Agenda and minutes

To elect the Mayor for the ensuing year.

It was proposed by Councillor N Heslop, seconded by Councillor Luker and

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Mrs S L Luck be elected Mayor for the ensuing municipal year.

The Mayor, having made and subscribed the statutory declaration of acceptance of office, was invested with the Badge and Chain of Office, assumed the Chair and thanked Members for her election.

To propose a vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor.

It was proposed by Councillor N Heslop, seconded by Councillor Mrs Holland and

RESOLVED:  That the Council’s sincere appreciation be recorded of the excellent manner in which the retiring Mayor, Councillor H S Rogers had performed his duties both in the Council Chamber and throughout the Borough during the preceeding year.

To elect the Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year.

It was proposed by Councillor N Heslop, seconded by Councillor Ms Branson and

RESOLVED:  That Councillor O S Baldock be appointed Deputy Mayor for the ensuing municipal year.

The Deputy Mayor made and subscribed the statutory declaration of acceptance of office and thanked Members for his appointment.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on Tuesday, 8 April 2014

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 8 April 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

The Mayor announced that she had appointed the Reverend David Green as her Chaplain and the Civic Service would be held at St Mary’s Church, West Malling on Sunday 29 June.  The Mayor indicated that her nominated charities were Emilia’s Little Heart which helped to preserve the emotional wellbeing of children in hospital and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) assisting farmers and their families in time of need.

The Mayor gave notice of some forthcoming events including her Garden Party at Hadlow College on 23 July, the annual cricket match against Maidstone Borough Council at Headcorn on 17 August and the Tonbridge Dragon Boat Race on 14 September.  The Mayor indicated that there were still places available on her team for the latter and sponsorship would be appreciated to raise funds for her charities.  Finally, the Tonbridge Christmas Festival would be taking place on 23 November and further details of fundraising events would be advised in due course.

The report of the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer set out details of the political balance arrangements required to be applied to the Council’s committees, sub-committees, advisory boards and panels.

RESOLVED:  That the composition of all committees, sub-committees, advisory boards and panels be approved in accordance with the table at paragraph 1.1.3 of the report.

To note the Leader’s appointments to the Cabinet and the portfolios they will hold.  (Details will be circulated at the meeting).

The Leader presented details of the composition of the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:  That it be noted that the Cabinet will comprise seven Members (in addition to the Leader) with the responsibilities indicated:

Councillor Mrs J Anderson (Housing)

Councillor J Balcombe (Economic Regeneration)

Councillor M Coffin (Finance, Innovation and Property)

Councillor Mrs M Heslop (Leisure, Youth and Arts)

Councillor B Luker (Environmental Services)

Councillor Mrs S Murray (Planning and Transportation)

Councillor M Rhodes (Communities, Health and Community Safety)

To consider the establishment and composition of the Committees of the Council and their Sub-Committees for the ensuing year.  (Details of nominations will be circulated at the meeting).

RESOLVED:  That appointments to the Committees of the Council for the ensuing municipal year be made as follows:-

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Licensing and Appeals Committee

General Purposes Committee

Audit Committee

Joint Standards Committee

A Hearing Panel will be appointed from members of the Joint Standards Committee as necessary.

Area 1 Planning Committee

(For the Wards of Cage Green; Castle; that part of the Hadlow, Mereworth and West Peckham Ward within the parish of Hadlow; Higham; Hildenborough; Judd; Medway; Trench; and Vauxhall)

Area 2 Planning Committee

(For the Wards of Borough Green and Long Mill; Downs; East Peckham and Golden Green; that part of the Hadlow, Mereworth and West Peckham Ward outside the parish of Hadlow; Ightham; Kings Hill; Wateringbury; West Malling and Leybourne; and Wrotham)

Area 3 Planning Committee

To appoint the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of each Committee.  (Details of nominations will be circulated at the meeting).

RESOLVED:   That appointment of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of each Committee, Board, Panel and Group for the ensuing municipal year be made as follows and the requirement in Part 3 of the constitution for the Chairman of the Tonbridge Forum to be the Leader be suspended:-

To appoint Advisory Panels and Boards and Other Member Groups for the ensuing year.  (Details of nominations will be circulated at the meeting).

RESOLVED:  That appointments to the Advisory Panels, Boards and other Member Groups of the Council for the ensuing municipal year be made as follows:-

To appoint representatives to serve on outside bodies.  (Details of nominations will be circulated at the meeting).

a) To agree those parts of the scheme of delegation set out in Part 3 of the Constitution which are for the Council to approve.

b) To agree the Leader's proposal to re-adopt the current arrangements for decision-making by individual executive Members set out in Part 3 of the Constitution.

c) To agree the Leader's proposal to re-adopt the current scheme of delegation to officers in respect of executive functions set out in Part 3 of the Constitution.

Members were invited to confirm the Scheme of Delegations in compliance with the Constitution.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)  those parts of the Scheme of Delegations set out in Part 3 of the Constitution which are for the Council to approve be confirmed;

(2) the current arrangements for decision making by individual executive Members set out in Part 3 of the Constitution be re-adopted; and

(3)  the current scheme of delegation to officers in respect of executive functions set out in Part 3 of the Constitution be re-adopted.

To confirm the programme of meetings for the ensuing year.

The programme of Council, Cabinet, Committee and Advisory Board and Panel meetings for the ensuing year and to May 2016 was presented for approval. Members were advised of a change to the dates of meetings of the Joint Employee Consultative Committee.

RESOLVED:  That the programme of meetings be confirmed subject to the meetings of the Joint Employee Consultative Committee being changed from 12 to 5 March 2015 and from 10 to 3 March 2016.

To authorise the Common Seal of the Council to be affixed to any Contract, Minute, Notice or other document requiring the same.

RESOLVED:  That authority be given for the Common Seal of the Council to be affixed to any instrument to give effect to a decision of the Council incorporated into these Minutes and proceedings.