Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed all Members and guests, including all former councillors and past Chairmen and Sir Tony Baldry to the meeting.

Following the recent election, the Chairman thanked former Councillors Fred Blackwell, Matt Johnstone, Lawrie Stratford, Rose Stratford, James Porter, Norman Bolster, Russell Hurle, Lynda Thirzie Smart, Ray Jelf, Douglas Williamson, Michael Gibbard and Trevor Stevens for their service to the district during their time as councillors.

The Chairman welcomed Councillors Mike Bishop, Hannah Banfield, Sean Gaul, Tom Wallis, Jason Slaymaker, David Anderson, Nick Cotter, Jolanta Maria Lis, Hugo Brown, Alan Mackenzie-Wintle and Nigel Simpson to the Council and congratulated them and all other councillors who were returned at the recent election

15. Appointment of Section 151 Officer.

Paul Sutton, Declaration, as he was to be proposed to be appointed as the Section 151 Officer for Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils and would leave the meeting for the duration of the item.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

Recording at meetings

The Chairman advised the meeting that under the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014members of the public were permitted to film, broadcast and report on the meeting, subject to the efficient running of the meeting not being affected.

Annual Council

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

The Group nominations to committees for the coming year had been tabled.

Chairman’s Engagements

The Chairman advised that a copy of the events attended by herself or the Vice-Chairman had been included in the agenda pack.

Register of Interests Form

The Chairman reminded Council that it was a requirement for all Members to complete and return a register of interest form for this term of office within 28 days of the election. Those members who had not yet returned a form had been left a blank form on their desk and were asked to the ensure this was completed and returned to the Head of Law and Governance or the Democratic and Elections Team by Thursday 2 June.

Planning Training, Thursday 18 May 2016

The Chairman advised Members that Planning Training would be taking place at 1.30pm on Thursday 18 May 2016. It was a requirement for all Members who sit on Planning Committee to have attended training. New members and substitutes on the Committee should attend this training and other Committee Members were encouraged to attend as a refresher.

This training was open to all Members irrespective of whether they sat on Planning Committee and would hopefully prove helpful for the many questions they were likely to receive from their constituents about Planning on an on-going basis.

Post

The Chairman reminded Members to collect their post from their pigeon hole. Each Member had been given a new lanyard with “councillor” on it, which they should wear going forward when at Bodicote House.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of Council held on 22 February 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2016 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

(The outgoing Chairman, Former Councillor Melanie Magee, presided for the consideration of this matter and those preceding)

It was moved by Councillor Wood and seconded by Councillor Reynolds, that Councillor Chris Heath be elected as Chairman for the municipal year 2016/17. There were no other nominations.

Resolved

That Councillor Chris Heath be appointed Chairman of Cherwell District Council for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

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

Councillor Chris Heath thanked members for her appointment and addressed the Council. She reported that her chosen charity for this year was Second Time Around. Her consorts for the year would be her Vice-Chairman, Councillor Maurice Billington, and her son Matthew Heath.

The Chairman welcomed former North Oxfordshire MP the Right Honourable Sir Tony Baldry DL to the rostrum to unveil the Cherwell Coat of Arms.

The Coat of Arms was a gift from Sir Tony, who explained that it was symbolic of the district with a wavy blue line in the centre to represent the River Cherwell which was flanked on either side by designs depicting the M40 and Oxford Canal. An oak tree embodied the countryside while the rainbow was representative of a united and inclusive district.

Councillor Barry Wood thanked Sir Tony on behalf of the Council and explained the Coat of Arms would be displayed in the Council Chamber.

The Chairman of the Council presented former Councillor Melanie Magee with a gift and her past Chairman’s badge as a token of her term of office.

Members paid tribute to former Councillor Magee and thanked her for the dedication she had shown representing the Council, the services she had rendered to the District and the gracious way she had presided over the deliberations of Council during her year of office.

Former Councillor Melanie Magee addressed Council to report on her term of office.

Former Councillor Magee reported that she had attended numerous and varied functions during her term of office and hosted events to raise money for her chosen charity, SeeSaw which offers grief support for children and young people in Oxfordshire. Former Councillor Magee presented a cheque to Helen Mackinnon from SeeSaw.

