayor of Medway for the 2025/2026 municipal year.

b)    The Council appointed Councillor Spring to the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Medway for the 2025/2026 municipal year.

The Mayor announced that the Reverend Edward Wright had accepted an invitation to act as his Chaplain for the forthcoming year. The Mayor presented him a scroll.

A musical interlude followed.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Crozer, Doe, Hubbard, Mahil and Williams.

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 sets out the position regarding the overall allocation of seats on Committees. The Council is asked to approve the recommendations in paragraph 1.1 relating to Committees and other bodies to be appointed for 2025/2026 and a programme of meetings.

The Council is also asked to make recommendations to the Joint Meeting of Committees on 14 May 2025, which will take place immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Council, in respect of the appointment of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of committees and the establishment and membership of sub-committees, and a scrutiny task group.

Background:

This report set out the position regarding the overall allocation of seats on Committees. The Council was asked to approve the recommendations in paragraph 1.1 of the report relating to Committees and other bodies to be appointed for 2025/2026 and a programme of meetings.

The Council was also asked to make recommendations to the Joint Meeting of Committees, which would take place immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Council, in respect of the appointment of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of Committees and the establishment and membership of sub-committees, and a scrutiny task group.

An addendum report set out Appendices B and C to the report. These included a list of committees, sub-committees and task groups and a list of joint committees and outside and other bodies.

Councillor Peake, supported by Councillor Kemp, proposed the recommendations set out in report.

Decisions:

1)         The Council agreed:

a)      the establishment of Committees, their size and the allocation of seats to political groupsas set out in Appendices A and B to the report, together with terms of reference as set out in the Council’s constitution.

b)      the appointment of members to each Committee as set out in Appendix B to the report, 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 report.

d)      the timetable of meetings for the 2025/2026 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 2025/2026 municipal year as required, on the basis set out in paragraph 5.3 of the report.

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

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

b)      the establishment of sub committees (with terms of reference as set out in the Council’s Constitution) and scrutiny task group, their size, the allocation of seats to political groups and memberships as set out in Appendix B to the 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 Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Panel Members for these Panels should be as set out in Appendix B to the report.

This report advises the Council of the Members of the Cabinet for 2025/2026, as appointed by the Leader of the Council, and their portfolios, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

It also sets out appointments and nominations made by the Leader to Executive outside bodies, as set out in Section F of Appendix C to agenda item 7, 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.

Background:

This report advised the Council of the Members of the Cabinet for 2025/2026, as appointed by the Leader of the Council, and their portfolios, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

It also set out appointments and nominations made by the Leader to Executive outside bodies, as set out in Section F of Appendix C to Agenda item 7, and the delegation of executive functions to officers agreed by the Leader as set out in Appendix B, which also incorporated the scheme of officer delegations for matters which were not the responsibility of the Cabinet and had to be agreed by the Council.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Maple, supported by the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Murray, proposed the recommendations set out in report.

Decisions:

The Council:

a)      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.

b)      noted the appointments and nominations to executive bodies as set out in section F of Appendix C to agenda item 7 (Establishment of Committees, Appointments and Schedule of Meetings 2025/2026).

c)      noted the delegations to officers agreed by the Leader in relation to executive functions, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

d)      agreed to the delegation of non-executive functions to officers as set out in Appendix B 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 Chairperson

(2)    Record of the meeting - to agree that the Chairperson signs the record of this meeting outside the meeting

(3)    Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and other significant interests

(4)    To appoint Committee Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons as set out in Appendix B to agenda item 7 on the Annual Meeting of Medway Council agenda

(5)    To agree the establishment, allocation of seats to political groups and membership of Sub-Committees, as set out in Appendix B to agenda item 7 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 Perfect, proposed a vote of thanks to staff.

The Leader thanked the hard working and resilient staff of Medway Council, particularly those involved in the development of the Medway Local Plan, and in delivering high quality events, such as the Victory in Europe (VE) Day celebrations and the Rochester Sweeps Festival. He thanked staff involved in the inspections of Housing and Adult Social Care, the development of the Council’s Financial Improvement and Transformation Plan and in the day-to-day delivery of high standard services.

The Leader acknowledged the work undertaken to ensure that the Council was accessible to everyone, from Child Friendly Medway to Adult Social Care and everything in between. He asked the Chief Executive to pass on his thanks to Council staff.

Responding on behalf of opposition Councillors, the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Perfect, supported the comments made by the Leader of the Council. He thanked Council officers for their hard work during the previous year in the face of uncertainty in relation to Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution. In particular, he thanked staff involved in the development of the Local Plan, Democratic Services, social workers and the Child Friendly Medway team.

Responding to the vote of thanks on behalf of Council staff, the Chief Executive thanked Members for their support and heartfelt appreciation of the committed and dedicated staff and teams across the Council that went the extra mile every day. He said that Medway Council strived to be an employer of choice.

The Chief Executive paid tribute to the Mayor and to Members for their selfless service in their role as community champions. He was confident that by working together as One Medway, Members and officers would be able to overcome challenges to make Medway a better place to live, work, study and visit.

Decision:

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