Council and councillors

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies were received from Mr C Parsons.

To receive any announcements by the Chairman.

The Chairman advised that the list of engagements had been circulated.

The Chairman welcomed Mr N Begy to his first meeting of the Council.

The Chairman also reminded those Councillors newly elected in 2015 that they had now completed their first year and those continuing members that another year had passed and asked all Councillors to reflect on the good work and decisions that had been made as a result of the experience, knowledge and common sense of Members.  He also made special reference to the Senior Officers and Staff who had supported members throughout the year who he wanted to thank on behalf of the Council.

To receive any announcements by the Leader, Members of the Cabinet or the Head of Paid Service.

No announcements were made.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests under the Code of Conduct, or any other interests, and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Members were invited to declare any disclosable interests under the Code of Conduct and the nature of those interests and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

No such declarations were received.

---o0o---

In accordance with Procedure Rule 36(1) (Motions and Amendments Which May be moved Without Notice) and 55(2) (Variation and Suspension of Procedure Rules) the Chairman proposed the suspension of Procedure Rule 49(4) for this meeting to suspend the requirement for a secret ballot to take place when the Appointments by the Council are made.

RESOLVED

To suspend Procedure Rule 49(4) for this meeting to suspend the requirement for a secret ballot to take place when the Appointments by the Council are made.

---o0o---

The Chief Executive took the Chair for the next item.

The Chief Executive will invite nominations for office of Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

Upon election, the incoming Chairman of the Council will be invested with the Chairman’s Chain of Office by the outgoing Chairman.

The incoming Chairman will then take the Chairman’s Chair.

The Chairman of the Council may make a short speech of acceptance of office.

Nominations were invited for the office of the Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2016/17.  A nomination was received from Mr King who proposed the election of Mr Bool as Chairman.  This was seconded by Mr Conde.

No further nominations were received.

RESOLVED

That Mr Bool is elected Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

---o0o---

Mr Bool was invested with the Chairman’s Chain of Office.

Mr Bool made a short speech of acceptance of office and took the Chair.

The Chairman of the Council will invite nominations for the office of Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

Upon appointment, the outgoing Vice-Chairman will invest the incoming Vice- Chairman with the Chain of Office.  The Chairman of the Council will then invite the Vice-Chairman to take the Vice-Chairman’s Chair.  In the event of the Vice- Chairman being re-elected, the Vice-Chairman will retain the Chain of Office and remain seated.

The Vice-Chairman of the Council may make a short speech of acceptance of office.

Nominations were invited for the office of Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2016/17.  A nomination was received from Mr King who proposed the appointment of Mr Baines as Vice-Chairman.  This was seconded by Mr Foster.

No further nominations were received.

RESOLVED

That Mr Baines be Elected Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

---o0o---

Mr Baines was invested with the Vice-Chairman’s Chain of Office.

Mr Baines made a short speech of acceptance of office and thanked members for electing him as Vice-Chairman.

To receive Report No.105/2016 from the Monitoring Officer, which seeks the Council’s approval and allocation of seats on relevant committees and panels, appointed by it to political groups.

Report No. 105/2016 from the Monitoring Officer was received the purpose of which was to approve the revised political balance calculation for Council, agree the number of voting places and approve and allocate seats on relevant committees and panels appointed by Council to political groups.

The Monitoring Officer introduced the report and noted that the report had been prepared in full consultation with Group Leaders and other Members.

It was recommended that a vote be taken on the first four recommendations, but the recommendation 5 would be dealt with at items 9 and 11 of the agenda.

Mr King moved the recommendations.  This was seconded by Mr Conde.

Mr Gale announced that he would not take part in the voting for this item as he was opposed to the use of Political Balance Reports and Political Parties.  His view was that Members should be allocated to committees according to their abilities and knowledge.

RESOLVED

1. Council agreed to the number of seats on the Council being increased by one to 81, to take account of a proposed increase in the membership of the Audit and Risk Committee from five to six;
2. Council agreed the number of voting places on Scrutiny Panels and Standing Committees of the Council for the Municipal Year 2016/17, as detailed at paragraph 5.4 to this report;
3. Council approved the revised political balance calculation, as detailed at Appendix A to this report; and
4. Council agreed the allocation of seats to Political Groups in accordance with Paragraph 5.4 of this report.

