Meeting documents

Proposed by Councillor Mrs Renshell and seconded by Councillor Strachan:-

"That Councillor Mrs J Brandis be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year."

There being no other nominations, it was

RESOLVED –

That Councillor Mrs J Brandis be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Councillor Mrs Brandis, having accepted the appointment, duly made and signed the Declaration required by the Local Government Act, 1972, and expressed thanks for her election.

Councillor Mrs Brandis in the Chair.

Proposed by Councillor Mrs Brandis, duly seconded and

RESOLVED –

That the sincere thanks of the Council be accorded to Councillor Mrs Renshell for her distinguished service as Chairman of the Council for the last two years.

Councillor Mrs Renshell addressed the Council in response to the sentiments expressed and presented to cheques to her two nominated charities, Buckinghamshire MIND and Seeability.  A past Chairman’s badge was presented to Councillor Mrs Renshell who in turn presented a small gift to her husband and personal assistants.

Proposed by Councillor Mrs Brandis and seconded by Councillor A Cole:-

"That Councillor Poll be appointed Vice Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year."

There being no other nominations, it was

RESOLVED –

That Councillor Poll be appointed Vice Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Councillor Poll, having accepted the appointment, duly made and signed the Declaration required by the Local Government Act, 1972, and expressed thanks for his appointment.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 17 April, 2019, copy attached as an appendix.

RESOLVED –

That the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 17 April, 2019, be approved as a correct record.

By the Chairman of the Council.

By the Leader/Cabinet Members.

There were none.

Councillor Mrs Macpherson

Leader of the Council

The current Committee structure was approved in 2015 for the four year life of the Council.  Members will however be aware that the life of the Council has been extended for a further 12 months to enable the transition to the new Buckinghamshire Council.  It is therefore necessary to agree the continuance of the existing Committees for a further year.

The Leader of the Council informed Members that the current Committee structure had been approved in 2015 for the four year life of the Council.  As the life of the Council had been extended for a further 12 months to enable the transition to the new Buckinghamshire Council it was therefore necessary to agree the continuance of the existing Committees for a further year.

It was proposed by Councillor Mrs Macpherson, seconded by Councillor A Cole, and

RESOLVED –

That the life of the current Committees be extended for a further 12 months to enable the transition to the new Buckinghamshire Council.

Councillor Mrs Macpherson

Leader of the Council

As in the case of the Committee structure, it is also necessary to extend the current Council appointments to Outside Bodies for a further 12 months.

The Leader of the Council informed Members that the current Council appointments to Outside Bodies had been approved in 2015 for the four year life of the Council.  As the life of the Council had been extended for a further 12 months to enable the transition to the new Buckinghamshire Council it was therefore necessary to agree the continuance of the current Council appointments to Outside Bodies for a further year.

It was proposed by Councillor Mrs Macpherson, seconded by Councillor Fealey, and

RESOLVED –

That the life of the current Council appointments to Outside Bodies be extended for a further 12 months to enable the transition to the new Buckinghamshire Council.

The Council will adjourn at the conclusion of the above business to enable the following Committees to meet for the purposes of electing Chairmen and Vice Chairmen.  The relevant agendas are attached:-

(i)            Development Management Committee

(ii)           Strategic Development Management Committee

(iii)          Licensing Committee

(iv)         General Purposes Committee

(v)          Standards Committee

Remaining Committees will elect their Chairmen and Vice Chairmen at their next meeting.

Having completed this business, Council will re-convene to deal with the remaining confidential business.

The Chairman of the Council informed Members that it would be necessary to adjourn the Council meeting to enable the following Committees to meet for the purposes of electing Chairmen and Vice Chairmen.  The relevant Committees, that had copies of their agendas appended to the Council agenda, were:-

(i)            Development Management Committee.

(ii)           Strategic Development Management Committee.

(iii)          Licensing Committee.

(iv)         General Purposes Committee.

(v)          Standards Committee.

The remaining Committees would elect their Chairmen and Vice Chairmen at their next meeting.  Having completed this business, the Council meeting would need to re-convene to deal with the remaining confidential business.

It was proposed by Councillor Mrs Brandis, seconded by Councillor A Cole, and

RESOLVED –

That the Council meeting be adjourned for the purposes of electing Committee Chairmen and Vice Chairmen, as detailed above.

The following matter is for consideration by Members "In Committee". It will therefore be necessary to

RESOLVE –

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the Paragraphs indicated in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Item No. 11 – Impact of Unitary on Statutory Roles (Paragraphs 1 and 4).

The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because the report contains:-

·                    personal and sensitive information relating to an individual.

·                    information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour matter arising between the authority and employees of, or office holders, under the Authority.

RESOLVED –

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the Paragraphs 1 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information because the report contained:-

·                    personal and sensitive information relating to an individual.

·                    information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consulted or negotiations, in connection with any labour matter arising between the authority and employees of, or office holders, under the Authority.

Councillor Mrs Macpherson

Leader of the Council

To consider the attached confidential report.

Council received a confidential report in relation to managing senior and statutory roles, including the Chief Executive, Section 151 Officer (Director responsible for Finance), Corporate Director and Monitoring Officer during the implementation to the new Buckinghamshire Council.

Members were informed that AVDC’s Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service had already stated that he did not wish to apply for the Chief Executive role in the new Buckinghamshire Council that would be established from April 2020.  It was recognised that this role would diminish over the coming months and that the post would be made redundant as at 31 March, 2020..

As such, and following discussions between the Council and the Chief Executive, it had been mutually agreed that, subject to the approval of Council, the post holder would leave AVDC on 31 July, 2019, after 13 years of service.

The Leader of the Council paid tribute to Mr Grant’s achievements as an inspirational and motivational Chief Executive whose passion had been essential in transforming AVDC into one of the most highly regarded councils in the country. 

In preparation for Mr Grant’s departure, it was proposed that the legally-required roles of Head of Paid Service and Returning Officer for elections would be transferred to the two existing Executive Directors, Andrew Small and Tracey Aldworth respectively.  To allow for full handover and smooth transition, the transfer of duties would be from 31 May 2019.

Mr Grant would receive a contractual payment of £199,809 in accordance with standard AVDC compulsory redundancy terms, based on seniority, salary and period of service.  Members were also informed that 31 July was after Mr Grant’s 60th birthday, meaning no additional pension contribution would be payable by AVDC and therefore making the cost to the council considerably lower than could otherwise have been the case.  It was also stated that Mr Grant’s payment would be the same whether he left on the 31st July 2019 or 31st March 2020 but making the post redundant earlier would save taxpayers approximately £88,000 in salary and benefits.

The General Purposes Committee had considered a similar report at its meeting on 24 April, 2019, when the arrangements relating to the proposed early exit of the Chief Executive (and Head of Paid Service), including the consequential arrangements relating to the senior and statutory roles during the transition to the new Buckinghamshire Council had been unanimously agreed.

It was proposed by Councillor Mrs Macpherson, seconded by Councillor A Cole, and

RESOLVED –

(1)          That thanks be expressed to Mr Grant for his work and service to the Council over the last 13 years and he be wished well for the future.

(2)          That the proposed early exit of the Chief Executive (and Head of the Paid Service) on the terms and conditions set out in the confidential report be approved, as well as the consequential arrangements (also referred to in the report) relating to senior and statutory roles during the transition to new Buckinghamshire Council.

(3)          That the potential exit arrangements of senior  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.