Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed all Members and guests, including representatives from his charities to the meeting.

The Chairman explained that as both the Brackley Town Council Mayor, Councillor Anthony Bagot-Webb, and the Towcester Town Council Mayor, Councillor Lisa Samiotis, were also district councillors they were not attending the meeting in their mayoral chains. 

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 27 February 2019.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 27 February 2019 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Annual Council

The Chairman advised Members that by convention the minutes of Committees, questions, petitions and motions were not taken at Annual Council and these would be considered at the next meeting.

Planning Training, 1pm, Thursday 16 May

The Chairman reminded Members that Planning training would be taking place at 1pm on Thursday 16 May. Whilst this was primarily for Planning Committee members, all members were welcome to attend.

Post

The Chairman reminded Members to collect any post from pigeon holes.

Refreshments

The Chairman invited Members and guests to join her in the First Floor, Mill, Mount and Civic Rooms after the meeting for some light refreshments

To receive communications from the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive

The Leader, Councillor Ian McCord, made the following announcement:

The Leader referred to the Local Government Reform announcement the previous day by James Brokenshire MP, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) regarding the creation of two unitary councils in Northamptonshire to replace the existing two tier structure.

South Northamptonshire Council (SNC), Daventry District Council, Northampton Borough Council and (half of) Northamptonshire County Council would form a new authority serving the west of the county. It would now take charge in April 2021 rather than 2020 as originally proposed.

Elections for the new West Northamptonshire council (and its shadow council) would be on the basis of three members per existing County Council ward, totalling 93 across the 31 Wards in the West Northamptonshire area. The elections to run the new bodies would take place in May 2020, alongside the delayed Parish and Town Council elections. Those elected in 2020 would form the Shadow Authority for its final year of planning, and then move over to run the new council proper.

The formation of the authorities was still subject to Parliamentary approval. The Government would also be establishing a Children’s Trust to take over responsibility for children’s social care across the authority.

The Chief Executive made the following announcement:

The Chief Executive paid tribute to Andy D’Arcy who had left South Northamptonshire Council after 25 years’ service within planning policy, making a tremendous contribution to the council’s development of the council’s planning policies.

The Chief Executive commended the Assistant Director, Communications, Engagement and Transformation, Peter Holt, who had been awarded the Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR). The Fellowship was awarded for outstanding contributions to the CIPR or public relations profession.

The Chairman to invite questions to the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive relevant to their announcements

There were no questions to the Leader or Chief Executive on their announcements.

(The outgoing chairman, Councillor Richard Dallyn, presided for the consideration of this matter and those preceding)

It was moved by Councillor Dermot Bambridge and seconded by Councillor Mary-Anne Sergison-Brooke, that Councillor Rosie Herring be elected as Chairman for the municipal year 2019/2020. There were no other nominations.

Resolved

That Councillor Rosie Herring be appointed Chairman of South Northamptonshire Council for the Municipal Year 2019/2020.

Councillor Rosie Herring having made and signed the required Declaration of Acceptance of Office was invested with the Chairman's Badge and Chain and occupied the Chair.

Councillor Rosie Herring thanked Members for her appointment and addressed the Council. Councillor Herring advised Council that he had selected Brackley Community Hospital as her charity for the year and would be raising funds for the Hospital during civic events throughout the year.

Councillor Herring reported that her husband, Anthony, would be her consort for the year and presented him with a small token of her appreciation.

On behalf of Council, the Chairman thanked Councillor Dallyn for the service he had rendered to the District and the able, fair and courteous way in which he had presided over the deliberations of the Council during his year of office and presented him with his past Chairman’s badge and a gift as a memento for his year in office. 

Councillor Richard Dallyn addressed Council to report on his term of office reporting on the many events he had hosted and attended during her term of office. Councillor Dallyn advised Council that she had raised £3000 for his three chosen charities, Willen Hospice, Milton Keynes; Katharine House, Banbury; and, Cynthia Spencer Hospice, Northampton, and presented a £1000 cheque to representatives from each of the hospices.  

Councillor Dallyn also thanked all officers who had supported him, in particular Dee Fagan, the Chairman’s PA, and gave her a gift as a token of his appreciation.

It was proposed by Councillor Peter Rawlinson and seconded by Councillor Elaine Wiltshire that Councillor Anthony Bagot-Webb be elected Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2019/2020. There were no other nominations.

Resolved

That Councillor Anthony Bagot-Webb be appointed Vice-Chairman of South Northamptonshire Council for the municipal year 2019/2020.

Councillor Anthony Bagot-Webb having made and signed the required Declaration of Acceptance of Office was invested with the Vice-Chairman’s chain.

It was proposed by Councillor Rosie Herring and seconded by Councillor Anthony Bagot-Webb that a vote of thanks be given to Council officers for the contribution and effort in the operation of the Council’s business in 2019/2020.

Resolved

(1)            That a vote of thanks be given to the Council's officers for their contribution and effort in the operation of the Council's business in 2019/2020.

The Leader of the Council to report on the appointment of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Members for 2019/20

The Chairman invited Councillor McCord, Leader of the Council, to advise Council of his appointments of Deputy Leader and Cabinet Members for 2019/2020.

