Agenda and minutes

Council - Monday, 14th May, 2018 6.00 pm

Venue: the Council Chamber, Appletree Court, Lyndhurst

Contact: 023 8028 5588 - ask for Melanie Stephens  E-mail:  melanie.stephens@nfdc.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

Apologies

Cllrs Clarke, Coombes, Ms Crisell, Frampton, O’Sullivan, Mrs Rostand, Miss Sevier and Thierry.

 

1.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 78 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 2018 as a correct record.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 2018 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.  

2.

Declarations of Interest

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interest must also be specified.

 

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made by any member in connection with an agenda item.

3.

Vote of Thanks to the Outgoing Chairman, Cllr Christine Ward

The Leader of the Council will move:

 

That the thanks of this Council be extended to Cllr Christine Ward for the admirable way in which she has carried out the duties of Chairman during the past year.

 

Cllr Diane Andrews will second the motion.

 

The motion will be put to the meeting.

 

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council proposed that a vote of thanks be extended to the outgoing Chairman, Cllr Christine Ward, for the admirable way in which she had carried out the duties of the Chairman during the past year.  Cllr Mrs Ward’s year had focussed on various groups, including those involved in voluntary work, youth activities, music and the arts, and mental health. She had carried out her duties conscientiously and was always kind, calm and patient. The motion was seconded.

 

Other members spoke in support of the motion. They thanked Cllr Mrs Ward for her hard work, sincerity, enthusiasm, and passion in her role. She had acquitted herself extremely well as a charismatic and dedicated Chairman throughout a very busy year. They also paid tribute to her husband, Mr Derek Ward, who had supported her so well as consort.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the thanks and best wishes of the Council be recorded and conveyed to Cllr Mrs Ward for her service during her term of office as Chairman. 

 

4.

Outgoing Chairman's Statement

The Chairman will address the Council, after which she and her consort will be presented with badges of their past offices.

 

Minutes:

The Chairman thanked members for their kind words. She had thoroughly enjoyed her year as Chairman, and gave examples of the many worthwhile organisations and events with which she had been in contact.  These included the Stanley’s Own Scout Group, the Solent Scout Regatta at Blashford Lakes and the 17 Port and RLC Maritime Regiment.  Her chosen charities had been It’s Your Choice, a counselling and advice service for 12 to 25 year olds in the New Forest Area, and First Opportunities Pre-School for children with special needs.  She had enjoyed her charity abseiling experience at the Spinnaker Tower, as well as her civic day.  She thanked those staff and members who had supported her throughout the year, as well as her husband Derek. 

5.

Election of Chairman of the Council for the 2018/19 Municipal Year

To elect the Chairman of the Council.

 

Cllr Beck will move:

 

That Cllr Melville Kendal be elected Chairman of the Council for the Municipal year 2018/19, to hold office until his successor is elected at the annual meeting of the Council in 2019.

 

Cllr Wise will second.

 

The motion will be put to the meeting.   If adopted, Cllr Kendal will be declared duly elected.   He will sign the declaration of acceptance of office and will be invested with the chain of office.   He will then take the chair.

Minutes:

Cllr Beck moved that Cllr Kendal be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing municipal year. The motion was seconded by Cllr Wise.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Cllr Kendal be elected Chairman of the Council to continue in office until his successor becomes entitled to act as Chairman at the next annual meeting of the Council.

 

Cllr Kendal took the chair and signed the declaration of acceptance of office, which was formally witnessed by the Monitoring Officer.  He was then invested with the Chain and Badge of Office.

 

6.

Address by the Chairman of the Council

The newly-elected Chairman will address the Council.

 

Minutes:

The Chairman thanked members of the Council for electing him. He felt that his first duty was to ensure all members were treated fairly in Council debates.

 

He announced that his charity for the year was ‘Oakhaven in Totton’.      

 

7.

Appointment of Vice-Chairman of the Council for the 2018/19 Municipal Year

To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Council.

