Minutes 07/06/2014, 09.30

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the ANNUAL meeting of

maidstone borough council held at the town hall, high street, maidstone on 7 June 2014

 

Present:

Councillor English (The Mayor) and

Councillors Black, Mrs Blackmore, Burton, Butler, Chittenden, Collins, Cox, Cuming, Daley, Ells, Fissenden, Garland, Mrs Gooch, Greer, Mrs Grigg, Harper, Harwood, Mrs Hinder, Hogg, Mrs Joy, McKay, McLoughlin, Moriarty, B Mortimer, D Mortimer, Munford, Naghi, Newton, Paine, Parvin, Mrs Parvin, Paterson, Perry, Pickett, Powell, Mrs Ring, Mrs Robertson, Ross, Round, Sargeant, Springett, Mrs Stockell, Thick, Vizzard, Watson, de Wiggondene, Willis, J.A. Wilson and Mrs Wilson

 

 

<AI1>

1.           Mr Jeremy Hindle

 

The Council stood in silence for one minute in memory of Mr Jeremy Hindle, a former Councillor and Mayor of the Borough, who had died in April.

 

</AI1>

<AI2>

2.           Prayers

 

Prayers were said by the Reverend Canon Andrew Sewell.

 

</AI2>

<AI3>

3.           Apologies for Absence

 

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Ash, Edwards-Daem, Long and Sams.

 

</AI3>

<AI4>

4.           Dispensations

 

There were no applications for dispensations.

 

</AI4>

<AI5>

5.           Disclosures by Members and Officers

 

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

 

</AI5>

<AI6>

6.           Disclosures of Lobbying

 

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

 

</AI6>

<AI7>

7.           Election of Mayor

 

It was moved by Councillor Garland, seconded by Councillor B Mortimer, supported by Councillor Mrs Gooch and

 

RESOLVED:  That Ian Richard Thick, a Councillor of the Borough, be duly elected Mayor of the Borough of Maidstone until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2015.

 

Councillor Thick then made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office which was duly witnessed in accordance with Section 83(3)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

**THE MAYOR (COUNCILLOR THICK) IN THE CHAIR**

 

</AI7>

<AI8>

8.           Congratulations to the Mayor

 

The Mayor received congratulations on his election from scholars representing schools as follows:

 

Marlie Harding and Zara Harding

Headcorn School

 

Kristian Samwell-Nash and

Ethan Gray

 

Ulcombe School

Ben Johnston

Maidstone Grammar School

 

Isabelle Baker

Maidstone Grammar School for Girls

 

</AI8>

<AI9>

9.           The Retiring Mayor

 

It was moved by Councillor Chittenden, seconded by Councillor Paine, supported by Councillor Mrs Gooch and

 

RESOLVED:  That the hearty thanks of this Council be given to Councillor Clive English for the admirable discharge of his duties as Mayor during the past year, and for his courteous approach to all sections of the community.

 

</AI9>

<AI10>

10.        Exempt Items

 

RESOLVED:  That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

 

</AI10>

<AI11>

11.        Minutes of the Meeting of the Borough Council held on 23 April 2014

 

RESOLVEDThat the Minutes of the meeting of the Borough Council held on 23 April 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed.

 

</AI11>

<AI12>

12.        Appointment of Deputy Mayor

 

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Gooch, seconded by Councillor Chittenden, supported by Councillor Collins and

 

RESOLVEDThat Councillor Daniel Patrick Moriarty be duly appointed Deputy Mayor for the Borough of Maidstone until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2015.

 

Councillor Moriarty then made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office which was duly witnessed in accordance with Section 83(3)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

</AI12>

<AI13>

13.        Mayor's Announcements

 

The Mayor welcomed all new Members to their first meeting of the Borough Council.

 

</AI13>

<AI14>

14.        Election of the Leader of the Council

 

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Ring, seconded by Councillor Greer, that Councillor Mrs Blackmore be elected as Leader of the Council until the expiry of her term of office as a Councillor in 2015.

 

It was moved by Councillor Harwood, seconded by Councillor B Mortimer, that Councillor Mrs Wilson be elected as Leader of the Council until the expiry of her term of office as a Councillor in 2015.

