Agenda and minutes

The meeting opened with prayers led by the Mayor's Chaplain, Mrs Sally Davenport.

The Mayor extended a welcome to the guests at this annual meeting of the Council and went on to announce the Citizens of Honour for 2013.  He presented badges to Ken Charman and Marjorie Wise. David Hawkins was announced as the Young Citizen of the Year and the HMS Collingwood Cup was presented to Matapan Division.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J M Englefield for the morning session.

On the Council being invited to submit nominations for the election of Mayor, it was proposed by Councillor S D T Woodward and seconded by Councillor K D Evans "that Councillor Mrs Susan Bayford be elected Mayor of Fareham for the municipal year 2013/14."  On the motion being put to the meeting it was declared CARRIED unanimously. 

RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs Susan Bayford be elected Mayor of Fareham for the municipal year 2013/14.

After Councillor Mrs S M Bayford had received the personal congratulations of The Mayor, she retired from the meeting to be robed and upon her return signed the statutory declaration of acceptance of office.

The Mayor thanked the Council for her election. She informed members that Father John Cooke would be her Chaplain for the year and that she had asked Mrs June Haye to co-ordinate an ecumenical chaplaincy for the year.  She also announced that the Mayor’s charity appeal would this year be in support of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, the Rainbow Centre for Adult Rehabilitation and Riding for the Disabled, based at the Crofton Equestrian Centre. 

The Mayor then went on to name her husband, Councillor Brian Bayford, as Mayor’s Consort for the year and invested him with the chain of office.

On the Council being invited to submit nominations for the election of Deputy Mayor of Fareham for the municipal year 2013/14, it was proposed by Councillor R H Price, JP and seconded by Councillor S D T Woodward "that Councillor David Norris be elected Deputy Mayor of Fareham for the municipal year 2013/14".  On the nomination being put to the meeting, it was declared CARRIED unanimously.

RESOLVED that Councillor David Norris be elected Deputy Mayor of Fareham for the municipal year 2013/14.

After receiving the personal congratulations of the Mayor, Councillor David Norris signed the statutory declaration of acceptance of office and thanked the Council for his election.  He announced that his wife, Mrs Pamela Norris, would be the Deputy Mayoress.  The Mayor then invested the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress with their chains of office.

It was proposed by Councillor S D T Woodward and seconded by Councillor A Mandry "that the best thanks of the Council be accorded to Councillor Dennis Steadman and Mrs Carole Steadman for their services as Mayor and Mayoress during the past municipal year".  On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED unanimously.

RESOLVED that the best thanks of the Council be accorded to Councillor Dennis Steadman and Mrs Carole Steadman for their services as Mayor and Mayoress during the past municipal year.

Councillor Dennis Steadman replied to the vote of thanks and expressed his appreciation of the support he had been given throughout his year of office.  The Mayor then presented Councillor Dennis Steadman with his Past Mayor's badge and Mrs Carole Steadman with her Past Mayoress' badge.

The Mayor presented her Mayor’s Cadet for 2013/14, Kirsty-Nicolle Wright of Warsash Sea Cadets with her badge of service.

It was proposed by Councillor S D T Woodward and seconded by Councillor T Cartwright "that this meeting now adjourn and resume at 2.30pm in the Council Chamber in the Civic Offices, Fareham".  On being put to the meeting, the proposition was declared CARRIED unanimously.

RESOLVED that the meeting be adjourned.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J M Englefield for the afternoon session.

RESOLVED that the Mayor be authorised to sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 25 April 2013

The Mayor reminded members that Father John Cooke would be her Chaplain for the year and that she had asked Mrs June Haye to co-ordinate an ecumenical chaplaincy for the year.

The Mayor also reminded members that her charity appeal would support the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, the Rainbow Centre for Adult Rehabilitation and Riding for the Disabled, based at the Crofton Equestrian Centre.

