Meeting documents

(i)      To elect the Chairman of the Council for the year 2014/2015.

(ii)     The Chairman of the Council to invite nominations for the election of Chairman for 2014/2015.

(iii)    Councillor Mrs J E Teesdale, seconded by Councillor R J Scott, to propose that Councillor Mrs L M Clarke OBE be elected Chairman of the Council for 2014/2015.

(iv)    The Chairman of the Council to ask if there are any other nominations.

(v)     The Chairman of the Council to put the nomination(s) to the meeting.

(vi)    The Chairman of the Council to declare Councillor Mrs L M Clarke OBE duly elected.

(vii)   Councillor Mrs L M Clarke OBE to accept office and make the necessary declaration and to be presented with the Chairman’s Chain.

(viii) Mr Clarke to be presented with the Chairman’s Consort’s badge and a gift.

(ix)    The incoming Chairman of the Council to address the Council.

(x)     Vote of thanks to the retiring Chairman, Councillor I L McEnnis to be proposed by Councillor R J Scott and seconded by Councillor A D Collingwood.

(xi)    Councillor I L McEnnis to respond.

(xii)   The Chairman of the Council to present to Councillor I L McEnnis a past Chairman’s badge, and to Mrs McEnnis a bouquet.

It was proposed by Councillor Mrs J E Teesdale that Councillor Mrs L M Clarke OBE be elected as Chairman of the Council for 2014/15.

The proposer gave a brief history of Councillor Mrs Clarke’s background, stating that she had been active in local politics for many years being first elected to WDC in 1991 for the then Cressex and Frogmoor and now Abbey Ward.  Councillor Mrs Clarke had served as the Leader of the Council for 8 years between 2003-2011. She had also been a County Councillor since 2001 and had served as the Chairman of its Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  In addition Councillor Mrs Clarke was a Charter Trustee for High Wycombe Town and served as its Mayor between 1994/5.

The proposer went on to state that Councillor Mrs Clarke was also politically active on a national level and had become Chairman of the Women’s Local Government Society in 2007, in which capacity she had recently appeared as a guest on Radio 4’s Women’s Hour. Councillor Clarke has been awarded the OBE in 2013 for her services to Local Government and the Women’s Local Government Society.

Councillor R J Scott stated that Councillor Mrs Clarke had a long list of achievements, and was sure to give her all to WDC, during her Chairmanship as she had always done. Therefore it would give him great pleasure in seconding the proposal.

There being no other nominations, and upon being put to a vote it was:

RESOLVED That: That Councillor Mrs L M Clarke OBE be elected as Chairman for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

Councillor Clarke thereupon accepted office, made the necessary declaration and was presented with the Chairman`s Chain, and Mr Clarke was presented with the Chairman`s consort badge and a gift.

Councillor Mrs L M Clarke OBE in the Chair

The Chairman addressed the meeting and thanked the Council forbestowing this honour upon her for the forthcoming year.  She also thanked Councillors Mrs Teesdale and Councillor Scott for their kind words.  She stated that she would endeavour to uphold the customs and practices of the office to which she had been elected. The Chairman then gave a brief mention to a local charity (Kids In Sport) which assisted young disadvantaged people into sport, and which she would be supporting during her Chairmanship.  Further information regarding this would be made available at the next Council meeting.

Councillor R J Scott, proposed a vote of thanks to the outgoing Chairman, who he stated had stepped into the breach last July following the untimely passing of Councillor Emmett, and had treated the transition with great respect and dignity. Councillor Scott stated that the outgoing Chairman’s enthusiasm and commitment to the role was second to none, and had represented the District superbly. He stated that on behalf of the Council, it gave him great pleasure to propose a vote of thanks for his time as Chairman.

Councillor A D Collingwood echoed Councillor Scott’s words adding that he had performed an excellent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

To appoint the Vice-Chairman of the Council for the year 2014/2015.

(i)      The Chairman of the Council to ask for nominations for Vice-Chairman for the year 2014/2015.

(ii)     Councillor A R Green, seconded by Councillor J M Gibbs to propose that Councillor I L McEnnis be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for 2014/2015.

(iii)    The Chairman of the Council to ask if there are any other nominations.

Councillor R Farmer, seconded by Councillor S Parker to propose that Councillor T Snaith be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for 2014/2015.

(iv)    The Chairman to put the nominations to the vote.