 

Cllr Michael Harris will move:

 

That Cllr Allan Glass be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Municipal year 2018/19, to hold office until his successor is appointed at the annual meeting of the Council in 2019.

 

Cllr Carpenter will second.

 

The motion will be put to the meeting.   If adopted, Cllr Glass will be declared duly appointed.  He will sign the declaration of acceptance of office and receive the badge of office.   He will take his seat on the dais and address the meeting.

 

Minutes:

It was moved by Cllr Harris and seconded by Cllr Mrs Carpenter that Cllr Glass be appointed Vice–Chairman of the Council for the ensuing municipal year.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Cllr Glass be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council, to hold office until immediately after the election of the Chairman at the next annual meeting of the Council.

8.

Leader's Announcements

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council announced that there would be no changes in Cabinet Portfolios or Portfolio Holders. Cllr E Heron would remain Deputy Leader of the Council. 

9.

Report of the Cabinet dated 2 May 2018 - Establishment of Additional Overview and Scrutiny Panel and Changes to the Panels' Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 80 KB

To receive the report of the Cabinet dated 2 May 2018 and to consider its recommendations.

 

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council presented the report of the Cabinet meeting held on 2 May 2018. 

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the report be received and the recommendations adopted.

10.

Allocation of Seats to Political Groups

Section 15(1) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 requires the Council, at its annual meeting or as soon as practicable thereafter, to review the political representation on committees and other groups such as panels to which the principles of proportionate representation, as set out in the Act, apply.  The legislation requires, amongst other things, that -

 

(a)          The majority of seats on each committee/panel or other body must be allocated to the majority political group;

(b)          Subject to (a) above, the number of seats allocated to each political group must bear the same proportion as the total of the membership of that group to the membership of the authority.

 

The seats allocated to the political groups are:

 

 

Seats

Conservative

Liberal Democrat

Independent

Appeals Committee

20

18

1

1

Audit Committee

8

8

0

0

Employee Engagement Panel

4

4

0

0

General Purposes & Licensing Committee

15

14

1

0

Planning Committee

20

18

1

1

Community & Leisure O&S Panel

10

10

0

0

Corporate O&S Panel

10

10

0

0

Environment O&S Panel

10

10

0

0

Housing O&S Panel

10

10

0

0

Total

107

102

3

2

 

The overall allocation complies with the proportionality requirements.  However, the allocation of seats to the Independent member (who is not a “Group” under the legislation) is permissible only if no member of the Council votes against.

 

RECOMMENDED:

 

That the allocation of seats to the political groups/Independent member be as set out above.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the allocation of seats to the political groups/Independent members, as set out in the report, be agreed.

 

11.

Membership of Committees and Panels

(a)             To agree the membership of the Community & Leisure and the Housing Overview & Scrutiny Panels as follows:

 

Community & Leisure Overview & Scrutiny Panel

 

Councillors:

G C Beck

G R Blunden

D A Britton

Mrs F Carpenter

S Clarke

I C Coombes

A H G Davis

A D O’Sullivan

D J Russell

M L White

 

 

Housing Overview & Scrutiny Panel

 

Councillors:

Mrs L D Cerasoli

Ms K V Crisell

S P Davies

Mrs P Lovelace

N Penman

D M S Poole

Miss A Sevier

M A Steele

Mrs C V Ward

Mrs P A Wyeth

 

(b)        To consider any other changes to the membership of Committees and Panels as may be proposed by the political groups.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the membership of the Community & Leisure and the Housing

Overview & Scrutiny Panels be as follows:

 

Community & Leisure Overview & Scrutiny Panel

Councillors:

G C Beck

G R Blunden

D A Britton

Mrs F Carpenter

S Clarke

I C Coombes

A H G Davis

A D O’Sullivan

D J Russell

M L White

 

Housing Overview & Scrutiny Panel

Councillors:

Mrs L D Cerasoli

Ms K V Crisell

S P Davies

Mrs P Lovelace

N Penman

D M S Poole

Miss A Sevier

M A Steele

Mrs C V Ward

Mrs P A Wyeth