Agenda and minutes

There were no valid questions received from members of the public for this meeting.

The Chair addressed the meeting to inform the Council that due to the calling of a General Election and upon considering statutory guidance for local authorities about publicity in a pre-election period, the decision had been taken that no questions would be accepted for this meeting. Those questions that had been received would be given a written response soon after the Election.

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

Please complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

You are also invited to disclose any dispensation from the requirement to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests that have been granted to you in respect of any matters appearing on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

Resolved that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 26 September 2019 be taken as read, confirmed and signed by the Chair.

No valid Motions have been received for consideration at this meeting.

The Chair announced that no Motions had been received for this meeting.

A report to consider the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel in relation to the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2020/21. 

Council gave consideration to the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel in relation to the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2020/21.

The Chair welcomed Mr John Anderson, the Chair of the Independent Remuneration Panel, who presented the report to the meeting.

The Panel had recommended that no change be made to the current Members’ Allowances Scheme for the 2020/21 financial year and supported the adoption of a parental leave policy for Members.

The Chair thanked the Panel for the report.

It was moved by Councillor B Pickard and seconded by Councillor E Parker-Leonard that:

Council approve the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel on the Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2020/21, including the adoption of a parental leave policy for Members

The Motion, on being put to the meeting, was approved by 48 votes to 0 votes.

To consider a report and recommendations on proposed amendments to the Constitution.

The Council received a report on the In-year review of the Constitution undertaken by the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Constitution Task Group.

The report contained recommendations on proposed amendments to the main Constitution with remaining items (such as the annual update of the Officer Delegation Scheme) following in early 2020 for consideration at the Annual Council meeting on 21 May 2020.

The report contained recommendations on proposed amendments to the Constitution in relation to the following items:

•   Budget and Policy Framework – relating to the budget setting process

•   Approval of the Authority’s Accounts – relating to the role of Audit Committee

•   Common Seal – regarding arrangements for authorising and affixing the seal

•   Parental Leave Policy for Elected Members – to consider the adoption of a discretionary policy setting out entitlement to maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave and relevant allowances

•   Contract Standing Orders – relating to Framework Agreements.

It was moved by Councillor T Mulvenna and seconded by Councillor B Pickard that:

Council (1) approve the proposed changes to the Constitution set out in Appendix 1 to the report and refer the approved changes to the Elected Mayor for her consent in accordance with Article 15 of the Constitution; and

(2) note the revised dates of meetings of Cabinet and Overview, Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee as part of the budget setting process, as set out in section 1.5.2 of the report.

The motion, on being put to the meeting, was approved by 43 votes to 0 votes.

To agree the Common Seal being affixed to all deeds and documents required for carrying into effect the various decisions of the Council made since its last meeting.

Resolved that the Common Seal be affixed to all deeds and documents required for carrying into effect the various decisions of the Council made since its last meeting.

To receive any announcements by the Chair of Council.

The Chair made the following announcements:

·         The Chair congratulated the Council for the work undertaken in supporting the Remembrance Services and conveyed the Lord Lieutenant’s congratulations for the excellent organisation of the events, commenting that it was one of the best they had experienced.

·         Operation Veteran had received the Armed Forces Silver Covenant.

·         The Chair’s Office would be sending only electronic Christmas Cards this year and the savings made would be donated to the Chair’s charity.

·         The Chair encouraged everyone to attend an indoor Christmas Market that was being hosted in the Quadrant Building on the 6 December with some proceeds going to the Chair’s Charity. The event would take place between 11-2pm.

·         The Chair’s Ball was arranged to take place on the 15 February, and tickets were available to buy.

·         The Chair thanked Ashleigh Willis for supporting the Chair’s Office and welcomed back Carol Girvan following her secondment. 

To receive any announcements by the Elected Mayor.

There were no Elected Mayor announcements.

There were no valid questions received for a response at this meeting.

The Chair referred to her earlier comment that due to the calling of a General Election, the decision had been taken that no questions be accepted at this meeting.