Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from the meeting

An apology for absence had been received from Councillor Newton.

Nominations were invited for Chair of the Council.

 

It was proposed by Councillor R Lock and seconded by Councillor M Clark –

 

That Councillor D McGeough be elected Chair of the Council.

 

 

It was proposed by Councillor A Dart and seconded by Councillor C Cottle-Hunkin  –

 

That Councillor D Brenton be elected Chair of the Council.

 

 

Vote:   Councillor D McGeough  - 10

            Councillor D Brenton – 25

 

Resolved:

 

That Councillor D Brenton be elected as Chair of the Council.

 

Councillor Brenton read and signed the Acceptance of Office and took the Chair.

 

The newly elected Chair addressed the meeting, thanking Members for his election.  He then presented Simon Inch, former Chair of the Council, with the previous Chairman’s badge of office.

Nominations were invited for Vice Chair of the Council.

 

It was proposed by Councillor R Craigie, seconded by Councillor A Dart and –

 

Resolved:

 

That Councillor P Christie be elected as Vice Chair of the Council.

 

(Vote: For – unanimous)

 

 

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 8 April 2019.

 

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held 8 April 2019 were presented.

 

It was proposed by Councillor P Hackett, seconded by Councillor A Inch and –

 

Resolved:

 

That the minutes be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

 

(Vote: For 22, abstentions 13)

15 minute period for public contributions

Mr Hassall, elected Member of Littleham and Landcross Parish Council, spoke about procedures.  He expressed the opinion that it was premature for the Council to be determining Chairs and Committee Membership in view of the unprecedented number of Independent Members who would undoubtedly have differing views and allegiances.  He suggested more time was required to agree membership of the Council’s committees.  Should it be an administrative requirement to decide upon committees at this meeting, he urged the Council to consider committee membership, agreed at today’s meeting, as temporary and subject to amendment.

 

The Chair offered assurance that the membership of committees would be carefully considered.

 

 

Mr Glaholm addressed the Council on car parking in Bideford and made 3 requests:

 

·         To make the Car Parking Working Group a public meeting

·         To introduce a 30 minute rate in The Pill Car Park

·         To consider transferring the management of both off and on street parking to Bideford Town Council.

 

 

No correspondence or other business was brought forward.

No questions had been submitted under Procedural Rule A9.

Nominations were invited for Leader of the Council.

 

It was proposed by Councillor P Watson, seconded by Councillor P Hackett and –

 

Resolved:

 

That Councillor A Dart be elected Leader of the Council for the ensuing year.

 

(Vote:  For - Unanimous)

Nominations were invited for Deputy leader of the Council.

 

It was proposed by Councillor P Watson, seconded by Councillor A Dart and -

 

Resolved:

 

That Councillor K James be elected Deputy Leader of the Council.

 

(Vote:  For - Unanimous)

To receive the report of the Senior Solicitor

The Senior Solicitor presented the report, the purpose of which was for Members to confirm the size of Committees, to approve their Terms of Reference and to decide whether the Licensing and Standards Committee seats should be politically balanced. 

 

It was proposed by Councillor D Brenton, seconded by Councillor A Inch and –

 

Resolved:

 

·         That the size of Committees as stated in the report and their Terms of Reference as set out in Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution be approved.

 

(Vote:  For 34, Abstentions 1)

 

 

It was proposed by Councillor D McGeough, seconded by Councillor M Clarke and –

 

Resolved:

 

·         That the Licensing and Standards Committee seats be politically balanced.

 

(Vote:  For 20, Against 6, Abstentions 8)

 

 

 

 

 

To receive the report of the Senior Solicitor

A paper giving details of the allocation of seats on Committees to each of the Political Groups was tabled at the meeting.

 

The Senior Solicitor advised that it was a requirement of the Council’s Constitution that Full Council approve each year at the Annual General Meeting, the number of seats on the Committees allocated to each of the Political Groups.  