(v)     Councillor ________ to accept office and sign the necessary declaration and to be presented with the Vice-Chairman’s badge.

Councillor A R Green took the opportunity to congratulate the newly elected Chairman of the Council and went on to propose that Councillor I L McEnnis be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2014/15.  Councillor Green stated that it gave him great pleasure to nominate him as he had been a steadfast and loyal member since 1999, and no other member was better placed to fulfil this role.

Councillor Gibbs seconded the proposal, stating that Councillor McEnnis was orderly, efficient and proficient.

The Chairman sought any further nominations for the appointment of Vice-Chairman.

Councillor R M H Farmer, seconded by Councillor S F Parker, nominated Councillor T Snaith as Vice-Chairman for the year 2014/15.  They both agreed that local residents had a great deal of respect for him, and that his former position as Mayor stood him in good stead for the appointment. 

Councillor Parker reminded the Council that the Chair and Vice-Chairman of the Council were not political posts, and as such should be seen to be neutral.  He requested that the Leader should adopt a more inclusive method of selection and in future consult more widely with opposition parties when considering names for the relevant position(s).

There being no other nominations and upon being put to a vote it was:

RESLOVED: That Councillor I L McEnnis be appointed as Vice-Chairman for municipal year 2014/15.

Councillor McEnnis thereupon accepted office, made the necessary declaration and was presented with the Vice Chairman’s Badge of Office.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Honorary Aldermen E H Collins, M B Oram and Mrs K M Peatey MBE, Councillors: M Appleyard, W J Bendyshe-Brown, A Hussain JP, D A Johncock, Mrs G A Jones, Ms R Knight J A Malliff, N B Marshall A Turner, D A C Shakespeare OBE

To receive any disclosure of disclosable pecuniary interests by members relating to items on the agenda.  If any Member is uncertain as to whether an interest should be disclosed, he or she is asked if possible to contact the District Solicitor prior to the meeting.

Members are reminded that if they are declaring an interest they should state the nature of that interest whether or not they are required to withdraw from the meeting.

No declarations of interest were received.

To receive such communication as the Chairman of the Council may wish to make.

The Chairman’s gave mention to some forthcoming events within the district.

(a)       Weighing-in ceremony Saturday 17 May 2014 at 11:30am at Frogmoor.

(b)       RAF Freedom Parade was to take place on Wednesday 11 June with the fly-past by a Lancaster over the High Street at 11:00 am.

To receive formal notification of the Group Leaders and Deputy Leaders of the political groups for the year 2014/2015.

Group                          Leader                                  Deputy Leader

Conservative              Cllr R J Scott                        Cllr H L McCarthy

Labour                         Cllr I Bates                            Cllr Ms R Knight

Lib Democrat              Cllr B R Pollock JP             Cllr M E Knight

Independent               Cllr A Turner                        Cllr G Hall

The Council received formal notification that the Leaders and Deputy Leaders of the political groups for 2014/15 would be as follows:-

Group                          Leader                                  Deputy Leader

Conservative              Cllr R J Scott                        Cllr H L McCarthy

Labour                         Cllr I Bates                            Cllr Ms R Knight

Lib Democrat              Cllr B R Pollock JP             Cllr M E Knight

Independent               Cllr A Turner                        Cllr G Hall

The Executive Leader is required to submit to the Annual Meeting of the Council:

•        details of the Executive ("Cabinet") positions and post holders

•        details of any Cabinet committees

•        responsibilities and schemes of delegation for executive arrangements’

•        details of any joint arrangements

•        appointments to outside bodies within the Cabinet’s functional areas for the forthcoming year

The matters set out in (i) to (vii) below are therefore approved and submitted to the Council in order to comply with the Council’s approved Leader and Cabinet Executive political management model and the Council’s approved Constitution.

i)       Cabinet positions and post holders

          (a)     To note that the Executive Leader has appointed Councillor H L McCarthy as Deputy Executive Leader for the purpose of carrying out the Leader’s statutory functions (including e.g. appointing and removing Cabinet Members and Deputy Executive Leader, delegating executive functions to Cabinet, to Cabinet Members or to officers, agreeing or objecting to senior appointments and dismissals);

          (b)     To note that the Leader has appointed Councillor H L McCarthy as Deputy Leader for the purpose of carrying out the remaining (Portfolio) functions of the Leader as set out in the terms of reference and responsibilities of Cabinet Members in the event that the Leader is unable to act through absence, illness, legal disability or conflict of interest, or the circumstances are so urgent that it is appropriate for a Deputy Leader to take a decision in order to protect the interests of the authority or its area.

