Agenda and minutes

Councillor Hadland to propose and Councillor Church to second: “That Councillor W B Massey be elected Mayor of the Borough of Northampton for the ensuing year.”

After election the Mayor will make the declaration of acceptance of office.

The Mayor’s Sergeant will invest the Mayoress (Mrs Joan Massey) with her badge of Office.

The Mayor will thank the Council for his election.

Councillor Hadland proposed and Councillor Church seconded: “That Councillor W B Massey be elected Mayor of the Borough of Northampton for the ensuing year.”  The motion was carried and Councillor W B Massey was then elected mayor and accepted office by making and delivering to the Chief Executive and Town Clerk the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.  The Mayor then took the Chair.

Councillor Marriott to propose and Councillor Larratt to second: “That the thanks of the Council be given to Councillor T G Wire and Mrs Fran Wire for the able and courteous manner in which they have discharged their duties as Mayor and Mayoress during their term of office.

Councillor Marriott proposed and Councillor Larratt seconded: “That the thanks of the Council be given to T G Wire and Mrs Fran Wire for the able and courteous manner win which they have discharged their duties as Mayor and Mayoress during their term of office.”  The motion was carried.

To record the appointment of the Mayor’s Chaplain, the reverend Simon Godfrey.

That the Reverend Simon Godfrey be appointed Mayor’s Chaplain for the ensuing year.

Councillor Simpson to propose and Councillor Hill to second: “That Councillor S Beardworth be appointed to the office of Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year.

After appointment, the Deputy Mayor will make the declaration of acceptance of office.

The Mayor’s sergeant will invest the Deputy mayor’s Consort (Mr Mike Beardsworth) with his Badge of Office.

Councillor Simpson proposed and Councillor Hill seconded: “That Councillor S Beardsworth be appointed to the office of Deputy mayor for the ensuing year.”  The motion was carried and Councillor S Beardsworth was appointed Deputy Mayor and accepted office by making and delivering to the Chief Executive and Town Clerk the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

To approve the minutes of the proceedings of the Meeting of the Council held on 26^th April 2004.

The minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 26^th April 2004 were signed by the Mayor.

Apologies for absence were received by Councillor Evans.

To record the long service of the following employees:

25 Years’ Service

Business and Housing Services: D Askens, P Gittins.

Chief Executive and Town Clerks’: R Tapp

Community Services: G Ezzard, R Gold, J Hunt, I Raybould, G Szczerbetyj, L Taylor

Strategic Resources: J Birch, G Davies, J Garner, J McGuigan

The long service of those employees shown in paragraph 7 of the Agenda be noted with appreciation.

To record the appreciation of the Council for he faithful service of the following employees who have retired in 2003/04:

Business and Housing Services: G Boddington, T Ellis, J Flood, M J Furnis, T Prickett, V Ridzwan, P Spicer, T M Williams

Community Services: D Buxton, D Dovey, D Gardner, J Gibbon, S A Moore, E Watkins

Strategic resources: R Grove, D Hamilton, C Moore

At this point, guests may take the opportunity to leave should they wish to do so prior to the commencement of the other business of the meeting.

That the appreciation of eh Council for the faithful service of the employees who had retired in 2003/04 as shown in paragraph 8 of the Agenda be noted.

At this juncture there was a brief break in the proceedings to enable guests to take the opportunity to leave should they so wish prior to the commencement of the other business of the meeting.

The meeting then resumed.

Councillor J Lill proposed and Councillor Tavener seconded: “That Councillor Larratt and Councillor Hadland eb appointed Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council respectively for the ensuing year.”

Councillor Church then spoke against the proposal and asked for a recorded vote.

There voted for the proposal as set out in Item 9 of the Agenda:

Councillors Acock, Caswell, Duncan, Edwards, Eldred, Flavell, Hadland, Hill, Lane, Larratt, C Lill, J Lill, Malpas, Miah, Palethorpe, Robinson, Stewart and Tavener. (18)

There voted against the proposal:

Councillors Allen, Church, Crake, Glynane, B Hoare, M Hoare, Hollis, B Markham, I Markham, Matthews, Perkins, Simpson, Taylor, Woods and Yates. (16)

Abstained:                 The Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, Councillors Barron, Boss, Concannon, McCutcheon, Marriott, Mason, Patterson, Pritchard, Roy and Wire (12)

The proposal as set out on item 9 of the Agenda was duly carried and Councillor Larratt and Councillor Hadland were appointed Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council respectively for the ensuing year.

Councillor B Markham proposed and Councillor M Hoare seconded: “That Councillor Church and Councillor Beardsworth be appointed Leader and Deputy Leader of the Main opposition group for the ensuing year.”  The motion was carried.

Councillor Wire proposed and Councillot Roy seconded: “That Councillor Barron and Councillor Marriott be appointed Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labour Group for the ensuing year”.  The motion was carried.

RESOLVED:

That the Annual and Ordinary meetings of the Council during 2004/05 be held on the dates shown in paragraph 12 of the Agenda with the exception of the meeting scheduled for 26^th July 2004, which was moved to the 29^th July 2004 to enable consideration of the appointment of a Chief Executive.

A report of the Acting Chief Executive dealing with matters requiring consideration regarding proportionality had been circulated and it was duly agreed:

1. That the existence of three political groups – Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour – be noted.
2. That the political balance requirements be also noted and effect given accordingly to the allocation of seats on the basis set out in the report.

Councillor Malpas proposed and Councillor Lane seconded: “That the following appointments be made to the Executive: Councillors Hadland, Hill, Larratt, C Lill, J Lill, Palethorpe and Tavener”.  The motion was carried.