Former Councillor Magee paid particular thanks to her consorts for the year and Liz Matthews, the Chairman’s PA and presented them with a token of her appreciation.

It was moved by Councillor Wood and seconded by Councillor Reynolds, that Councillor Maurice Billington be elected as Vice-Chairman for the Municipal Year 2016/17. There were no other nominations.

Resolved

(1)          That Councillor Maurice Billington be elected Vice-Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2016/17.

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

** Appendix 1 and 2 to this report will follow as Political Groups are considering appointments to Committees **

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

To note the results of the 5 May 2016 district elections, the constitution of Political Groups, appoint the Leader of the Council, note the appointment of the Deputy Leader and Executive for the Municipal Year 2016/17 and consider and agree the suggested constitution of Committees for the Municipal year 2016/2017.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To note the results of the District elections held on 5 May 2016.

1.2         To note the constitution of Political Groups and notification of Group Leaders.

1.3         To appoint a Leader of the Council.

1.4         To note the appointment of Deputy Leader of the Council, the membership of the Executive and the Executive Portfolios for 2016/17.

1.5         To agree the allocation of seats on committees that are subject to the political balance requirements as set out in Table 1.

1.6         To agree the allocation of seats on committees not subject to political balance requirements as set out in Table 2.

1.7         To appoint members (and where appropriate, substitute members) to serve on each of the committees and other bodies set out in Tables 1 and 2 in accordance with the nominations to be made by political groups (Appendix 2 - to follow).

1.8         To appoint a representative to the Oxfordshire County Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

1.9         To appoint a representative to the Police and Crime Commissioner Scrutiny Panel.

The Chief Executive submitted a report which presented the results of the 5 May 2016 district elections and  the constitution of Political Groups, sought the appointment of the Leader of the Council, and requested Members to note the appointment of the Deputy Leader and Executive for the Municipal Year 2016/17 and agree the suggested constitution of Committees for the Municipal year 2016/2017.

Resolved

(1)          That the results of the District elections held on 5 May 2016 be noted:

(2)          That the constitution of Political Groups (38 Conservatives, 8 Labour and 2 Independents) and notification of Group Leaders: 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 Les Sibley, Leader of the Independent Group, be noted.

(3)          That Councillor Barry Wood be appointed Leader of the Council.

(4)          That the appointment of the Deputy Leader of the Council, the membership of the Executive and the Executive Portfolios for 2016/17 be noted:

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

To designate the appropriate officer of the Council as its Section 151 Officer as required by the Constitution and legislation.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To appoint Paul Sutton as the Council’s Section 151 Officer with effect from 19 May 2016, subject to South Northamptonshire Council resolving in similar terms, and to request him to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Deputy Section 151 Officer from the same date.

The Chief Executive submitted a report to designate the appropriate officer of the Council as its Section 151 Officer as required by the Constitution and legislation.

Resolved

(1)          That Paul Sutton be appointed as the Council’s Section 151 Officer with effect from 19 May 2016, subject to South Northamptonshire Council resolving in similar terms, and that he be requested to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Deputy Section 151 Officer from the same date.

(Paul Sutton left the meeting for the duration of the item)

Report of Head of Law and Governance

Purpose of report

To appoint a statutory independent person following the expiry of the fixed term of Mr Tom Edwards.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To appoint Mr Tom Edwards as an independent person pursuant to section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011 for a term of four years expiring on the date of the annual meeting of Council in 2020.

The Head of Law and Governance submitted a report to appoint a statutory independent person following the expiry of the fixed term of Mr Tom Edwards.

Resolved

(1)          That Mr Tom Edwards be appointed as an independent person pursuant to section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011 for a term of four years expiring on the date of the annual meeting of Council in 2020.

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

To notify Council of the taking of urgent action by the Chief Executive in accordance with constitutional requirements. 

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To note the urgent action taken by the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive submitted a report to notify Council of the taking of urgent action by the Chief Executive in accordance with constitutional requirements.

Resolved

(1)          That urgent action taken by the Chief Executive be noted.