Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: COUNCIL CHAMBER, PRIORY HOUSE, MONKS WALK, CHICKSANDS, SHEFFORD

Contact: Mrs Kathrin John  01462 611033

Items
No. Item

WELCOME

Mrs J Salisbury, Chief Executive of Mid Bedfordshire District Council and Proper Officer for convening the inaugural meeting of the Central Bedfordshire Shadow Council, welcomed Members to the meeting and introduced the Right Reverend Richard Inwood, Bishop of Bedford.

PRAYERS

Prayers were taken by the Right Reverend Richard Inwood, Bishop of Bedford.

1.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

To elect a Chairman of the Shadow Council to hold office until immediately after the election of a Chairman at the Annual Meeting of Central Bedfordshire Council in 2009.  the Proper Officer will call for nominations for Chairman and each nomination must be seconded.  Members may speak in support of the nominations.

 

The following nomination has been received for Chairman to date:

 

Cllr David McVicar

 

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

Minutes:

Nominations were invited for the office of Chairman of the Shadow Council to hold office until immediately after the election of a Chairman at the Annual General Meeting of Central Bedfordshire Council in 2009.

 

Only one nomination was duly proposed and seconded for this position in the name of Cllr David McVicar.

 

RESOLVED

 

that Cllr David McVicar be elected to the office of Chairman of the Shadow Council to hold office until immediately after the election of a Chairman at the Annual Meeting of Central Bedfordshire Council in 2009.

 

Cllr McVicar then signed and read out the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and thanked Members for their support.

2.

APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

To appoint the Vice-Chairman of the Shadow Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting of Central Bedfordshire Council in 2009.  The Chairman will call for nominations for Vice-Chairman and each nomination must be seconded.  Members may speak in support of the nominations.

 

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

Minutes:

The Chairman invited nominations for the office of Vice-Chairman of the Shadow Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting of Central Bedfordshire Council in 2009.

 

Two nominations were duly proposed and seconded for this position in the names of Cllrs A Duggan and B J Golby.

 

In accordance with the draft Constitution, a secret ballot was held on these nominations and the Chairman duly announced that Cllr Duggan had been appointed to hold office until the Annual Meeting of Central Bedfordshire Council in 2009.

 

Cllr Duggan then signed and read out the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and thanked Members for their support.

3.

LEADER AND DEPUTY LEADER

To note that Article 16(4) of the Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 designates the person who is for the time being the Leader of Mid Beds District Council as Leader of the Shadow Executive and Article 16(5) designates the person who is for the time being the Leader of South Bedfordshire District Council as the Deputy Leader of the Shadow Executive.

Minutes:

The Shadow Council noted that Article 16(4) of the Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 designated the person who was, for the time being, the Leader of Mid Bedfordshire District Council as Leader of the Shadow Executive and Article 16(5) designated the person who was, for the time being, the Leader of South Bedfordshire District Council as Deputy Leader of the Shadow Executive.

4.

MEMBERS' INTERESTS

To receive from Members declarations and the nature thereof in relation to:-

 

(a)               Personal Interests in any agenda item

 

(b)               Personal and Prejudicial Interests in any Agenda Item

Minutes:

Declarations were received from Members as follows:-

 

(a)

Personal Interests:-

 

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)

Personal and Prejudicial Interests:-

 

 

None.

5.

CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL - CREATION OF A LEADER AND CABINET EXECUTIVE pdf icon PDF 89 KB

To create a Leader and Cabinet Executive as required by Article 16(1) of the Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 and to appoint Members to the Shadow Executive.

 

(Report of the Proper Office of Mid Bedfordshire District Council attached - pages 7.1 to 7.4)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Shadow Council received and considered the report of the Proper Officer of Mid Bedfordshire District Council inviting it to create a Leader and Cabinet Executive as required by Article 16(1) of the Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 and to appoint Members to the Shadow Executive.

 

The Shadow Council also received a supplementary report that confirmed the nominations for Membership on the Shadow Executive.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.

that the Shadow Council creates a Leader and Cabinet model of governance in accordance with Part II of the Local Government Act 2000 and appoints Members of the Shadow Executive in accordance with Article 16 of the Implementation Order, as follows:-

 

 

Cllrs

Mrs P E Turner MBE

Leader of the Council and Leader/Chairman of the Shadow Executive

MBDC

 

 

N B Costin

 

SBDC

 

 

Mrs R Drinkwater

 

BCC

 

 

R V King

 

BCC

 

 

D Ross

 

BCC

 

 

R Stay

 

BCC

 

 

M R Chapman

 

MBDC

 

 

M R Jones

 

MBDC

 

 

K C Matthews

 

MBDC

 

 

P Penman

 

SBDC

 

 

P Rawcliffe

 

SBDC

 

 

P Snelling

 

SBDC

 

2.

that the executive arrangements provide for the Leader to determine the Shadow Executive Portfolios and any delegations of powers to individual Portfolio Holders.