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4, five Members of the Council requested that a named vote be taken.  The voting was as follows:

 

Councillor Mrs Blackmore (25)

         

Councillors Black, Mrs Blackmore, Burton, Butler, Collins, Cuming, Garland, Mrs Gooch, Greer, Mrs Hinder, Hogg, McLoughlin, Munford, Paine, Parvin, Mrs Parvin, Perry, Mrs Ring, Ross, Round, Springett, Mrs Stockell, Thick, de Wiggondene and J.A.Wilson

 

Councillor Mrs Wilson (22)

 

Councillors Chittenden, Cox, Daley, English, Fissenden, Mrs Grigg, Harper, Harwood, Mrs Joy, McKay, Moriarty, B Mortimer, D Mortimer, Naghi, Newton, Paterson, Pickett, Mrs Robertson, Vizzard, Watson, Willis and Mrs Wilson

 

Abstained (3)

 

Councillors Ells, Powell and Sargeant

 

RESOLVEDThat Councillor Mrs Blackmore be elected as Leader of the Council until the expiry of her term of office as a Councillor in 2015.

 

</AI14>

<AI15>

15.        Appointments to the Cabinet

 

The Leader of the Council reported that her appointments to the Cabinet were as follows:

Community and Leisure Services

Councillor Perry

Corporate Services

Councillor McLoughlin

Economic and Commercial Development

Councillor Greer

Environment

Councillor Mrs Ring

Planning, Transport and Development

Councillor Burton

 

The Leader of the Council then reported that she had appointed Councillor Greer as her Deputy.

 

</AI15>

<AI16>

16.        Delegation of Executive Functions

 

The Leader of the Council reported that the Scheme of Delegation of Executive Functions had been circulated for the Council’s information.

 

</AI16>

<AI17>

17.        Allocation of Seats on Committees

 

In accordance with Sections 15 and 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Council considered the allocation of seats to each Political Group in relation to its various Committees.

 

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Blackmore, seconded by Councillor Greer:

 

1.     That the Planning Referrals Committee comprise three Members, one from each of the largest political groups, and that the Constitution be amended accordingly.

 

2.     That the number of Substitutes for the Standards Committee be increased to one per political group represented on the Committee, and that the Constitution be amended accordingly.

 

3.     That the allocation of seats on Committees be as set out in amended Appendix A (Scenario 2) to the report of the Head of Policy and Communications with the following adjustments:

       

Audit Committee

1 seat from Independent to Labour

General Purposes Group

1 seat from Conservative to Vacancy

1 seat from Independent to

Councillor Ash

Joint Transportation Board

1 seat from Conservative to Councillor Ash

Licensing Act 2003 Committee

1 seat from UKIP to Labour

Standards Committee

1 seat from UKIP to Vacancy

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.     That the Planning Referrals Committee comprise three Members, one from each of the largest political groups, and that the Constitution be amended accordingly.    

2.     That the number of Substitutes for the Standards Committee be increased to one per political group represented on the Committee, and that the Constitution be amended accordingly.

 

3.     That the allocation of seats on Committees be as set out in amended Appendix A (Scenario 2) to the report of the Head of Policy and Communications with the following adjustments:

       

Audit Committee

1 seat from Independent to Labour

General Purposes Group

1 seat from Conservative to Vacancy

1 seat from Independent to

Councillor Ash

Joint Transportation Board

1 seat from Conservative to Councillor Ash

Licensing Act 2003 Committee

1 seat from UKIP to Labour

Standards Committee

1 seat from UKIP to Vacancy

 

(A copy of the amended allocation of seats on Committees is attached as Appendix A to these Minutes).

 

</AI17>

<AI18>

18.        Appointment of Committees

 

In accordance with Section 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Council considered the appointments to its Committees and Substitutes.

 

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Blackmore, seconded by Councillor Mrs Ring, that the wishes of the Group Leaders with regard to the appointments to Committees and Substitutes be accepted.

 

RESOLVEDThat the wishes of the Group Leaders with regard to the appointments to Committees and Substitutes be accepted.

 

</AI18>

<AI19>

19.        Appointment of the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Transportation Board

 

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Blackmore, seconded by Councillor Paine, that Councillor J. A. Wilson be appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Transportation Board for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

 

RESOLVEDThat Councillor J. A. Wilson be appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Transportation Board for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

 

</AI19>

<AI20>

20.        Scheme of Delegation for Non-Executive Functions

 

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Blackmore, seconded by Councillor de Wiggondene, that the Scheme of Delegation for Non-Executive Functions be agreed.

 

RESOLVEDThat the Scheme of Delegation for Non-Executive Functions be agreed.

 

</AI20>

<AI21>

21.        Duration of Meeting

 

9.30 a.m. to 10.50 a.m.

 

</AI21>

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