Scrutiny Panels

TheCouncil isrequestedto appointa Chairmanto eachof thefollowing ScrutinyPanels for the MunicipalYear 2016/17:

i)                People (Adults andHealth)Scrutiny Panel

ii)              People (Children) Scrutiny Panel

iii)             Places ScrutinyPanel

iv)            ResourcesScrutiny Panel

Scrutiny Commission

The Council is requested to appoint the Chairman of the Scrutiny Commission from one of thefour Chairmenof the ScrutinyPanels appointedabove.

Inaccordancewith theprovisions ofProcedure Rule192, theChairmen ofthe ScrutinyPanels listedabove willbe automaticallyappointedto theScrutiny Commissionfor the periodof theiroffice.

The Council was requested to appoint members to the Chairmanship of Scrutiny panels as detailed in the paper that had been circulated at the beginning of the meeting and included as an annex to these minutes.

RESOLVED

That the following be appointed chairman to the appropriate Scrutiny Panel for the Municipal Year 2016/17:-

i)          People (Adults and Health) Scrutiny Panel        Mr G Conde (C)

ii)         People (Children) Scrutiny Panel                                    Mr J T Dale (O)        

iii)        Places Scrutiny Panel                                            Mr J M Lammie (C)

iv)        Resources Scrutiny Panel                                     Mr A S Walters (I)

SCRUTINY COMMISSION

In accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 192, the Chairmen of the Scrutiny Panels listed above would be automatically appointed to the Scrutiny Commission for the period of their office.

Mr Lammie proposed that there was no permanent Chair for the Scrutiny Commission and that the appointment of Chair be rotated amongst the Commission members.  This was seconded by Mr Conde.

RESOLVED

That the Chair of the Scrutiny Commission is rotated amongst the members of the Scrutiny Commission for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

To appoint Elected Members (other than  those  appointed  to  the Cabinet

and the Chairmanship of Scrutiny Panels) to each of the following Scrutiny Panels for the Municipal Year 2016/17:-

People (Adults and Health)                                         9 places

People (Children)                                                        9 places

Places                                                                         9 places

Resources                                                                   9 places

The Council was requested to appoint elected members (other than those appointed to the Cabinet and the Chairmanship of Scrutiny Panels) as detailed in the paper circulated at the meeting and attached as an annex to these minutes to each of the established Scrutiny Panels.

RESOLVED

That the members be appointed to the Scrutiny Panels for the Municipal Year 2016/17 as detailed below:

i)          People (Adults and Health)                                              

Mr N Begy (Conservative Group)

Mrs R Burkitt (Conservative Group)                     

Mr W J Cross (Conservative Group)

Mr R J Gale (Others)

Mr A Mann (Conservative Group)                        

Mr C Parsons (Independent Group)

Mrs L I Stephenson (Conservative Group)

Miss G Waller (Liberal Democrats Group)

Mr A Walters (Independent Group)

ii)         People (Children)                                       

Mr O Bird (Independent Group)                            

Mr M E Baines (Conservative Group)                                                      

Mr N Begy (Conservative Group)

Mr K A Bool (Conservative Group)

Mrs R Burkitt (Conservative Group)                                 

Mr G Conde (Conservative Group)

Mrs D MacDuff (Conservative Group)

Mrs L I Stephenson (Conservative Group)

VACANCY (Independent Group)

iii)        Places                                                                                   

Mr M E Baines (Conservative Group)                  

Mr N Begy (Conservative Group)

Mr O Bird (Independent Group)                            

Mr W J Cross (Conservative Group)

Mr J T Dale (Others)                                    

Mr A Mann (Conservative Group)

Mr M Oxley (Independent Group)

Mr K Thomas (Liberal Democrat Group)

Mr A Stewart (Conservative Group)

iv)        Resources                                                                

Mr O Bird (Independent Group)