          (c)     To note that the Leader of the Council has made the following appointments in respect of Cabinet positions and post holders:

ii)      Cabinet terms of reference and responsibilities of individual portfolio holders

These are to be as set out in Part 2 of the Constitution.

iii)     Cabinet Committee terms of reference

There will be no Cabinet Committees in 2014/2015.

iv)     Schemes of Delegation of Executive Functions to Officers

There are to be as  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

The Executive Leader rose to present his report, but prior to confirming the Cabinet positions and postholders, outlined some of the major achievements over the last 12 months.

·                Delivery of 0% increase in the Council Tax for the current financial year, the 4^th consecutive year.

·                Confirmation of contracts for construction of the new sports centre and foodstore at Handy Cross.

·                Completion of new synthetic turf pitch at John Hampden School and proposed completion of running track scheduled for June 2014.

·                Confirmation for Next Store at Cressex Island.

·                Commencement of the introduction of ANPR.

The leader further stated that in Wycombe businesses were growing, unemployment claimants had declining, and there were major reductions in the number of homeless families and occupants of Bed and Breakfasts.

The Executive Leader was required to submit to the Annual meeting of the Council:

·                details of the Executive ("Cabinet") positions and post holders

·                details of any Cabinet committees

·                responsibilities and schemes of delegation for executive arrangements’

·                details of any joint arrangements

·                appointments to outside bodies within the Cabinet’s functional areas for the forthcoming year

The matters set out in (i) to (vii) below were therefore approved and submitted to the Council in order to comply with the Council’s approved Leader and Cabinet Executive political management model and the Council’s approved Constitution.

i)      Cabinet positions and post holders

          (a)     It was noted that the Executive Leader had appointed Councillor H L McCarthy as Deputy Executive Leader for the purpose of carrying out the Leader’s statutory functions (including e.g. appointing and removing Cabinet Members and Deputy Executive Leader, delegating executive functions to Cabinet, to Cabinet Members or to officers, agreeing or objecting to senior appointments and dismissals);

          (b)     It was noted that the Leader had appointed Councillor H L McCarthy as Deputy Leader for the purpose of carrying out the remaining (Portfolio) functions of the Leader as set out in the terms of reference and responsibilities of Cabinet Members in the event that the Leader was unable to act through absence, illness, legal disability or conflict of interest, or the circumstances were so urgent that it was appropriate for a Deputy Leader to take a decision in order to protect the interests of the authority or its area.

          (c)     It was noted that the Leader of the Council had made the following appointments in respect of Cabinet positions and post holders:

Committees of the Council are appointed annually under Section 102 of the Local Government Act 1972.

In accordance with Sections 15 to 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, it is the duty of the Council (save in relation to certain Committees where different arrangements are approved by the Council) to make appointments to Committees which reflect the representation of different political groups on the Council and in accordance with the wishes of those political groups.

The current political composition of the Council is:-

(i)      Improvement and Review Commission

(ii)     Standards Committee

(iii)    Planning Committee

Committees of the Council were appointed annually under Section 102 of the Local Government Act 1972.

In accordance with Sections 15 to 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, it was the duty of the Council (save in relation to certain Committees where different arrangements are approved by the Council) to make appointments to Committees which reflected the representation of different political groups on the Council and in accordance with the wishes of those political groups.

RESOLVED: That (i) the following Committees be appointed with the memberships as set out below in accordance with political balance requirements as notified by Group Leaders.  The terms of reference were as set out in Parts 1 and 2 of the Constitution:

(ii)   the appointments be for the forthcoming year

(iii) the positions of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman be as set out.

(i)      Improvement and Review Commission

(ii)     Standards Committee

(iii)    Planning Committee

To confirm formally, that the above, as set out in Part 2 of the Constitution, be approved.

RESOLVED: That: the Scheme of Delegation – Non Executive functions as set out in Part 2 of the Constitution be approved.

Members and guests are invited to join the Chairman and Honorary Aldermen for refreshments.

Members, guests and officers were invited to join the Chairman and Honorary Aldermen for refreshments.