The Mayor stated that one of the significant charity events of her year would be next April when the Chief Executive, Peter Grimwood runs the London Marathon in aid of the Rainbow Centre for Adult Rehabilitation.

A petition was presented by Councillor P J Davies regarding traffic problems at Heather Gardens and Craven Court. The Mayor confirmed that the petition would be dealt with in accordance with the Council’s petition scheme.

There were no interests declared at this meeting.

(1)       Election of Executive Leader

The Council was invited to elect a Member of the Council to be the Executive Leader in accordance with Standing Order 3.1 of the Council's Constitution. Members were reminded that following the resolution of the Council on 16 December 2010, this appointment would be for a term of four years.

It was proposed by Councillor Cartwright and duly seconded “that Councillor S D T Woodward be confirmed as Executive Leader of the Council” for a four year term, starting from the municipal year 2012/13.  On the proposal being put to the meeting, it was declared CARRIED, many members voting in favour and no member voting against.

RESOLVED that Councillor S D T Woodward be appointed as the Executive Leader for a four year term, from 2012/13 to the end of the 2015/16 municipal year.

(2)       Number of Other Executive Members

Members were reminded that following the resolution of the Council on 16 December 2010, the Executive Leader would be invited to advise the Council of his appointment of two or more (but no more than nine) members to form the Executive.

The Council was duly advised that the Executive Leader would be appointing five other members to form the Executive to work alongside himself. He also advised that Councillor Trevor Cartwright would be appointed as the Deputy Executive Leader.

RESOLVED that the above decision be noted.

(3)       Appointment of Other Executive Members

Members were reminded that following the resolution of the Council on 16 December 2010, the Executive Leader would be invited to advise the Council of his appointment of other Executive Members, consequent to his decision at item 13(2) above.

The Council was duly advised that the Executive Leader would be appointing Councillor B Bayford, Cartwright, Evans, Mrs Hockley and Keeble to serve as Executive Members for 2012/13.

RESOLVED that the above decision be noted.

(4)       Areas of Executive Responsibility

The Council was reminded that the Executive Leader is responsible for determining the areas of Executive responsibility and for allocating the portfolios to the Executive Members appointed. 

The Council was duly advised that the Executive Leader would be allocating responsibilities to the Executive portfolios for the Municipal Year 2012/13, as follows:-

Strategic Planning and Environment - Councillor K D Evans;

Leisure and Community - Councillor Mrs C L A Hockley;

Housing - Councillor B Bayford;

Public Protection - Councillor T M Cartwright;

Streetscene - Councillor L Keeble; and

Policy and Resources - Councillor S D T Woodward.

RESOLVED that the above decision be noted.

(5)       Opposition Spokesmen

Members were reminded that the Constitution provides for the largest minority group to appoint opposition spokesmen to each of the Executive portfolios.  The Council was informed that the following appointments had been made:

Strategic Planning and Environment: Councillor J S Forrest;

Leisure and Community: Councillor R H Price, JP;

Housing: Councillor Mrs K K Trott;

Public Protection : Councillor G Fazackarley;

Streetscene : Councillor D J Norris; and

Policy, Strategy and Finance : Councillor P Whittle, JP.

The Council received a report by the Chief Executive Officer, providing the calculations for political balance relating to the allocation of seats on committees and panels for the municipal year 2013/14. The report asks the Council to confirm the functions and appointment of committee seats as well as the role of Chairman and Vice-Chairman for each committee. The minority groups are invited to appoint opposition spokesmen to each of the Executive portfolios.

Following a debate on the matter, a motion was proposed by Councillor N R Gregory to amend the allocation of seats to allow the UKIP group to retain a seat on the Planning Committee. Having been duly seconded, the motion was declared lost 2 members voting in favour and 22 members voting against.

