Meeting documents

(i)      To elect the Chairman of the Council for the year 2016/2017.

(ii)     The Chairman of the Council to invite nominations for the election of Chairman for 2016/2017.

(iii)    Councillor Ms K Wood, seconded by Councillor Mrs L M Clarke (OBE), to propose that Councillor Mahboob Hussain (JP) be elected Chairman of the Council for 2016/2017.

(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 Mahboob Hussain (JP) duly elected.

(vii)   Councillor Mahboob Hussain (JP) to accept office and make the necessary declaration and to be presented with the Chairman’s Chain.

(viii) Mrs Hussain to be presented with the Chairman’s Consort’s badge and a bouquet.

(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 Mrs J E Teesdale and seconded by Councillor Ms K Wood.

(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 Ms K S Wood that Councillor M Hussain (JP) be elected as chairman of the Council for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

The proposer gave a brief history of Councillor Hussain`s background, stating that he had been a Member of this Council since 1999, and had held positions on many different committees as well as a Cabinet portfolio. The Leader went on to praise the huge amount of charity and voluntary work with which he was involved and stated that with his vast level of experience the Council would be in safe hands, and that she looked forward to the forthcoming year with him at the helm.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Mrs L Clarke OBE who highlighted that the role of Chairman was not an easy role to fill, sometimes proving to be onerous. She stated that she looked forward to working with him and was very happy to be seconding the nomination.

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

RESOLVED: That Councillor M Hussain (JP) be elected as chairman for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

Councillor Hussain thereupon accepted office, made the necessary declaration and was presented with the Chairman`s Chain, and Mrs Hussain was presented with the Chairman`s consort badge and a bouquet.

Councillor M Hussain (JP) in the Chair

The Chairman addressed the meeting and took the opportunity to express his sincere gratitude to both the proposer and seconder for their kind words. He went on to emphasise what a fantastic Chairman Cllr I McEnnis had proven to be over the last year whilst providing him with an invaluable source of help, advice and guidance during his year as Vice-Chairman. He also pointed out that Members worked hard within their wards, but that this was only possible due to the trusted advice received from officers of the Council.

The Chairman then gave a brief mention to the theme for the ensuing year, which would be "celebrating the volunteers of the town". He emphasised the importance of the voluntary sector, and that it was an area of work which was personally very dear to his heart.  He urged Members to donate some extra time to the cause, and also mentioned that during official volunteer week, from 1 June, the Chairman`s office would be open to all volunteers to come along and share their experiences. In addition, he encouraged each Councillor to nominate a person from their respective wards to receive some recognition for the invaluable work carried out in the community. All entries were to be submitted by 15 July 2016. The Chairman also mentioned the "unforgotten heroes" whereby anyone who had donated over 4000 hours of voluntary work would be entitled to receive a special gift.

Councillor Collingwood proposed a vote of thanks to the outgoing Chairman, who had served as Chairman on 3 separate occasions, praising the service he had provided in so many different arenas, and who together with his wife Sarah had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 113.

To appoint the Vice-Chairman of the Council for the year 2016/2017.

(i)      The Chairman of the Council to ask for nominations for Vice-Chairman for the year 2016/2017.

(ii)     Councillor D Carroll, seconded by Councillor Z Ahmed to propose that Councillor Miss S Brown be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for 2016/2017.

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

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

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

Councillor D Carroll rose to propose that Councillor Miss S Brown be appointed Vice- Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2016/17. This was duly seconded by Councillor Z Ahmed.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Miss S Brown be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2016/17.

Councillor Miss S Brown 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, Mrs K M Peatey MBE and R Pushman.  Councillors: M Asif, C Etholen, R Gaffney, M Hanif, C Harriss, A Hussain, H McCarthy, Mrs J Teesdale, N Teesdale and D Watson.

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.

There were none.

To receive formal notification of the Group Leaders and Deputy Leaders of the political groups for the year 2016/2017.

Group                                 Leader                      Deputy Leader

Conservative                     Cllr Ms K Wood        Cllr D H G Barnes

Labour                                Cllr R Raja                Cllr K Ahmed

East Wycombe
Independent                      Cllr M E Knight        Cllr Ms J D Wassall

The Council received formal notification that the Leaders and deputy Leaders of the political groups for 2016/17 would be as follows:

Group                                 Leader                      Deputy Leader

Conservative                     Cllr Ms K Wood        Cllr D H G Barnes

Labour                                Cllr R Raja                Cllr K Ahmed

East Wycombe
Independent                      Cllr M E Knight        Cllr Ms J D Wassall

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 (viii) 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)     (a)     To note that the Executive Leader has appointed Councillor D H G Barnes 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 D H G Barnes 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 positions and post holders            

 (iii)  Cabinet terms of reference and responsibilities of individual portfolio holders

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

(iv)    Cabinet Committee terms of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 119.

The Executive Leader rose to present her report but prior to confirming the Cabinet positions and post holders, took the opportunity to congratulate the incoming Chairman on his election, and then outlined some of the major achievements over the last year. She stated that she was honoured to be entering the second year of her leadership, and that her first year had been highlighted by the opening of the new sports centre and the opening of Waitrose at Handy Cross.

She confirmed that the Council would now look towards regenerating the remainder of the area with offices and a hotel to ensure that the gateway to High Wycombe from the M40 would showcase the Town as a fantastic place to be. Plans to regenerate other town centre locations were also well under way. The Leader then went onto state that housing was to remain a key priority and that the Council would continue to grow on the successes of this year in the best interests of all residents to find the most suitable solutions.

The matters set out in (i) to (viii) below were then 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)      (a)     It was noted that the Executive Leader had appointed Councillor D H G Barnes 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 D H G Barnes 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)     It was noted that the Leader of the Council had made the following appointments in respect of Cabinet positions and post holders.

(ii)     Cabinet positions and post holders            

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

(iv)    Regulatory and Appeals Committee

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

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 appointments detailed in item 8, 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.