Agenda and minutes

Councillor Larratt to propose and Councillor Lane to second: “That Councillor Penelope Ann Flavell be elected Mayor of the Borough of Northampton Borough Council for the ensuing year”.

After election, the Mayor will make the declaration of acceptance of office.

The Mayor’s Serjeant will invest in the Mayor’s Consort (Mr Michael Flavell) with his of office.

The Mayor will thank the Council for her election.

Councillor Larratt proposed and Councillor Lane seconded: “That Councillor Penelope Ann Flavell be elected Mayor of the Borough of Northampton for the ensuing year”.

The motion was carried and Councillor Penelope Ann Flavell was appointed Mayor and accepted office by making and delivering, to the Chief Executive, the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

The Mayor then took the Chair.

Councillor Hadland to propose and Councillor Golby to second:

“That the thanks of the Council be given to Councillor John Caswell and Mrs Cheryl Caswell for the able and courteous manner in which they have discharged their duties as Mayor and Mayor’s Consort during their time in office”.

Councillor Hadland proposed and Councillor Golby seconded: “That the thanks of the Council be given to Councillor John Caswell and Mrs Cheryl Caswell for the able and courteous manner in which they have discharged their duties as Mayor and Mayoress”.

The motion was carried.

Councillor M Hill to propose and Councillor King to second: “That Councillor Christopher Malpas be appointed to the office of Deputy Mayor”.

After appointment the Deputy Mayor will make his declaration of acceptance of office.

The Mace Bearer will invest the Deputy Mayoress (Ms Lynne Allen) with her badge of office.

Councillor M Hill proposed and Councillor King seconded: “That Councillor Christopher John Malpas be appointed to the office of Deputy Mayor”.

The motion was carried and Councillor Malpas was appointed Deputy Mayor and accepted office by making and delivering, to the Chief executive, the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Apologies were received from Councillors Gowen and Lynch.

25 years’ service:

Nicola Christie, Phillip Sales, Robert Morton, Sue Folwell and Ann Innis-Haycox.

35 years’ service:

Paul Tipler and Jeffery Harrison.

The long services of the employees shown in paragraph 5 of the agenda was noted with appreciation.

Councillor Hadland to announce that Councillor Markham has been appointed Leader of the Conservative Group and that Councillor Hallam has been appointed Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group.

Councillor Hadland announced that Councillor Markham had been appointed Leader of the Conservative Group and that Councillor Hallam had been appointed Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group.

Councillor Russell to announce that Councillor Stone has been appointed Leader of the Labour Group and that Councillor G Eales has been appointed Deputy Leader of the Labour Group.

Councillor Rusell announed that Councillor Stone had been appointed Leader of the Labour Group and that Councillor Eales had been appointed Deputy Leader of the Lavbour Group.

The announcement of the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.

Councillor Meredith announced that Councillor Beardsworth had been appointed Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and that he had been appointed as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.

Councillor Hallam to propose and Councillor Patel to second:

“That Councillor Markham be elected Leader of the Council to hold office until the day of the post-election Annual Council Meeting which follows Councillor Markham’s election today, unless before this date she resigns from office, she ceases to be a Councillor or she is removed from office by resolution of the Council.”

Councillor Hallam proposed and Councillor Hallam seconded: That Councillor Markham be elected Leader of the Council to hold office until the day of the post-election Annual Council Meeting which follows Councillor Markham’s election today, unless before this date she resigns from office, she ceases to be a Councillor or she is removed from office by resolution of the Council”.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Markham be elected Leader of the Council.

The Leader of the Council to announce her appointment of Deputy Leader and Cabinet Members.

The Leader of the Council announced the following appointments:

Councillor Hallam               Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance

Councillor Bottwood           Cabinet Member for Environment

Councillor Eldred                Cabinet Member for Community Engagement

Councillor Hadland            Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning

Councillor Hibbert               Cabinet Member for Housing

Councillor King                   Cabinet Member for Community Safety

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Councillor Markham submitted a report that sought Council’s approval of the group proportionality of seats on each Committee.

Councillor Hallam seconded adoption of the report.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Council approved the number of seats on each Committee as set out in the report.