RESOLVED that the Council approves:

(a)       the committee functions and number of seats on each committee for the municipal year 2013/14, as:

·                Scrutiny Board: 9 members + deputies;

·                Leisure and Community Policy Development and Review Panel: 7 members + deputies;

·                Strategic Planning and Environment Policy Development and Review Panel: 7 members + deputies;

·                Public Protection Policy Development and Review Panel: 7 members + deputies;

·                Housing Policy Development and Review Panel: 7 members + deputies; and

·                Streetscene Policy Development and Review Panel: 7 members + deputies.

·                Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee: 12 members;

·                Planning Committee: 9 members;

·                Appeals Committee: 5 members;

·                Audit and Governance Committee: 7 members; and

·                Housing Tenancy Board: 5 members plus 3 co-opted tenant representatives and one co-opted lease-holder representative.

·                Each political group shall appoint 2 deputy members to the Planning Committee and 1 deputy member to each of the remaining committees for which a seat has been allocated;

(b)       the allocation of seats to political groups (as set out in Appendix A to the report) for the municipal year 2013/14;

(c)       the nominations of the political groups to seats on committees, deputies and opposition spokesmen, for the municipal year 2013/14, as shown in Appendix A to these minutes; and

(d)       the appointment of a Chairman and Vice-Chairman  for each committee for the municipal year 2013/14, as shown in Appendix A to these minutes.

The Council was reminded that the Localism Act implemented significant  changes to the Standards regime and that at its meeting in June 2012, the Council appointed Mr David Basson and Mrs Mary Kilbride as the Council`s two Designated Independent Persons, as required under section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011.

RESOLVED that Mr David Basson and Mrs Mary Kilbride be confirmed as the Council`s two Designated Independent Persons for the municipal year 2013/14.

The Council was reminded that it had established Community Action Teams (CATs) throughout the Borough and was invited to appoint chairmen for each of the areas.

RESOLVED that the following Chairmen be appointed:-

·                Portchester Community Action Team : Councillor N J Walker

·                Crofton Community Action Team : Councillor A Mandry

·                Fareham Community Action Team : Councillor D L Steadman;

·                Titchfield Community Action Team : Councillor Miss T Harper;

·                Western Wards Community Action Team : Councillor M J Ford

The Council was reminded that Standing Order 9 required it to establish or confirm the plans and strategies which were to comprise the Council’s overall policy framework within which the Executive would operate during the coming year.  Members were reminded that the Council’s Constitution set out the major plans and strategies reserved to the Council for approval. 

RESOLVED that the policy framework for 2012/13 be confirmed as comprising those plans and strategies identified in the table below:

The Council was reminded that it was required by Standing Order 10 to make appointments to outside bodies, other than those appointments which were required by law to be made by the Executive.  Council therefore considered the report of the Director of Regulatory and Democratic Services on the appointments to be made and also received guidance on the duties and responsibilities of members when acting as an appointee to an outside body.

The Executive Leader advised that a number of deletions would also be made as the outside body either no longer existed or had not met for some time.

In considering the appointments to the West Paulsgrove Scout and Community Association, it was proposed that Councillor Mrs K K Trott be appointed as a representative.  On the proposal being put to the meeting it was declared LOST, 7 members voting in favour and 21 voting against.  A further proposal was made that the appointments to the West Paulsgrove Scout and Community Association be as set out in Appendix B to these minutes.  On being put to the meeting, the proposition was CARRIED, many members voting in favour and no member voting against.

In considering the appointments to the Public Transport Representative, it was proposed that Councillor G Fazackarley be appointed as the deputy representative.  On the proposal being put to the meeting it was declared LOST, 7 members voting in favour and 21 voting against.  A further proposal was made that the appointments to the Public Transport Representative be as set out in Appendix B to these minutes.  On being put to the meeting, the proposition was CARRIED, many members voting in favour and no member voting against.

RESOLVED that:

(a)       appointments to Outside Bodies be made as shown in Appendix B  to these minutes;

(b)       the guidance to members on their duties and responsibilities as appointees to outside bodies be noted.

Note: The Council was advised that meetings of the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the Standards Committees would follow this meeting.