Venue: Civic Suite, Pathfinder House, St Mary's Street, Huntingdon PE29 3TN
Contact: Ms C Deller, Democratic Services Manager, Tel No 01480 388007/e-mail: Christine.Deller@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
No. | Item | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PRAYER Minutes: Reverend A Milton, Team Rector for the Huntingdon Ministry opened the meeting with Prayer. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Election of Chairman To elect the Chairman of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year. Minutes: It was proposed by Councillor R J West, seconded by Councillor D Harty and
RESOLVED
that Councillor Mrs B E Boddington be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.
Councillor Mrs Boddington made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office and thanked Members for their support and the honour which the Council had bestowed upon her. Councillor Mrs Boddington added that it was her intention to be an ambassador for the Council, that she would work together with the Vice-Chairman to promote the civic role and the work of the District Council and encourage links with schools and businesses within the District. Councillor Mrs Boddington indicated that her preferred charities would be Cancer Research, Natural High, St John’s Ambulance and The Samaritans.
Councillor Mrs B E Boddington in the Chair. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VOTE OF THANKS TO THE RETIRING CHAIRMAN Minutes: The Chairman paid tribute to the way in which former Councillor J J Dutton had performed his duties as Chairman of the District Council and having proposed a vote of thanks to him, presented Mr Dutton with his past Chairman’s badge.
The Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite paid tribute to the enthusiastic manner in which former Councillor Dutton had undertaken his role as Chairman and the way in which he had represented the Council over the last two years and on behalf of Members, Councillor Ablewhite thanked him for all he had contributed to Council life.
As Leader of the Principal Opposition, Councillor P J Downes expressed his thanks to former Councillor Dutton for his energetic commitment to good causes and charities in Huntingdon town and the District.
In response, former Councillor Dutton wished Councillor Mrs Boddington every success in her new role and whilst disappointed that he had not been re-elected stated that he had enjoyed eight years representing Huntingdon North Ward. He thanked Reverend Milton, Members past and present and Officers for their friendship and support and concluded by referring to the many happy memories he would take with him.
Following a round of applause, it was
RESOLVED
that the Council’s appreciation to former Councillor J J Dutton be placed on record for his contribution as Chairman of the Council during the past two years. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chairman's Announcements Minutes: (a) Election Results
The Chairman congratulated those Members of the Council who had been returned for a further term of office at the District Council’s elections held on 3rd May 2012 and extended a warm welcome to the following newly elected Members –
Ms L Duffy - Ramsey Ward R Fuller - St. Ives West Ward P Kadewere - Huntingdon North Ward Mrs L Kadic - Godmanchester Ward J W G Pethard - Warboys and Bury Ward M Oliver - Yaxley and Farcet Ward.
The Chairman welcomed back to the Council, Councillor D A Giles who had been re-elected to represent St. Neots, Eaton Socon Ward.
A tribute also was paid to former Member, Mr A Jennings who had stood un-successfully for re-election.
(b) Chairman’s Events
In recognition of the 60th Anniversary of her accession to the throne, the Chairman invited all Members to join her at a flag raising ceremony at Pathfinder House on 1st June 2012 followed by the unveiling of the newly mounted picture of the Queen in the Civic Suite. The Chairman also announced that she would be making arrangements later in the year for the planting of a Royal Oak Tree in the town parks in Huntingdon, St. Ives and St. Neots and was hopeful that local schools would become involved in the project.
Details of arrangements for Armed Forces Day on 25th June and the Chairman’s Reception on 14th September would be sent to Members shortly.
(c) Royal Town Planning Association
The Council congratulated Mr M Sharp, Managing Director (Communities, Partnerships and Projects) on his election as president of the Royal Town Planning Association. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 25th April 2012. Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 25th April 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MEMBERS' INTERESTS 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. Minutes: No interests were declared by the Members present. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appointment of Vice-Chairman To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year. Minutes: It was proposed by Councillor D B Dew, seconded by Councillor R Harrison and
RESOLVED
that Councillor K M Baker be appointed Vice-Chairman of the District Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.
Councillor Baker made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office and expressed his appreciation to his proposer, Councillor Dew for his kind words. Councillor Baker announced that it was his intention to support the Chairman and promote the District as best as he could in the year ahead. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Election of Executive Leader of the Council To elect the Executive Leader of the Council.
(NB: The Executive Leader is elected by the Council from among its membership for a 4 year term or until that Member's term of office comes to an end as a Councillor, he/she resigns from the office or he/she is removed from office by the Council.) Minutes: It was proposed by Councillor J A Gray, seconded by Councillor D B Dew and
RESOLVED
that Councillor J D Ablewhite be elected Executive Leader of the Council for the period to the Annual Meeting in May 2016. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appointment of Cabinet The Executive Leader to announce the names of -
(a) a maximum of eight Councillors who shall be Members of the Council; and
(b) a Deputy Executive Leader who shall be a Member of the Cabinet.
(NB: The Deputy Executive Leader is appointed by the Executive Leader until the end of the term of office of the Executive Leader, he/she resigns from the office or he/she is removed from the office by the Executive Leader.) Minutes: The Executive Leader announced that he had appointed Councillors B S Chapman, J A Gray, N J Guyatt, T D Sanderson and D M Tysoe to join him as Members of the Cabinet for the ensuing Municipal Year. He also announced that Councillor N J Guyatt would be Deputy Executive Leader and Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Local Elections: 3rd May 2012 To receive a report by the Returning Officer on the persons elected to the Office of District Council on 3rd May 2012. Minutes: The report of the Returning Officer with regard to the District Council elections held on 3rd May 2012 was received and noted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book).
The Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite and Councillor P J Downes extended their appreciation to the Returning Officer and those who had been engaged in election duties over the period. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
REPRESENTATION OF POLITICAL GROUPS ON DISTRICT COUNCIL PANELS, ETC To consider a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic 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. Additional documents: Minutes: A report was submitted by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) relating to the principles of proportionality to be applied to the appointment of the 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-aligned Members be determined as set out in the report now submitted. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overview and Scrutiny Panels (i) Overview and Scrutiny Panel - 10 Members (Economic Well-Being) (plus 2 co-optees)
(ii) Overview and Scrutiny Panel - 10 Members (Environmental Well-Being) (plus 2 co-optees)
(iii) Overview and Scrutiny Panel - 10 Members (Social Well-Being) (plus 2 co-optees) Minutes: RESOLVED
that the following Members be appointed to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel for the ensuing Municipal Year:-
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMITTEES AND PANELS To appoint Members to the following Committees and Panels -
(i) Standards Committee - 7 Members (plus 4 independent Members and 3 Parish Council representatives) [NB: On 20th April 2011, the Council extended the period of office of all externally appointed Members until May 2012 or until such time the District Council decides upon the future of the Committee. Regulations are still awaited from the DCLG in this regard and it will be necessary to reconsider the composition of the Committee again shortly.]
(ii) Employment Panel - 8 Members (to include 1 Member of the Cabinet in an ex- official capacity with appropriate executive responsibility)
(iii) Senior Officers' Panel - 5 Members (to comprise the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Employment Panel, Deputy Leader, relevant Executive Councillor and Leader of the majority opposition party [or their respective nominees])
(iv) Appeals Sub-Group - 15 Members (a pool of Members from which the Head of Legal and Democratic Services is authorised to convene a meeting of the Appeals Sub- Committee comprising up to 5 Members [excluding Members of the Employment Panel] to determine appeals under the Council's disciplinary and appeals procedures)
(v) Development Management - 16 Members Panel - (to include 1 Member of the Cabinet in an ex- official capacity with appropriate executive responsibility)
(vi) Licensing and Protection -12 "
(vii) Licensing Committee - 12 "
(viii) Corporate Governance Panel - 7 Members
(ix) Elections Working Group - 6 Members (to undertake the review of the membership of the District Council) Minutes: RESOLVED
(a) that Members be appointed to serve on the Standards and Licensing Committees and Employment, Development Management, Licensing and Protection, Corporate Governance and Senior Officers’ Panels and the Appeals Sub-Group and Elections Working Group for the ensuing Municipal Year as follows:-
Standards Committee (7) Councillors Mrs B E Boddington, P J Downes, Ms L A Duffy, R S Farrer, G J Harlock, A Hansard and T D Sanderson.
Licensing Committee (12) Councillors K M Baker, I J Curtis, J W Davies, R S Farrer, R Fuller, G J Harlock, C R Hyams, Mrs P A Jordan, A J MacKender-Lawrence, M Oliver, S M Van De Kerkhove and one Member of the Cabinet in an ex-officio capacity with appropriate portfolio responsibilities.
Employment Panel (8) Councillors S Akthar, S Cawley, P J Downes, R S Farrer, J A Gray, R B Howe and R G Tuplin and one Member of the Cabinet in an ex-officio capacity with appropriate portfolio responsibilities.
Senior Officers’ Panel Councillors M G Baker, S Cawley, N J Guyatt and R B Howe together, when appropriate, with the relevant Executive Councillor in relation to the post to be filled.
Development Management Panel (16) Councillors Mrs M Banerjee, Mrs B E Boddington, P L E Bucknell, G J Bull, E R Butler, W T Clough, D B Dew, R B Howe, Mrs P J Longford, A J MacKender-Lawrence, P D Reeve, R G Tuplin, S M Van De Kerkhove, P K Ursell and R J West and one Member of the Cabinet in an ex-officio capacity with appropriate portfolio responsibilities.
Licensing & Protection Panel (12) Councillors K M Baker, I J Curtis, J W Davies, R S Farrer, R Fuller, G J Harlock, C R Hyams, Mrs P A Jordan, A J MacKender-Lawrence, M Oliver, S M Van De Kerkhove and one Member of the Cabinet in an ex-officio capacity with appropriate portfolio responsibilities.
Corporate Governance Panel (7) Councillors M G Baker, E R Butler, K Churchill, G J Harlock, P G Mitchell, R J West and one vacancy.
(b) that the following Members be nominated from which the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised, when necessary, to convene a meeting of the Appeal Sub-Committee to include up to five Members (excluding Members of the Employment Panel) to determine appeals under the Council’s Disciplinary and Appeals Procedures:-
Councillors Mrs M Banerjee, I C Bates, Mrs B E Boddington, K Churchill, J A Davies, D B Dew, R Fuller, C R Hyams, P G Mitchell, M Oliver, J W G Pethard, Mrs D C Reynolds and A H Williams.
(c) that Councillors J D Ablewhite (or Councillor N J Guyatt), Mrs M Banerjee, G J Bull, K Churchill, P J Downes and J A Gray be appointed to serve on the Elections Working Group.
The meeting concluded at 6.40pm. |