Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

Councillor Ray Jelf

The Chairman congratulated Councillor Ray Jelf on his recent election at the Hook Norton By-election and welcomed him to his first meeting.

Three Peaks Challenge

The Chairman advised that Councillors Nick Mawer and Dan Sames had joined with a team of soldiers from 23 Pioneer Regiment, Bicester to attempt the three peaks challenge ad were raising funds for ABF the soldiers’ charity. All donations were welcome.

There was no urgent business.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2013 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

(The outgoing Chairman, Councillor Clarke, presided for the consideration of this matter.)

It was moved by Councillor Wood and seconded by Councillor Reynolds, that Councillor Lawrie Stratford be elected as Chairman for 2013/14. There were no there were no other nominations.

Resolved

(1)          That Councillor Lawrie Stratford be elected Chairman of the Council for 2013/14.

Councillor Lawrie Stratford, having made and signed the required Declaration of Acceptance of Office was invested with the Chairman’s Chain and took the Chair,

Councillor Lawrie Stratford thanked members for his appointment and addressed the Council.

The Chairman of the Council presented Councillor Clarke with his past Chairman’s badge as a token of his term of office.

Members paid tribute to Councillor Clarke and thanked him for the dedication he had shown representing the Council, the services he had rendered to the District and gracious way he had presided over the deliberations of Council during his year of office.

Councillor Clarke addressed Council to report on his term of office. He paid particular thanks to Mrs Jenifer Clarke, his consort for the year and Liz Matthews, the Chairman’s PA and presented them with a token of his appreciation.

It was moved by Councillor Wood and seconded by Councillor Reynolds, that Councillor Kieron Mallon be elected as Vice-Chairman for 2013/14. There were no there were no other nominations.

Resolved

(1)          That Councillor Kieron Mallon be elected Vice-Chairman of the Council for 2013/14.

Councillor Kieron Mallon, having made and signed the required Declaration of Acceptance of Office was invested with the Vice-Chairman’s Chain.

The Head of Law and Governance submitted a report which sought consideration of proposed changes to the Overview and Scrutiny arrangements at Cherwell District Council. It was noted that the proposed changes were based on best practice that had been adopted at South Northamptonshire Council and officers felt would assist with the efficient functioning of scrutiny at Cherwell.

Resolved

(1)          That the Overview and Scrutiny arrangements be amended to a single Overview and Scrutiny Committee, with responsibility all for Overview and Scrutiny arrangements as set out in the annex to the minutes (as set out in the minute book).

(2)          That a Budget Planning Committee be created as a committee of council as set out in the annex to the minutes (as set out in the minute book).

(3)          That the formal Resources and Performance Scrutiny Board, Finance Scrutiny  Working group (informal) and Performance Scrutiny Working Group (informal) be disbanded.

(4)          That agreement be given that both the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Budget Planning Committee should have 12 members each with casual substitution permitted.

(5)          That the Head of Law and Governance be authorised to make consequential amendments to the constitution and revisions to the calendar of meetings in light of the above changes and that the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee continue to receive the allowance for the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Chairman of the Budget Planning Committee receive the allowance as determined for the Chairman of the former Resources and Performance Scrutiny Board.

The Chief Executive submitted a report which presented the results of the 2 May 2013 district by-election, the constitution of Political Groups, the appointment of the Deputy Leader and Executive for the Municipal Year 2013/14 and sought agreement to the suggested constitution of Committees for the Municipal year 2013/2014. The report also sought nominations for representatives to the County Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Police and Crime Commissioner Scrutiny Panel.

The Chief Executive reported that there were district elections in 16 seats and Councillors were returned as follows:

Hook Norton – Councillor Ray Jelf

The Chief Executive reported that the constitution of the Council and political groups was now 41 Conservatives, 5 Labour,  3 Liberal Democrats and 1 Independent.

The Group Leaders were: Councillor Barry Wood, Leader of the Conservative Group and Leader of the Council; Councillor Sean Woodcock, Leader of the Labour Group and Leader of the Opposition and Councillor Tim Emptage, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.

The Leader of the Council reported that for the Municipal Year 2013/14 he had reappointed Councillor Reynolds as Deputy Leader of the Council.

For the Municipal Year 2013/14, the Executive would comprise:

Councillor Barry Wood – Leader of the Council

Councillor George Reynolds – Deputy Leader of the Council

Councillor Nigel Morris - Lead Member for Clean and Green

Councillor Ken Atack - Lead Member for Financial Management

Councillor Nigel Turner - Lead Member for Performance and Customers

Councillor John Donaldson - Lead Member for Banbury Brighter Futures

Councillor Tony Ilott - Lead Member for Public Protections

Councillor Michael Gibbard – Lead Member for Planning

Councillor Norman Bolster – Lead Member for Estates and the Economy

Councillor Debbie Pickford – Lead Member for Housing

Resolved

(1)          That the results of the District By-election held on 2 May 2013 be noted.

(2)          That the constitution of Political Groups and notification of Group Leaders: Conservative Group – Councillor Barry Wood; Labour Group – Councillor Sean Woodcock; Liberal Democrat Group – Councillor Tim Emptage, be noted.

(3)          That the appointment of Councillor George Reynolds as Deputy Leader of the Council and the membership of the Executive and the Executive Portfolios for 2013/14 be noted.

(4)          That the allocation of seats on committees that were subject to the political balance requirements be agreed as set out below:

Allocation of Seats to Proportional Committees

* Under the political balance regulations in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, allocations are made to political groups,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

The Director of Resources submitted a report to propose that the principle of a shared Environmental Services team,  a shared Human Resources team, a shared Legal team and collaborative working arrangements with both South Northamptonshire Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council pursuant to the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 be adopted as part of Cherwell District Council’s policy framework.

Resolved

(1)          That the principles of shared working proposals for Environmental Services, Human Resources and Legal Services be adopted as part of the Council’s policy framework.

(2)          That the general principle of mutual collaborative working with South Northamptonshire Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council be adopted as part of the Council’s policy framework.