 

 

6.

CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL - PROPOSED GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS pdf icon PDF 112 KB

To invite the Council to approve the draft Constitution and make appointments to various Committees required for the new Shadow Authority.

 

(Report of the Proper Officer of Mid Bedfordshire District Council attached - pages 8.1 to 8.8)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Shadow Council received and considered the report of the Proper Officer of Mid Bedfordshire District Council asking it to approve the draft Constitution and make appointments to various committees required for the new Shadow Authority.

 

Recommendation 1 contained in the report was moved and seconded:-

 

"1.       that the draft Constitution for the Shadow Authority, circulated separately, be approved and adopted for the period to 1 April 2009."

 

As an amendment to the Motion, it was moved and duly seconded:-

 

"That recommendation 1 be amended by the addition of the following words after "1 April 2009":-

 

", subject to the amendment of the relevant Rules of Procedure to provide for public participation in meetings of the Shadow Council, its Committees and the Shadow Executive on the basis of the following general principles:-

 

(a)

A period of up to 15 minutes being allowed for public questions/comments and responses at the beginning of the meeting;

 

(b)

Questions/statements to be relevant to the powers and duties of the Shadow Council;

 

(c)

The order of speaking to be in the order in which requests are received;

 

(d)

Each speaker having up to 3 minutes in which to speak;

 

(e)

Where a speaker wishes to speak on an item which is included on the agenda, the Chairman of the relevant body having the authority to take the public participation at the relevant point on the agenda rather than during the 15 minute public participation slot at the beginning of the meeting."

 

Following a detailed debate, upon being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

 

As a further amendment to the Motion, it was moved and duly seconded:-

 

"That the recommendation 1 be amended by the addition of the following words after "1 April 2009":-

 

", subject to the amendment of the Council Rules of Procedure by:-

 

(a)

The deletion of Rules 21.4 and 21.5 and their replacement with the following revised Rule 21.4:-

 

 

21.4

Every Member of the Shadow Council shall have the right to attend meetings of a Committee or the Shadow Executive.  Such a Member shall be entitled to speak once on any item and may, with the prior consent of the person presiding, contribute further, but shall not vote."

 

Following a detailed debate, upon being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

 

The Shadow Council then received and considered a supplementary report that set out nominations for committee seats and Chairmanships/Vice-Chairmanships for the coming year.  The report also set out for Members' information, notification of the appointment of the four group leaders upon the Shadow Council.  Appended to the report, at Appendix "A", were nominations of the groups for places on committees and at Appendix "B", nominations received for Chairmanships/Vice-Chairmanships of committees.

 

In considering this item, the Leader of the Shadow Council referred to the implications of the existing vacancy on the Council and the late indication of a Councillor to join the Independent Group whose Leader was currently unavailable.  The implications of the possible revision  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

ADOPTION OF THE CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE SHADOW COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR COUNCILLORS pdf icon PDF 136 KB

To advise Members of the requirement to adopt a Code of Conduct for Councillors in accordance with Section 51 of the Local Government Act 2000.

 

(Report of the Monitoring Officer of Mid Bedfordshire District Council attached - pages 9.1 to 9.13)

Minutes:

The Shadow Council received and considered the report of the Monitoring Officer of Mid Bedfordshire District Council advising Members of the requirement to adopt the Code of Conduct for Councillors in accordance with Section 51 of the Local Government Act 2000.

 

RESOLVED

 

that the Central Bedfordshire Shadow Council's Code of Conduct for Councillors be adopted from 10 April 2008, in accordance with Section 51 of the Local Government Act 2000, as set out in Appendix "A" to the report of the Monitoring Officer.

8.

COMPOSITION OF THE SHADOW EXECUTIVE AND PROPOSED SCHEME OF DELEGATION OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS pdf icon PDF 66 KB

To receive a report from the Leader regarding the responsibilities to be held by Councillors elected to the Shadow Executive together with a record of the proposed Scheme of Delegation of Executive Functions.  (Rule No. 1.2 of the Executive Procedure Rule refers).

(To be tabled)

Minutes:

The Shadow Council received and noted the report from the Leader regarding the responsibilities to be held by Councillors elected to the Shadow Executive together with a record of the proposed Scheme of Delegation of Executive Functions (Rule No. 1.2 of the Executive Procedure Rule refers).