To consider appointments for 2004/05 to membership of the following Committees and to the respective positions of Chair and Deputy Chair.

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE (8)

Councillor Edwards (Chair), Councillor Crake (Deputy Chair), Councillors Beardsworth, Concannon, Duncan, Miah, Patterson and Simpson.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES (9)

SC 1 – Leader of the Council

Councillor Allen (Chair), Councillor Malpas (Deputy Chair)< Councillor Acock, Boss, Caswell, Church, Flavell, B Hoare and Roy.

SC 2 – Community Leadership

Councillor Glynane (Chair), Councillor Miah (Deputy Chair), Councillors Acock, Barron, Colcannon, M Hoare, Lane, Malpas and Yates.

SC 3 – Community Safety and E-Government

Councillor Barron (Chair), Councillor Lane (Deputy Chair), Councillors Duncan, Edwards, M Hoare, Matthews, Pritchard, Stewart and Woods.

SC 4 – Financial Strategy and Performance

Councillor Marriott (Chair), Councillor Perkins (Deputy Chair), Councillors Caswell, Church, B Markham, Miah, Patterson, Robinson and Stewart.

SC 5 – Health and Environment

Councillor B Markham (Chair), Councillor McCutcheon (Deputy Chair), Councillors Allen, Eldred, Flavell, Hollis, Lane, Malpas and Pritchard.

SC 6 – Housing

Councillor Beardsworth (Chair), Councillor Mason (Deputy Chair), Councillors Acock, Caswell, Crake, Evans, I Markham, Robinson and Yates.

SC 7 – Planning, Regeneration and Transport

Councillor Boss (Chair), Councillor Woods (Deputy Chair), Councillors caswell, Duncan, Eldred, Glynane, Hollis, Simpson and Wire.

PLANNING COMMITTEE (11)

Councillor Robinson (Chair), Councillor Flavell (Deputy Chair), Councillors Crake, Edwards, B Hoare, Malpas, B Markham, Marriott, Mason, McCutcheon and Yates.

LICENSING COMMITTEE (12)

Councillor Steward (Chair), Councillor Taylor (Deputy Chair), Councillors Acock, Beardsworth, Caswell, Concannon, Duncan, Evans, I Markham, Miah, Wire and Woods.

LICENSING SUB COMMITTEE (3)

Any three members of the Licensing Committee.

Consideration was given to appointments for 2004/05 to membership of the Committees and the respective positions of Chair and Deputy Chair as set out under item 15 of the Agenda.

Councillor B Markham proposed that Councillor Yates be appointed Chair of Planning Committee with Councillor Crake as Deputy.

Councillor Barron proposed that the Chairmanship of the Planning Committee be operated on a rotating basis.  Councillor Larratt undertook to give further consideration to the Chairmanship of those committees that were non-political, e.g. Planning and licensing, to operate on a rotating basis when the review of the Council’s structure of meetings etc took place later in the year.

Following this undertaking, Councillor Markham withdrew his proposal and the original proposal was voted upon and carried with the Committee memberships agreed as listed under item 15 of the Agenda.

The Leader of the Council to move and the Leader of the Main Opposition Group to second: “That the following be appointed to the Standards Committee (to include the appointment of Deputy Chair).

Mrs M Roberts (Chair), Councillor Flavell (Deputy Chair), Mr D Hughes (Mrs M Edwards, parish Council substitute), Mr J Romrose, Councillors Allen, B Hoare, Lane and Pritchard.

RESOLVED:

That the appointment of the Standards Committee as shown in paragraph 16 of the Agenda be agreed.

To consider appointing 8 Councillors to comprise the Member side of the Local Joint Committee:

Councillor Palethorpe (Chair), Councillors Barron, Beardsworth, Hollis, Larratt, Matthews, Roy and Tavener.

RESOLVED:

That the member side of the Local Joint Committee be as shown in paragraph 17 of the Agenda.

To consider the appointment of the following Councillors with whom consultations shall be held by the named Officer under the terms set out and delegated by the Council:

Civic Matters (Chief Executive)

The Mayor, The Deputy Mayor, Councillors Barron, Church, Hadland and Larratt.

Community Enabling Fund Advisory Panel (formerly Grants Matters)

(Chief Executive)

Councillors Beardsworth, Boss, Hadland, Hill, I Markham and Roy.

Markets Matters (Director of Business and Housing Services)

Councillors Hadland, B Markham, Marriott, Stewart, Taylor and Wire.

RESOLVED:

That appointments in the terms of Civic Matters, Community Enabling Fund Advisory Panel (formerly Grants Matters) and Market Matters be made of those Councillors as shown in paragraph 18 of the Agenda with whom consultation shall be held under the terms set out and delegated by the Council.

To consider the appointment of the following Councillors to represent the Council on the Northampton Borough Council Community Safety partnership:

Councillors Allen, Barron, Lane and Tavener.

RESOLVED:

That those Councillors listed under item 19 of the Agenda be appointed to represent the Council on the Northampton Borough Council Community Safety Partnership.

RESOLVED:

That the appointment onto outside bodies as set our in the list circulated at the meeting be approved and that such appointments apply for the civic year 2004/05 unless otherwise stated.

RESOLVED:

1. That the power to amend or add to committee appointments be delegated to the General Purposes Committee.
2. That the power to amend or add to the list of Council appointments of Outside Bodies other than at the Annual Meeting be delegated to the Chief Executive and Town Clerk after consultation with the Group Whips.