Meeting documents

(i)      To elect the Chairman of the Council for the year 2017/2018.

(ii)     The Chairman of the Council to invite nominations for the election of Chairman for 2017/2018.

(iii)    Councillor R Gaffney seconded by Councillor Z Ahmed to propose that Councillor Miss S Brown be elected Chairman of the Council for 2017/2018.

(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 Miss S Brown duly elected.

(vii)   Councillor Miss S Brown to accept office and make the necessary declaration and to be presented with the Chairman’s Chain.

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

(ix)    Vote of thanks to the retiring Chairman, Councillor Mahboob Hussain JP to be proposed by Councillor D Barnes and seconded by Councillor L Wood.

(x)     Councillor Mahboob Hussain JP to respond.

(xi)    The Chairman of the Council to present to Councillor Mahboob Hussain JP a past Chairman’s badge, and to Mrs Hussain a bouquet.

It was proposed by Councillor R Gaffney that Councillor Miss S Brown be elected as Chairman of the Council for the 2017/18 municipal year.

The proposer gave a brief history of Miss Brown`s background stating that she was no stranger to public life and service having been Mayor of Marlow for two consecutive years. Councillor Brown also served on the Marlow Town Regatta Committee, was Manager of Marlow Age Concern and since being elected as District Councillor two years ago had become an eminent member on the Improvement & Review Commission, also serving on many of the Task and Finish Groups.

In his concluding comments Councillor Gaffney stated that Councillor Brown was the ideal candidate to fulfil the role and that he had no reservations in formally proposing her as Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.  

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Z Ahmed.

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

RESOLVED: That Councillor Miss S Brown be elected a Chairman for the municipal year 2017/18.

Councillor Miss S Brown thereupon accepted office, made the necessary declaration and was presented with the Chairman`s chain.

Councillor Miss S Brown in the Chair

The Chairman addressed the meeting and took the opportunity to express her gratitude to both the proposer and seconder for their kind words. She also thanked the outgoing Chairman and the whole Council for electing her. Councillor Miss S Brown stated that she would endeavour to fulfil the role to the very best of her ability.

The Chairman then made reference to the theme for the ensuing year which aimed to raise awareness of dementia related problems and the ways in which it affected so many lives. She stated that dementia had become a fast growing problem, with a diagnosis being confirmed every three minutes. She also gave mention to a project known as "Dementia Friends" which sought to help those in greatest need through the assistance of neighbours and friends following a period of training.    

Councillor D Barnes then proposed a vote of thanks to the outgoing Chairman whom he had known for over 15 years. He stated that his passion for the community he represented had been demonstrated within his chairmanship over the past 12 months through his work of promoting the activity and achievements of volunteers within the District. This had brought about a sharp focus on the level of generosity within our communities. Over 30 of such volunteers had been recognised at the Annual Chairman`s reception. Councillor Hussain`s work in this field had resulted in the recognition of the unsung heroes of our community who had devoted many thousands of hours in supporting fellow residents.

In his concluding remarks Councillor M Hussain was thanked for all his hard work and for his attendance at over 123 events this year in support of many causes and celebrations, and he hoped that he and his wife could now enjoy a well earned rest. 

The seconder Councillor L Wood echoed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101.

To appoint the Vice-Chairman of the Council for the year 2017/2018.

(i)      The Chairman of the Council to ask for nominations for Vice-Chairman for the year 2017/2018.

(ii)     Councillor P Turner seconded by Councillor Ms K Wood to propose that Councillor A R Green be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for 2017/2018.

(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 A R Green to accept office and sign the necessary declaration and to be presented with the Vice-Chairman’s badge.