In reporting his Cabinet for 2019/20, Councillor McCord, advised Council that Councillor Roger Clarke had resigned from Cabinet and thanked him for his hard work and diligence on Cabinet and as the Portfolio Holder for Planning.

Councillor McCord reported that for the municipal year 2019/2020 he would re-appoint Councillor Phil Bignell as Deputy Leader of the Council.

The Leader advised Council that whilst Cabinet had comprised 9 members in 2018/19, he would only be appointing 7 Cabinet members at this time so Cabinet would comprise 8 members including himself. This would be kept under review and a further appointment made if there was a need for additional capacity.

For the municipal year 2019/2020, Cabinet would comprise:

Resolved

(1)          That the appointment of Deputy Leader and Cabinet members for the municipal year 2019/2020 be noted.

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

To consider and agree the disbanding of the joint committees with Cherwell District Council and to consider and agree the suggested constitution of Committees for the Municipal year 2019/2020.  

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To disband the existing joint committees with Cherwell District Council: Joint Commissioning Committee; Joint Appeals Committee; Joint Scrutiny Committee and request the Executive Director Resources & Monitoring Officer to amend the Constitution accordingly.

1.2         To agree the allocation of seats on committees that are subject to the political balance requirements (Table 1).

1.3         To agree the allocation of seats on committees not subject to political balance requirements (Table 2).

1.4         To agree the appointments to each of the Committees in accordance with the nominations made by political groups (Appendix 1 - to follow).

The Chief Executive submitted a report to consider and agree the disbanding of the joint committees with Cherwell District Council and to consider and agree the suggested constitution of Committees for the Municipal year 2019/2020. 

Resolved

(1)          That agreement be given to disband the existing joint committees with Cherwell District Council: Joint Commissioning Committee; Joint Appeals Committee; Joint Scrutiny Committee and the Executive Director: Resources be requested to amend the Constitution accordingly.

(2)          That the allocation of seats that are subject to the political balance requirements be agreed:

* The proportionality calculations require the Liberal Democrat Group to release one seat to the Independent Group. The Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Lofts, has confirmed that this seat will be on the Appeals Committee. This adjustment is indicated in italics in the table above.   

(3)          That the allocation of seats on committees not subject to political balance requirements be agreed:

* This is a departure from the proportionality rules and is therefore only permissible with no member voting against.

(4)          That appointments to each of the Committees in accordance with the nominations made by political groups be agreed:

Proportional Committees

Appeals Committee

Membership (5 seats)

Appointments and Personnel Committee

Membership (5 seats)

Budget and Financial Strategy Committee

Membership (12 seats)

Licensing Committee

Membership (12 seats)

Planning Committee

Membership (14 seats)

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

To consider and agree the appointments of Members to Outside Bodies for the Municipal year 2019/2020. 

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To approve appointments to Outside Bodies for the Municipal Year 2019/20 (details to follow)

The Chief Executive submitted a report to consider and agree the appointments of Members to Outside Bodies for the Municipal year 2019/2020. 

Resolved

(1)          That the following appointments to Outside Bodies for the Municipal Year 2019/20 be approved:

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

To enable Council to agree the relevant parts of the Responsibility for Functions, and the financial threshold to apply in determining which executive decisions are key decisions, as required by paragraphs 1.1.8 and 1.1.9 of the Council Procedure Rules

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To agree to the Responsibility for Functions set out in Part 10 of the Council’s constitution in so far as they relate to Council functions and powers Constitution Part 10

1.2         To agree that the financial thresholds for executive decisions to be designated as “key” are as follows:

·         £50,000 for revenue expenditure

·         £250,000 for capital expenditure

·         Where a decision is being taken to invest some of the Council’s reserves as part of the Treasury Management function the threshold is £5 million.

The Chief Executive submitted a report to enable Council to agree the relevant parts of the Responsibility for Functions, and the financial threshold to apply in determining which executive decisions are key decisions, as required by paragraphs 1.1.8 and 1.1.9 of the Council Procedure Rules

Resolved

(1)            That the Responsibility for Functions set out in Part 10 of the Council’s constitution in so far as they relate to Council functions and powers Constitution Part 10 be agreed.

(2)            That the financial thresholds for executive decisions to be designated as “key” be agreed as follows:

·       £50,000 for revenue expenditure

·       £250,000 for capital expenditure

·       Where a decision is being taken to invest some of the Council’s reserves as part of the Treasury Management function the threshold is £5 million.

Report of Executive Director: Resources (Monitoring Officer)

Purpose of report

This report presents the Scrutiny Annual Report for 2018/19.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To note the contents of the Scrutiny Annual Report 2018/19.

The Executive Director: Resources (Monitoring Officer) submitted a report which presented the Scrutiny Annual Report for 2018/19.

In introducing the report, the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee for 2018/19, Councillor Sandra Barnes, thanked all members of the Committee for their hard work and diligence in reviewing and scrutinising many varied issues over the year.

On behalf of the Council, the Leader, Councillor Ian McCord, thanked Councillor Barnes and the Scrutiny Committee for all the work they had undertaken to support the council and Cabinet.

Resolved

(1)          That the Scrutiny Annual Report 2018/19 be noted.

There were no items of urgent business.