 

The report set out the responsibilities to be held by Councillors elected to the Shadow Executive, as follows:-

 

Executive Councillor

Responsibility

 

Tricia Turner

Leader of the Shadow Executive and Leader of the Council

 

Philip Penman

Vice-Chairman of the Shadow Executive and Deputy Leader of the Council

 

Mark Chapman

Support across all portfolios/transitional task forces

 

Norman Costin

Portfolio for Children, Young People and Families

 

Rita Drinkwater

Support across all portfolios/transitional task forces

 

Maurice Jones

Portfolio for Corporate Resources

 

Bob King

Portfolio for Customers and Community Engagement

 

Ken Matthews

Portfolio for Sustainable Development

 

Peter Rawcliffe

Portfolio for Social Care, Health and Housing

 

Duncan Ross

Support across all portfolios/transitional task forces

 

Peter Snelling

Portfolio for Safer and Stronger Communities

 

Richard Stay

Support across all portfolios/transitional task forces

 

The report also pointed out that no authority had been delegated to any individual Executive Councillor at this stage; that no Executive Committees had been appointed; and that under the Scheme of Executive Functions Delegated to Interim Officers contained in Part 3 of the Constitution (Section B of the Officer Scheme of Delegation refers, subject to the qualifications listed in Section A of that Scheme) no additional functions had been delegated beyond those set out in the Constitution at this stage.

 

RESOLVED

 

that the Shadow Council accepts and notes the Leader's report on this matter.

9.

MEMBERS' ALLOWANCES FOR THE SHADOW COUNCIL 2008/09 pdf icon PDF 92 KB

To consider:

 

(a)

establishing an independent remuneration panel for the purpose of making recommendations in respect of a Scheme of Members’ Allowances for the Shadow Authority for Central Bedfordshire and proposals for a Scheme of Members’ Allowances to be adopted by Central Bedfordshire Council; and

 

(b)

the appointment of the members of the independent remuneration panel as a parish remuneration panel for the purpose of making recommendations to any parish council within the area of Central Bedfordshire that seeks to pay a basic allowance or travelling and subsistence allowances to its members during 2009/10.

 

(Report of the Monitoring Officer of Mid Beds District Council attached - pages 11.1 to 11.5)

Minutes:

The Shadow Council received and considered the report of the Monitoring Officer of Mid Bedfordshire District Council asking it to consider:-

 

(a)

establishing an Independent Remuneration Panel for the purpose of making recommendations in respect of a Scheme of Members' Allowances for the Central Bedfordshire Shadow Authority and proposals for a Scheme of Members' Allowances to be adopted by Central Bedfordshire Council; and

 

(b)

the appointment of the Members of the Independent Remuneration Panel as a Parish Remuneration Panel for the purpose of making recommendations to any Parish Council within the area of Central Bedfordshire wishing to pay a basic allowance or travelling and subsistence allowances to its Members during 2009/10.


During consideration of this matter, Members' attention was drawn to recommendation (d) as to whether the Independent Remuneration Panel should be asked to make a recommendation for a Scheme of Members' Allowances for the Members of the Shadow Authority for the current financial year and the implications of this were set out in paragraph 13 of the report.

 

RESOLVED

 

that the Shadow Council:

 

(a)

authorises the Interim Head of Staff for the Shadow Authority to appoint two Members from each of the Independent Remuneration Panels appointed by Bedfordshire County Council, Mid Bedfordshire District Council and South Bedfordshire District Council for the purpose of setting up an Independent Remuneration Panel for Central Bedfordshire.

 

(b)

authorises the Interim Head of Staff to pay, as a transitional cost, the expenses of the Members of the Panel in carrying out its functions;

 

(c)

authorises the payment, as a transitional cost, of an allowance of £120 per meeting to each member of the newly formed Independent Remuneration Panel.

 

(d)

requests the Independent Remuneration Panel to make recommendations for a Scheme of Members' Allowances for the Members of the Shadow Authority for the current financial year.

 

(e)

authorises the Interim Head of Staff to appoint members of the Independent Remuneration Panel to serve as a Parish Remuneration Panel to make recommendations to any Parish Council within Central Bedfordshire wishing to make payments to its Members as from 1 April 2009.

10.

DESIGNATION OF INTERIM HEAD OF STAFF, INTERIM MONITORING OFFICER AND INTERIM CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER pdf icon PDF 81 KB

To seek approval to designate on an interim basis the required statutory officers and their deputies for the Central Bedfordshire Shadow Council.

 

(Report of the Proper Officer of Mid Bedfordshire District Council attached - pages 12.1 to 12.3)

Minutes:

The Shadow Council received and considered the report of the Proper Officer of Mid Bedfordshire District Council seeking its approval to designate on an interim basis the required statutory officers and their deputies for Central Bedfordshire Shadow Council.

 

RESOLVED

 

that the Shadow Council approves the designation of the Interim Head of Staff, Monitoring Officer and Chief Finance Officer and their deputies, as set out in paragraph 8 of the report of the Proper Officer, as follows:-

 

Interim Head of Staff/ Deputy Head of Staff - Jaki Salisbury/Jon Ruddick

 

Interim Monitoring Officer/Deputy Monitoring Officer - Barbara Morris/Amerjit Kang

 

Interim Chief Finance Officer/Deputy Chief Finance Officer - David Sutherland/Nick Murley.