Mr K A Bool (Conservative Group)

Mr B Callaghan (Independent Group)

Mr W J Cross (Conservative Group)

Mr J M Lammie (Conservative Group)                             

Mrs D MacDuff (Conservative Group)

Mr A Stewart (Conservative Group)

Miss G Waller (Liberal Democrat Group)

Mr G Conde (Conservative Group)

With reference to recommendation 5 of Report 105/2016 Other Members were appointed as detailed in the resolution above.

a)                  To elect theChairman andVice-Chairman ofthe following StandingCommitteesof the Council:

i)                     Audit and RiskCommittee

ii)                    Conduct Committee

iii)                  DevelopmentControl andLicensingCommittee

iv)                  Employment and Appeals Committee

v)                   Licensing Act Committee

b)                 To agree thatthe electionof theChairman andVice-Chairman ofthe Chief Officer AppointmentsCommittee beresolved bythe Committeeeach timeit meets.

c)                 To note that the Chairperson of the Health and Wellbeing Board will be an elected member of Rutland County Council or a member of Rutland County Council’s Cabinet as set out in its Terms of Reference.

The Council was requested to elect members to the Chairmanship and Vice-Chairmanship of the Standing Committees of the Council as detailed in the paper that had been circulated at the beginning of the meeting and included as an annex to these minutes.

RESOLVED

a)        That the following Members be elected as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committees of the Council:-

i)                     Audit and RiskCommittee

Mrs D MacDuff (C) - Chairperson            

Mr J M Lammie (C) – Vice Chairman

ii)                    Conduct Committee

Mr A Stewart (C) – Chairman                               

Mr K A Bool (C) – Vice Chairman

iii)                  DevelopmentControl andLicensingCommittee

Mr M E Baines (C) – Chairman                                        

Mr J M Lammie (C) – Vice Chairman

iv)                  Employment and Appeals Committee

Mr K A Bool (C) - Chairman                                  

Mr R Clifton (C) – Vice Chairman

v)                   Licensing Act Committee

                        Mrs L I Stephenson (C) – Chairperson                                                                Mr G Conde (C) – Vice Chairman

b)            To agree that the election of the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Chief Officer Appointments Committee be resolved by the Committee each time it meets.

c)            To note that the Chairperson of the Health and Wellbeing Board would be an elected member of Rutland County Council or a member of Rutland County Council’s Cabinet as set out in its Terms of Reference.

The Council was requested to elect members to the Standing Committees of the Council (other than those appointed to the Chairmanship and Vice-Chairmanship of the Standing Committees) as detailed in the paper that had been circulated at the beginning of the meeting and included as an annex to these minutes.

RESOLVED

a)    That the members be appointed to the Standing Committees of the Council for the Municipal Year 2016/17 as detailed below:

i)          Audit and Risk Committee                                    

            Mr N Begy (C)

            Mr M E Baines (C)                                      

            Miss G Waller (LD)

            Mr A S Walters (I)

ii)         Conduct Committee                                                           

Mr R Clifton (C)

Mr T C King (C)                                            

Mr M Oxley (I)

Mr R Gale (O)

Independent Members (Co-Opted, non-voting)

Mr I Shatford

Mr G Grimes

Parish/Town Council Members

Mr A Crombie

Mr S Aley

iii)        Development Control & Licensing Committee  

Mr G Conde (C)

Mr W J Cross (C)

Mr J T Dale (O)

Mr T C King (C)

Mr A Mann(C)                                              

Mr A Mathias (C)

Mr M A Oxley (I)

Mr C A Parsons (I)

Mr K Thomas (LD)

Mr D Wilby (C)

iv)        Employment and Appeals Committee

Mr R Foster (C)                                                                                                  

Mr A Stewart (C)                                                                  

Mr K Thomas (LD)                                                                                       

Mr A S Walters (I)

Mr D Wilby (C)

v)         Licensing Act Committee                                      

Mr M E Baines (C)

Mr B Callaghan (I)

Mr R Clifton (C)

Mr O Hemsley (C)                                        

Mr J Lammie (C)

Mr A Mathias (C)

Mr A S Walters (I)

Mr J T Dale (O)

b)    That members be appointed to the Chief Officer Appointments Committee as detailed below:-

Mr King (C)

Mr M Oxley (I)                                               

Mrs D MacDuff (C)

Relevant Portfolio Holder

c)    To note that the membership of the Health and Well-being Board is set out in its Terms of Reference and specifies that the Members appointed to it will be the Leader of the Council and the relevant Portfolio Holder for Health and Well-being.