 

It was proposed by Councillor R Lock, seconded by Councillor A Inch and -

 

Resolved:

 

That the number of seats on the Committees be allocated on the percentage basis as shown below:

 

 

(Vote:  For – Unanimous)  

 

 

 

 

To receive the report of the Senior Solicitor

The purpose of the report, presented by the Senior Solicitor, was for Members to agree the Membership of Committees or to delegate to Group Leaders to agree.

 

It was proposed by Councillor A Inch, seconded by Councillor D McGeough  and –

 

Resolved:

 

That Agreement of the membership on each Committee be delegated to Group Leaders

 

(Vote:   For – Unanimous)

 

Community and Resources Committee

 

Audit and Governance Committee

 

Plans Committee

 

Licensing Committee

 

Internal Overview and Scrutiny Committee

 

External Overview and Scrutiny Committee

 

Standards Committee

Community & Resources Committee

 

Nominations were invited for the position of Chair of the Community & Resources Committee.

 

It was proposed by Councillor A Dart and seconded by Councillor P Watson that Councillor R Hicks be elected Chair of the Community & Resources Committee.

 

It was proposed by Councillor R Boughton and seconded by Councillor S Harding that Councillor D Hurley be elected Chair of the Community & Resources Committee.

 

Vote:   For Councillor R Hicks       - 24

            For Councillor D Hurley      - 10

            Abstentions                           - 1

 

Resolved:

 

That Councillor R Hicks be elected Chair of the Community & Resources Committee.

 

 

Nominations were invited for the position of Vice Chair of the Community & Resources Committee.

 

It was proposed by Councillor J Hutchings and seconded by Councillor D Jones that Councillor D McGeough be elected as Vice Chair of the Community & Resources Committee.

 

It was proposed by Councillor P Pennington and seconded by Councillor R Craigie that Councillor D Bushby be elected as Vice Chair of the Community & Resources Committee.

 

Vote:   For Councillor D McGeough - 23

            For Councillor D Bushby – 7

            Abstentions – 5

 

Resolved:

 

That Councillor D McGeough be elected Vice Chair of the Community & Resources Committee.

 

Audit & Governance Committee

 

Nominations were invited for the position of Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee.

 

It was proposed by Councillor K James, seconded by Councillor G Rossi and –

 

Resolved:     

 

That Councillor P Hackett be elected Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee.

 

(Vote: For – unanimous)

 

 

Nominations were invited for the position of Vice Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee.

 

It was proposed by Councillor N Laws, seconded by Councillor P Hackett and –

 

Resolved:     

 

That Councillor C Hodson be elected Vice Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee.

 

(Vote: For – unanimous)

 

 

Plans Committee

 

Nominations were invited for the position of Chair of the Plans Committee.

 

It was proposed by Councillor D McGeough and seconded by Councillor J Hutchings that Councillor R Lock be elected Chair of the Plans Committee.

 

It was proposed by Councillor D Bushby and seconded by Councillor J Manley that Councillor C Leather be elected Chair of the Plans Committee.

 

Vote:   For Councillor R Lock – 13

            For Councillor C Leather – 18

            Abstentions – 4

 

Resolved:

 

That Councillor C Leather be elected Chair of the Plans Committee.

 

 

Nominations were invited for the position of Vice Chair of the Plans Committee.

 

It was proposed by Councillor D McGeough and seconded by Councillor J Hutchings that Councillor R Lock be elected Vice Chair of the Plans Committee.

 

It was proposed by Councillor C Leather and seconded by Councillor R Craigie that Councillor M Brown be elected Chair of the Plans Committee.

 

Vote:   For Councillor R Lock – 10

            For Councillor M Brown – 25

 

Resolved:

 

That Councillor M Brown be elected as Vice Chair of the Plans Committee.

 

Licensing Committee

 

Nominations were invited for the position of Chair of the Licensing Committee.

 

It was proposed by Councillor C Leather and seconded by Councillor J McKenzie that Councillor K James be elected Chair of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

To receive the report of the Senior Solicitor

The purpose of the report, presented by the Senior Solicitor, was to appoint a Member to sit on the Programme Board.

 

It was proposed by Councillor P Christie, seconded by Councillor D McGeough and –

 

Resolved:

 

That the Programme Board be abolished; the Member Asset Management Working Group to be reinstated and a representative from each of the Political Groups to sit on the Working Group.

