To elect the Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2016/17.  The retiring Chairman will call for nominations for Chairman and each nomination must be seconded.  Members may speak in support of nominations.

(Note:  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 21.7, if more than one nomination is received, a vote by show of hands will be conducted.)

The elected Chairman to sign and read out the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Due to his expected nomination for the position for 2016/17, the Chairman relinquished the Chair and the Vice-Chairman presided for this item.

The Vice-Chairman invited nominations for the office of Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2016/17.  Councillor David Bowater was duly proposed and seconded.  There were no other nominations.

RESOLVED

that Councillor Bowater be elected to the office of Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2016/17.

Councillor Bowater then read out and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

To elect the Vice-Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2016/17.  The Chairman will call for nominations for Vice-Chairman and each nomination must be seconded.  Members may speak in support of the nominations.

(Note:  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 21.7, if more than one nomination is received, a vote by show of hands will be conducted.)

The elected Vice-Chairman to sign and read out the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

The Chairman invited nominations for the office of Vice-Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2016/17.  Councillor Mrs Fiona Chapman was duly proposed and seconded.  There were no other nominations.

RESOLVED

that Councillor Mrs Chapman be elected to the office of Vice-Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2016/17.

Councillor Mrs Chapman then read out and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Thereafter the Vice-Chairman thanked Members for their support in electing her as Vice-Chairman for a second term of office.

To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 14 April 2016.

(Attached pages 5 to 11)

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 April 2016 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest.

None were declared.

To receive any questions, statements and deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of part A4 of the Constitution.  (This session will be held at the Chairman’s discretion and will normally last no longer than 15 minutes.)

The Chairman varied the order of the Agenda and took item 8 ‘Questions, Statements and Deputations’ after Agenda item 5 ‘Members’ Interests’.

The Chairman invited the public speaker to make her statement in accordance with the Public Participation Scheme. 

Gypsy and Traveller Site, Potton

Ms Sherland spoke on behalf of the residents at the gypsy and traveller site at Potton, explaining that there was uncertainty about the allocation arrangements for new pitches created at the site and in particular, whether these would be available to existing residents who were experiencing overcrowding.

The Executive Member for Social Care and Housing thanked Ms Sherland for addressing the Council with her concerns and indicated that she would investigate with Officers the proposed allocation of these pitches, and respond accordingly.

The two ward Members for Potton requested that they be kept updated on the outcome of the Executive Members’ investigations.

Councillor Bowater thanked Members for re-electing him for a second term of office.  He placed on record his thanks to the Vice-Chairman, the Chairman’s Personal Assistant, his Chaplain, his wife and also Committee Services for their support during 2015/16.  He summarised his experience in office and thanked all the members of the ‘chain gang’ (chairmen and mayors of nearby Councils) for their support and friendship throughout the year.  

The Chairman announced that he would be supporting Youth United and two ex-servicemen groups, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) with their own fundraising.  He would also be supporting a family in Leighton Buzzard, as their son suffered a series on-going effects of meningitis, on a personal level, but as Chairman would raise funds for Meningitis Research Foundation.

The Leader of the Council to announce any matters of communication.

The Leader deferred any announcements and communications to item 10 ‘Leader of the Council’s Annual Report’.

The report outlines the requirements for appointments to committees and other Council bodies, including political proportionality.  Nominations from Group Leaders will be circulated separately.

(Attached at pages 13 to 26)

The Council considered a report outlining the requirements for Member appointments to committees and other Council bodies, including taking account of political proportionality.

RESOLVED

1.      that the Council confirms for the municipal year 2016/17:

(a)       the structure, size and terms of reference of the committees, sub-committees and joint committees set out in sections D1, E2 and J2 of the Council’s constitution; and

(b)      the allocation of seats and substitutes to these and other bodies, as listed in Appendix A to the report, in accordance with the political balance rules where they apply.

2.      that the appointment of individual Members and substitutes to committees and other bodies be approved in accordance with the nominations submitted by the political groups, as attached at Appendix A to the minutes;

3.      that the appointment of at least 1 Member of the Council to the Central Bedfordshire Health and Wellbeing Board be approved, as attached at Appendix B to the minutes;

4.      that the appointment of the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of committees for the municipal year 2016/17 be approved in accordance with nominations as set out at Appendix C to the minutes;

5.      to note that the following persons had been appointed to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee as co-opted members with voting rights on education matters for the period May 2015 to the Annual Council Meeting in May 2019:

(a)       Debbie Main, NORES (supporting Catholic education) representative (since March 2016 has replaced Frances Image, Roman Catholic Diocesan representative appointed May 2015 but who has now retired)

(b)      David Morton, Church of England Diocesan representative

(c)       Stephen Court, School Parent Governor representative

(d)      Gillian Deans, School Parent Governor representative

(e)       Emily Rowlands, School Parent Governor representative.

The Leader of the Council to report any changes to the composition and responsibilities of the Executive for the forthcoming year and to agree the scheme of delegation as set out at parts E2 and H3 of the Constitution.  Appendix A - Portfolio Roles and names of the Executive and Deputy Executive Members will be circulated separately.

 (Attached at pages 27 to 29)

The Council noted a report from the Leader of the Council setting out the composition of the Executive, including the names of the Councillors appointed to the Executive.  The Leader amended the responsibility for tourism as this would be a joint responsibility between the Executive Members for Regeneration and Community Services.  The Executive Member for Community Services would have the delegated powers for decision- making purposes.

The report also confirmed that the Scheme of Delegation of Executive functions was set out at Part C3 of the Council’s Constitution.

RESOLVED

1.      that Councillor Carole Hegley remain the designated Lead Member for Children’s Services, be noted;

2.      that the composition of the Executive and the allocation of portfolios, as attached at Appendix D to the minutes, be noted; and

3.      that the scheme of delegation of Executive functions, as set out at Part C3 of the Council’s constitution, be noted.

To receive an annual report from the Leader of the Council outlining policy priorities for the coming year.

The Leader presented his annual report celebrating successes over recent years and outlining plans for the future.