With reference to recommendation 5 of Report 105/2016 Other Members were appointed as detailed in the resolution above.

To agree the Scheme of Delegation as set out in Part 3 and Part 8 of the Constitution.  It can be viewed at Scheme of Delegation(www.rutland.gov.uk).

The Monitoring Officer introduced the item for approval and noted that the Scheme of Delegation would be reviewed during the next council year through the Constitution Review Working Group. 

Mr Mathias moved the recommendation.  This was seconded by Mr Clifton.

RESOLVED

That the Scheme of Delegation as set out in Part 3 and Part 8 of the Constitution be agreed.

Members are asked to approve the Programme of Meetings for 2016/17.

Note:  Scrutiny Commission Meetings will be arranged and included within the calendar after consultation with the appointed members.

Members were asked to approve the Programme of Meetings for 2016/17 that had been circulated with the agenda.

Mr Baines moved an amendment to increase the number of Full Council meetings from 7 to 10, adding Council Meetings on 13 June 2016, 10 October 2016 and 10 April 2017.  This was seconded by Mr Cross.

RESOLVED

That the Programme of Meetings for the 2016/17 Municipal Year be approved subject to the addition of the Full Council Meetings detailed above.

The revised Approved Programme of Meetings is attached as an annex to these minutes.

Council is invited to reviewandappoint its representativeson outsideorganisations.  A listof the bodiesto which appointments are to be made and interest has been shown will be circulated ahead of the meeting.

Mr King put forward a motion for Council to approve that where an appointment to an organisation is specified as the relevant Portfolio Holder, if that Organisation accepts substitutions; the alternate member will be a Member of the Cabinet.  This was seconded by Mr Mathias.

RESOLVED

To approve that where an appointment to an outside organisation is specified as the relevant Portfolio Holder, if that organisation accepts substitutes, the alternate member will be a Member of the Cabinet.

The Council was requested to review and appoint representatives to outside organisations for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

RESOLVED

That the appointments to outside organisations 2016/17 as set out in the annex to these minutes be approved.

Council is invited to review its membership ofWorking Groupsand otherFora andto appoint to thosebodies.  Alist ofWorking Groupsand otherFora towhich appointmentswill be made and interest has been shown will be circulated ahead of the meeting.  The Council may appoint the following Champions:

·         Looked after Children

·         Looked after Adults

·         Tenants

The Council was requested to review membership of working groups and fora and to appoint to those bodies for the Municipal Year 2016/17. 

The Leader introduced the proposed appointments and informed Council that appointments of Champions would come back to Council at a future date as there had been no Members coming forward to take on these roles this year.

Miss Waller suggested that a brief summary explaining the roles and responsibilities of Champions would be helpful to assist Members in deciding whether they would put themselves forward.

RESOLVED

That the membership of working groups and fora for the Municipal Year 2016/17, as set out in the annex to these minutes, be approved.

Toreceive anyquestionsreceived fromMembersof theCouncil inaccordance withthe provisions of Procedure Rule30 and30A.

No questions from Members of the Council had been received in accordance with Procedure Rules 30 and 30A.

Toconsider Noticesof Motionssubmitted byMembers oftheCouncil inaccordance with ProcedureRule 34in theorderin whichthey arerecorded ashaving been received.

No Notices of Motions were received from Members in accordance with Procedure Rule 34.

To consider any matters referred to Council by Members which in the opinion of the Chief Executive cannot wait until the next scheduled meeting of the Council to be determined.

No matters had been referred to Council by Members which in the opinion of the Chief Executive could not wait until the next scheduled meeting of the Council to be determined.