2.    That the representation of the political groups be set out as in the  report

3.    That the number of Committee places on Planning be increased by one, from 11 to 12, and the Borough Secretary be authorised to amend the Constitution to reflect the change

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Councillor Markham submitted a report that sought Council’s approval for the re-establishment of the posts of Political Assistants for groups fitting the necessary criteria.

Councillor Hallam seconded adoption of the report.

RESOLVED:

That posts of Political Assistants be re-established under the terms of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 with effect from Annual Council of 21^st May 2015 until the Annual Council in May 2019, or such earlier date as the Council may determine, and allocated to the Conservative and Labour Groups.

The Mayor to propose: “That the Annual Meeting of the Council take place on 19th May 2016 and that other meetings of the Council take place on the 8^th June, 20^th July, 21^st  September, 2^nd November, 14^th December 2015, 25^th January,  22^nd February, 7^th March, 18^th April, 6^th June and 18^th July 2016”.

The Mayor announced that the next Annual Meeting of the Council take place on 19th May 2016 and that other meetings of the Council take place on the 8^th June, 20^th July, 21^st  September, 2^nd November, 14^th December 2015, 25^th January,  22^nd February, 7^th March, 18^th April, 6^th June and 18^th July 2016.

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Councillor Markham submitted a report which updated Members about the requirement to review the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

Councillor Patel seconded adoption of the report.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Members’ Allowances be frozen at the current rate pending conclusion of a review of the Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme by an Independent Remuneration Panel.

2.    That power be delegated to the Borough Secretary to establish an Independent Remuneration Panel either as a Council Panel or as a joint panel, whichever would be the most cost effective.

3.    That it be noted that a further report would be brought to Full Council with recommendations from the Remuneration Panel when established

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Councillor Patel submitted a report that sought Council’s approval of the meeting cycle for 2015/16.

Councillor Hallam seconded the report.

RESOLVED:

That the Meeting Cycle for 2015/16 be approved.

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Councillor Markham submitted a report that set out the detailed appointments to Committees for 2015/16.

Councillor Hallam seconded the report.

RESOLVED:

That the appointments to Committees for 2015/16 set out in the report be confirmed.

(Copy herewith)

Councillor Markham submitted a report that sought the confirmation of Council to the appointments to Outside Bodies for 2015/16 with an amendment that Councillor Larratt replace Councillor Bottwood on the Strategic Flood Risk Management Committee.

Councillor Hallam seconded the report.

RESOLVED:

That the appointments to Committees for 2015/16 set out in the report, apart from the aforementioned amendment be confirmed.

Civic Matters (Chief Executive)

The Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, The Immediate Past Mayor, the Leader, Councillors M Hill and Duffy.

Community Enabling Fund Advisory Panel (Chief Executive):

Councillors Nunn (Chair) and Councillors Parekh, Sargeant, Birch and McCutcheon

Constitution Review Working Party (Borough Solicitor)

Councillors Oldham, Hallam, Culbard, Russell and Beardsworth

Markets Advisory Panel

Councillor Nunn, Hadland and Haque

Northamptonshire Police and Crime Panel

Councillor King (Cllr Eldred – Substitute)

Councillor Stone (Cllr Birch - Substitute)

Discretionary Housing Payments Review Panel (Chief Executive)

Councillor Bottwood and Hibbert

Councillor Ashraf and Davenport

Councillor Beardsworth

Councillor Markham proposed the Consultation Appointments as set out at Item 18 of the agenda.

Councillor Hallam seconded the adoption of the Consultation Appointments.

RESOLVED:

Civic Matters (Chief Executive)

The Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, The Immediate Past Mayor, the Leader, Councillors M Hill and Duffy.

Community Enabling Fund Advisory Panel (Chief Executive):

Councillors Nunn (Chair) and Councillors Parekh, Sargeant, Birch and McCutcheon

Constitution Review Working Party (Borough Solicitor)

Councillors Oldham, Hallam, Culbard, Russell and Beardsworth

Markets Advisory Panel

Councillor Nunn, Hadland and Haque

Northamptonshire Police and Crime Panel

Councillor King (Cllr Eldred – Substitute)

Councillor Stone (Cllr Birch - Substitute)

Discretionary Housing Payments Review Panel (Chief Executive)

Councillor Bottwood and Hibbert

Councillor Ashraf and Davenport

Councillor Beardsworth