 

(Vote:  For 34, Against 1)

 

 

To receive the report of the Senior Solicitor

The Senior Solicitor reported that it was a requirement of the Council’s Constitution that Full Council approve the Scheme of Delegation each year at the Annual General Meeting.

 

It was proposed by Councillor A Inch that the Scheme of Delegation as set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report be approved.

 

Whilst acknowledging the requirement to adopt the scheme, Councillor A Dart stated that there were many aspects of the constitution which needed to be reviewed.  With this in mind, Councillor A Dart was happy to approve the Scheme of Delegation on the proviso that a working group, comprising Members, Officers and Experts, be set up as soon as possible to review the constitution.

 

The Head of Paid Service told the meeting that the services of an experienced  Local Government expert had already been engaged in appraising our constitution and to suggest changes in line with best practice.

 

Councillor A Inch said he was happy to include this in his proposal.  It was suggested that the amendment should restrict the period for revision to six months.

 

It was agreed that the Local Government Association be involved in the constitution review.  The Head of Paid Service was due to have a telephone conference call with the LGA on 14 May.

 

It was proposed, seconded and –

 

Resolved:

 

That the Scheme of Delegation as set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report be approved on the proviso that the constitution be reviewed within 6 months.

 

(Vote: For 34, Abstentions 1)

To receive the report of the Senior Solicitor

The Senior Solicitor presented the report, the purpose of which was to agree the Membership of Outside Bodies.

 

It was proposed by Councillor D Brenton, seconded by Councillor A Inch               and –

 

Resolved:

 

That the Membership on Outside Bodies be delegated to Group Leaders to agree.

 

It was noted that there was no longer any TDC representation on Westward Housing and this should be removed from the list.

 

(Vote:  For – unanimous)

·         Economy

·         Community, Culture & Leisure

·         Environment

·         Health & Wellbeing/Community Safety

·         Planning & Development

·         Customer Services & Internal Resources

·         Democratic Services

·         Housing

·         Waste & Recycling

Councillor P Christie asked that the item be deferred to allow more time for new councillors to learn about the roles.  Interested Members with the relevant skill sets for Lead Member roles were asked to inform their Group Leader.

 

It was proposed by Councillor P Christie, seconded by Councillor Hicks and –

 

Resolved:

 

That the approval of Lead Members be deferred to the next meeting of the Full Council.

 

(Vote: For – unanimous)

To receive the report of the Senior Solicitor

Councillor Pennington declared a personal interest – possible candidate for Littleham Parish Council election

 

 

The purpose of the report was to consider

 the recommendations made by the Senior Solicitor and the Monitoring Officer in relation to the inquorate Parish Council’s of Littleham and Shebbear, and the procedure to enable an Order for a temporary appointment and any future appointments to Parish Councils in accordance with Section 91(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

When discussing this item, Members raised a concern with authorisation being given to the Head of Paid Service, as set out in paragraph 5 of Appendix B.  Members requested the paragraph to be amended to state that in the event that no Ward Member wishes to be appointed on a temporary basis, the matter to be brought back to Full Council for a decision. 

 

A vote was taken on the above amendment.

 

It was proposed, seconded and –

 

Resolved:

 

That paragraph 5 in Appendix B attached to the report be amended as follows:

 

“In the event that no ward member wishes to be appointed on a temporary basis, the matter to be brought back to Full Council for a decision”.

 

(Vote:  For 24, Against 6, Abstentions 5)

 

The motion was carried.

 

 

Following further discussion it was proposed by Councillor C Leather, seconded by Councillor P Watson and –

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That the Order attached to the report as Appendix A, for the Head of Paid Service to appoint temporary Parish Councillors for the Littleham and Shebbear Parish Council’s be approved.

 

2.    That the Procedure, attached to the report as Appendix B and amended as above,  in the event that there are insufficient numbers of Parish Councillors for other Parish Councils to operate, be approved.

 

(Vote:  For 30, Against 2, Abstentions 3)

To receive Petitions (if any)

There were no petitions.

There were no notices of motion.