Agenda and minutes

To elect the Mayor for the ensuing year.

It was proposed by Councillor N Heslop, seconded by Councillor H Rogers and

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Mrs J A Anderson 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 Miss G Thomas and

RESOLVED:  That the Council’s sincere appreciation be recorded of the excellent manner in which the retiring Mayor, Councillor Mrs P A Bates, had performed her duties both in the Council Chamber and throughout the Borough during the preceding year.

To elect the Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year.

It was proposed by Councillor N Heslop, seconded by Councillor Mrs A Oakley and

RESOLVED:  That Councillor R V Roud 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 9 April 2019

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 9 April 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Special Meeting of Council held on 9 April 2019

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the proceedings of the Special Meeting of the Council held on 9 April 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

The Mayor reported that she had appointed the Reverend Christopher Miles as her Chaplain and the Civic Service would be held at St Mary’s Church, Hadlow on Sunday 30 June.  Her nominated charity was CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), a charity preventing sudden cardiac deaths in young people through awareness, screening and research and supporting affected families.  The Mayor hoped to raise awareness of the problem and support the availability of scans in the Borough.  Fund raising events included a possible charity football match and quiz, further details of which would be advised in due course.

To receive the Returning Officer’s Certificate of the result of the elections.

The Chief Executive, as Returning Officer, submitted her report listing persons who had been elected as Councillors at the Borough Council Elections held on 2 May 2019.

The Council’s thanks were recorded to the Returning Officer and all staff involved for their efficiency during the polling and count for the elections and in maintaining services from the office.

To elect the Leader for the ensuing four years.

It was proposed by Councillor M Coffin, seconded by Councillor D Keers and

RESOLVED:  That Councillor N Heslop be elected as Leader of the Council for the ensuing four years.

Subject to the outcome of the above, the Council to note the Leader’s appointment of a deputy executive leader and 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 five Members (in addition to the Leader) with the responsibilities indicated:

Councillor R Betts – Street Scene and Environment Services

Councillor M Coffin - Finance, Innovation and Property and Deputy Executive Leader

Councillor D Lettington – Strategic Planning and Infrastructure

Councillor P Montague - Housing

Councillor M Rhodes – Community Services

The Economic Regeneration portfolio to be held by the Leader

To determine the political balance arrangements for the Council’s committees, sub-committees, advisory boards and panels.

The report of the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer set out details of 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 set out at paragraph 1.1.4 of the report and the Monitoring Officer make any consequential amendments to the Council’s Constitution in respect of political balance.

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

(18 members)

Licensing and Appeals Committee

(15 members)

General Purposes Committee

(14 members)

Audit Committee

(9 members)

Joint Standards Committee

(13 members + 6 parish members)

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 and East 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 and Mereworth; that part of the Hadlow and East Peckham Ward outside the parish of  ...  view the full minutes text for item C 19/48

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:

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).

RESOLVED:  That appointments to serve on outside bodies for the ensuing municipal year be made as follows:

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 receive the Leader’s recommendations concerning the arrangements for decision-making by individual executive Members and the re-adoption of 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 Leader’s recommendations for decision making by individual executive Members set out in Part 3 of the Constitution be 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 2021 was presented for approval.

RESOLVED:  That the programme of meetings be approved.

The report recommends that temporary appointments are made to Hildenborough Parish Council to ensure that the Parish Council is able to lawfully function until the requisite number of vacancies are filled.  It also proposes a process to make temporary Member appointments to Parish and Town Councils which may become inquorate in the future.

The report of the Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive explained the circumstances leading to the need to make temporary appointments to Hildenborough Parish Council to enable it to function lawfully until the requisite number of vacancies were filled. Consideration was also given to a process for making temporary Member appointments to parish and town councils which might become inquorate in future.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the appointment of Councillors N Foyle and M Rhodes as temporary members of Hildenborough Parish Council be approved until such time as an election or co-option can be held and those elected or co-opted have taken office;

(2)             the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make the necessary order to give effect to the temporary appointments; and

(3)             the Council delegates to the Monitoring Officer the authority to make temporary appointments of Members to Town and Parish Councils under Section 91 of the Local Government Act 1972, in accordance with the process set out in Annex 1 to the report, and to report any such appointments to the next meeting of the Council.

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.