Councillor P Turner rose to propose that Councillor A R Green be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2017/18. He stated that Councillor Green was a long standing well respected and hard working Member who had served as a Councillor since 1999 including some time in Lambeth. Additionally, he had also previously undertaken the role of Cabinet Member and was currently Chairman of the High Wycombe Town Committee and also served as the Wycombe representative on the Wycombe Heritage Arts Trust.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Miss K Wood (Leader of the Council) who fully concurred with the proposer`s comments. She stated that Councillor Green was indeed a very experienced Member fully deserving of this role, one of the few he had not yet undertaken during his many years of service at Wycombe. She stated that he would provide an excellent support to the Chairman during the forthcoming year, and was delighted to be seconding his appointment as Vice- Chairman.  

RESOLVED: That Councillor A R Green be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2017/18.

Councillor A R Green 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 Oram and Mrs K M Peatey. Councillors: M Asif, Ms A Baughan, M Hanif, T Lee, S Saddique and C Whitehead. 

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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

The Chairman extended a warm welcome to Mr Dave Anderson (Interim Corporate Director and Mr Stuart McGregor (Interim Head of Finance).  Members were also informed that Steve Richardson, current Head of Finance would leave the Council later in the week.  Members joined the Chairman in thanking him for all his hard work over many years and in wishing him well in his future role at Milton Keynes Council.

To receive formal notification of the Group Leaders and Deputy Leaders of the political groups for the year 2017/2018.

Group                               Leader                         Deputy Leader

Conservative                   Cllr Ms K Wood          Cllr D H G Barnes

Labour                              Cllr R Raja                  Cllr K Ahmed

East Wycombe

Independent Party         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 2017/18 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 Party         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 reference

         Any proposal to set up  ...  view the full agenda text for item 107.

The Executive Leader rose to present her report but prior to this took the opportunity to congratulate the incoming Chairman on her election and then outlined some of the achievements over the last year. She stated that she was honoured to be entering the third year of her leadership, and was proud to have been able to lead such an innovative efficient and successful Council.

The Leader announced that the Council had made great strides forward in the areas of Youth and Housing. Since taking office, the Youth Council had been reintroduced and the facilitation of Youth Services Forum meetings had enabled a more joined up service within the District.  Closer links had been established with Bucks New University to assist in giving young people a stronger voice.

In the area of housing the Council had been involved in consultations on the provision of affordable housing and the pursuit of other initiatives which would be detailed in the near future. 

The Leader also provided some information on the initiatives which had been introduced to help regenerate the town thereby creating jobs and boosting business. The most recent one referred to was having brought in "The Works" to the old part of town a highly successful eatery. This along with the Red Squirrel Brewery shop emporium, Reflections, Yes please Golf and Enterprise HQ as new businesses to the town had all grown from the Council`s regeneration projects. All these developments had helped to ensure that the level of Council tax charged was able to be frozen for 5 out of the last 6 years, placing the authority as one of the lowest charged rates in England. 

In concluding, the Leader reinforced her commitment to helping local charities and organisations and gave mention to the launch of a new local community lottery (Wycombe lotto). This together with the annual increase in the amount of ward budget allocated would she hoped go some way towards providing the necessary support to local charities. She also thanked her outgoing colleagues for their outstanding contribution and hard work which had placed Wycombe in a strong position over the last 2 years. She stated that she looked forward to continuing this work and in expanding the horizons.

The matters set out in agenda items 9 (i) to (vii) 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107.

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 were 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 made 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

As the Corporate Director and Chief Finance Officer roles will be occupied by interims for the time being, Council is recommended to approve that the Chief Executive shall have power to take to herself the exercise of any non-Executive powers exercisable by each of these roles as are permitted by law and if she thinks fit to sub-delegate the exercise of any of those powers to another officer for such period as she may consider necessary, and that the Head of Democratic Legal and Policy shall make the necessary amendments to the Constitution.

It was noted that the role of Corporate Director and Chief Finance Officer was occupied by interims for the time being. Council was recommended and approved that the Chief Executive would have power to take to herself the exercise of any non-Executive powers exercisable by each of these roles as were permitted by law, or to sub-delegate the exercise of any of those powers to another officer for such period as she felt necessary. The Head of Democratic Legal and Policy would make the necessary amendments to the Constitution.

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 at the close of the meeting.