Agenda and minutes

The Reverend Cannon J Young, Rector of Easton, Ellington, Grafham, Spaldwick and Barham and Woolley opened the meeting with prayer.

(a)  Council Membership

  The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Councillor K J Churchill who had been elected to the office of District Councillor in the by-election held in the Little Paxton Ward on 5th May 2005.

(b)  St. John Ambulance “Waterwing Appeal”

  The Chairman described his attendance at the recent launch of the St. John Ambulance “Waterwing Appeal” and that it had been his pleasure to present Sir John Baird, Chairman of the St. John Ambulance Council with a cheque for £300.

(c) Annual Cricket Match

  The Chairman announced that the Annual Cricket Match between staff and the Chairman’s eleven would take place at the St. Ivo Outdoor Centre, California Road, St. Ives on the evening of 21st July 2005.  Members were invited to advise the Leader of the Council of their availability for selection.

To elect the Chairman of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor N J Guyatt, seconded by Councillor J J Dutton and

RESOLVED

  that Councillor J A P Eddy be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.

Councillor Eddy made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office and thanked Members for the honour conferred in electing him as Chairman of the District Council for a further term of office.

Councillor J A P Eddy in the Chair.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 13th April 2005.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 13th April 2005 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To appoint the Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor D B Dew, seconded by Councillor P G Mitchell and

RESOLVED

  that Councillor P L E Bucknell be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.

Councillor Bucknell made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office and expressed his appreciation to Members for their confidence and for the honour which they had conferred upon him.

The Council wished to place on record their appreciation to Councillor Mrs K P Gregory for her service as Vice-Chairman of the District Council during the past year. 

The Returning Officer to report on the person elected to the Office of District Councillor at the by-election in Little Paxton held on 5th May 2005.

The Director of Central Services reported that Mr K J Churchill had been elected to the office of District Councillor at the by-election held in Little Paxton on 5th May for a term of office expiring in May 2008.

To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda item.  Please see Notes 1 and 2 below.

No declarations were received.

To elect the Leader of the Council who shall be Chairman of the Cabinet for the ensuing Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor A Hansard, seconded by Councillor J J Dutton and

RESOLVED

  that Councillor D P Holley be elected Leader of the Council and Chairman of the Cabinet for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To appoint the Deputy Leader of the Council who shall be Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet for the ensuing Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor Mrs J Chandler, seconded by Councillor D Harty and

RESOLVED

  that Councillor I C Bates be appointed Deputy Leader of the Council and Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To consider a report by the Head of Administration on the representation of political groups on Panels, etc in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the District Council’s Constitution.

A report was submitted by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) relating to the principles of proportionality to be applied to the appointment of Panels in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and Part II of the Local Government Act 2000.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the allocation of seats on Panels to political groups and non-alligned Members be determined as set out in the report now submitted.

To appoint the Members of the Cabinet (7) in addition to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman dealt with in Agenda Items 6 and 7 above.

RESOLVED

  that Councillors Mrs J Chandler, N J Guyatt, A Hansard, Mrs P J Longford, Mrs D C Reynolds, T V Rogers and L M Simpson be appointed as Members of the Cabinet for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To appoint Members to the Overview & Scrutiny Panels –

(i)  Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Planning & Finance) –

  12 Members; and

(ii)  Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery & Resources) –

  12 Members.

RESOLVED

  that the following Members be appointed to the Overview and Scrutiny Panels for the ensuing Municipal Year:-

To appoint Members to the following Committees and Panels –

(i)  Standards Committee -   7 (plus three independent Members and two Parish Council Representatives – see Agenda Item 12)

(ii)  Employment Panel -   8 (to include one Member of the Cabinet in an ex-officio capacity with appropriate portfolio responsibility)

(iii)  Development Control - 16“

  Panel 

(iv)  Licensing and - 12“

  Protection Panel

(v)  Licensing Committee - 12“

(vi)  Corporate Governance -   7(to include  a  minimum of  one

  Paneland a maximum of three Members of the Cabinet)

(vii) Appointments Panel-   4 (to include the relevant Executive Councillor in relation to the post to be filled).

(viii)  Elections Panel  -    7

RESOLVED

  that Members be appointed to serve on the Standards and Licensing Committees and Employment, Development Control, Licensing and Protection, Corporate Governance, Elections and Appointments Panel for the ensuing Municipal Year as follows:-

  Standards Committee (7)

  Mrs B E Boddington, P J Downes, J A P Eddy, Mrs K P Gregory, I R Muir, T D Sanderson and J Taylor;

  Employment Panel (8)

  Mrs B E Boddington, J W Davies, J J Dutton, Mrs S A Menczer, T D Sanderson, G S E Thorpe, Mrs S J Vanbergen and one Member of the Cabinet in an ex-officio capacity with appropriate portfolio responsibility;

  Development Control Panel (16)

  Mrs M Banerjee, Mrs B E Boddington, P L E Bucknell, W T Clough, D B Dew, J J Dutton, J A P Eddy, J D Fell, C R Hyams, P G Mitchell, R Powell, C J Stephens, P A Swales, G S E Thorpe, R G Tuplin and one Member of the Cabinet in an ex-officio capacity with appropriate portfolio responsibility;

  Licensing and Protection Panel (12)

  J T Bell, J D Fell, Mrs K P Gregory, D Harty, I R Muir, R Powell, J M Sadler, J Taylor, R G Tuplin, J S Watt, Ms M Wheeler and one Member of the Cabinet in an ex-officio capacity with appropriate portfolio responsibility;

  Licensing Committee (12)

  J T Bell, J D Fell, Mrs K P Gregory, D Harty, I R Muir, R Powell, J M Sadler, J Taylor, R G Tuplin, J S Watt, Ms M Wheeler and one Member of the Cabinet in an ex-officio capacity with appropriate portfolio responsibility;

  Corporate Governance Panel (7)

  I C Bates, P J Downes, T V Rogers, L M Simpson, C J Stephens, I P Taylor and R G Tuplin;

  Appointments Panel (4)

  M G Baker, J W Davies, T V Rogers together with one Member of the Cabinet with appropriate portfolio responsibility for Human Resources/Personnel together with the relevant Executive Councillor in relation to the post to be filled; and

  Elections Panel (7) 

  I C Bates, P J Downes, D Harty, M F Newman, K Reynolds, T D Sanderson and J Taylor.

(a)  To note that Mr G Watkins and Mr D MacPherson, representing town and parish councils in Huntingdonshire, have been nominated by the Cambridgeshire Association of Local Councils to serve on the Standards Committee until May 2006.

(b)  To note that Messrs D H Bristow, D L Hall and D Pattison have been appointed as Independent Members on the Committee for a four year term of office expiring in April 2007.

RESOLVED

  (a)that the nomination by Cambridgeshire Association of Local Councils of Messrs Mr G Watkins and D McPherson to represent town and parish councils in Huntingdonshire on the Standards Committee until May 2006 be noted; and

  (b)that the appointment of Messrs D H Bristow, D L Hall and D Pattison as Independent Members on the Standards Committee for a four year term of office expiring in April 2007 be noted.

The Chief Executive to report on absences of Members from meetings.

The Director of Central Services reported that there were no absences of Members from meetings for consideration in accordance with Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.

The meeting concluded at 2.52 pm.