Agenda and minutes

Councillor J E Garner opened the meeting with Prayer.

(a)  Former Councillor T M Wigley

  The Chairman announced with regret the death recently of former Councillor T M Wigley who had served as District Councillor for the Brampton Ward for eight years.  As a Member for that Ward, Councillor P J Downes paid tribute to the contribution made by former Councillor Wigley to village life and to the community in Brampton.

  Members stood for a minute's silence in memory of their former colleague.

(b)  Councillor A Monk

  The Chairman welcomed Councillor A Monk to his first meeting of the Council since his election as Councillor for Ramsey Ward on 2nd April 2009.

(c)  Achievement Award

  The Chairman indicated that he was pleased to announce that the Creative Exchange in St. Neots had received a "Building Excellence" award as best sustainable project in the East Anglian Region and that the building now would be entered into the national finals in London in October.

(d)  Members vs Officers Cricket Match

  The Chairman encouraged Members to participate in the annual Members vs Officers Cricket Match, the date for which would be announced shortly. 

(e)  Chairman's Charity Ball

  The Chairman announced that his Charity Ball would take place on Friday 30th October 2009 at the Burgess Hall, St. Ives and that invitations to the event would be extended in due course.

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

It was proposed by Councillor J J Dutton, seconded by Councillor M F Newman and

RESOLVED

  that Councillor J W Davies be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.

Councillor Davies 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 W Davies in the Chair.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd April 2009.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22nd April 2009 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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.

None were received.

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

It was proposed by Councillor C R Hyams, seconded by Councillor A Hansard and

RESOLVED

  that Councillor J J Dutton be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.

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

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

It was proposed by Councillor J A Gray, seconded by Councillor Mrs B E Boddington and

RESOLVED

  that Councillor I C Bates 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 L W McGuire, seconded by Councillor I C Bates and

RESOLVED

  that Councillor L M Simpson be appointed Deputy Leader of the Council and Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To appoint a maximum of seven Members to the Cabinet in addition to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman dealt with in Agenda Item Nos 5 and 6.

RESOLVED

  that, in addition to the Leader and Deputy Leader, Councillors K J Churchill, D B Dew, J A Gray, A Hansard, C R Hyams, Mrs D C Reynolds and T V Rogers be appointed as Members of the Cabinet for the ensuing year.

To consider a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services 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 Democratic and Central Services (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 and Committees to political groups and non-aligned Members be determined as set out in the report now submitted.

RESOLVED

  (a)  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 –

RESOLVED

  (a)  that Members be appointed to serve on the Standards and Licensing Committees and Employment, Development Management, Licensing and Protection, Corporate Governance, Elections and Appointment Panels for the ensuing Municipal Year as follows:-

  Standards Committee (7)

  J D Ablewhite, Mrs B E Boddington, P J Downes, R S Farrer, A Hansard, T D Sanderson and G S E Thorpe plus four Independent members and three Parish Council representatives;

  Employment Panel (8)

  Mrs B E Boddington, Mrs K E Cooper, J J Dutton, Mrs P A Jordan, A Monk, T V Rogers, P A Swales and one Member of the Cabinet in an ex-officio capacity with appropriate Portfolio responsibility;

  Development Management Panel (16)

  J D Ablewhite, Mrs M Banerjee, Mrs B E Boddington, E R Butler, W T Clough, J J Dutton, P G Mitchell, C J Stephens, P A Swales, Ms M J Thomas, G S E Thorpe, R G Tuplin, P K Ursell, P R Ward, R J West and one Member of the Cabinet in an ex-officio capacity with appropriate Portfolio responsibility;

  Licensing and Protection Panel (12)

  K M Baker, J T Bell, P L E Bucknell, J J Dutton, R W J Eaton, R S Farrer, R Powell, J M Sadler, T D Sanderson, R G Tuplin, J S Watt and one Member of the Cabinet in an ex-officio capacity with appropriate Portfolio responsibility;

  Licensing Committee (12)

  K M Baker, J T Bell, P L E Bucknell, J J Dutton, R W J Eaton, R S Farrer, R Powell, J M Sadler, T D Sanderson, R G Tuplin, J S Watt and one Member of the Cabinet in an ex-officio capacity with appropriate Portfolio responsibility;

  Corporate Governance Panel (7) 

  M G Baker, P L E Bucknell, S J Criswell, P J Downes, C J Stephens and the Executive Councillors whose Portfolios include Finance and Corporate Governance;

  Appointments Panel (5)

  The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Employment Panel, Deputy Leader of the Council, Leader of the Majority Opposition Party together with the relevant Executive Councillor in relation to the post to be filled (or their respective nominees);

  Elections Panel (7)

  Mrs M Banerjee, P J Downes, J E Garner, A N Gilbert, M F Newman, T D Sanderson and M F Shellens;

  (b)  that the following Members be nominated, from which number the Director of Central Services be authorised, when necessary, to convene a meeting of the Appeals Sub-Group to include up to five Members (excluding Members of the Employment Panel) to determine appeals under the Council's disciplinary and appeals procedures -

  J T Bell, J W Davies, P J Downes, C R Hyams, L W McGuire, P G Mitchell, M F Newman, Mrs D C Reynolds, T V Rogers, G S E Thorpe, R G Tuplin and J S Watt.

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

The Chief Executive 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 2.55pm.