Agenda and minutes

Prayer was offered by Reverend Martin Castle.

1.         APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR

(a)  It will be proposed by Councillor Rooney and seconded by Councillor Roberts that Councillor RG Allen be elected as Mayor for the ensuing year.

(at this juncture, Councillor Allen will remove his Deputy Mayor’s chain and place this on the table).

(b)  Councillor Allen will make and sign the requisite declaration of acceptance of office and Councillor Richards will invest him with the chain of office.

Councillor Allen will then take the chair.

(at this time, Councillor Richards will sit alongside Councillor Allen).

(c)  The Mayor will invite Mr Richards to remove his consort chain. Mr Richards will present Mrs Allen (who will have removed her Deputy Mayoress’ chain) with the Mayoress’ chain.

(d)  Councillor Allen will then address the meeting, including the introduction of his air and sea cadets.

2.         VOTE OF THANKS TO THE RETIRING MAYOR

            A vote of thanks to Councillor Richards will be proposed by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Ladkin.

The Past Mayor’s commemorative medallion will be presented to Councillor Richards by Cllr Allen.

3.         RESPONSE BY COUNCILLOR RICHARDS

            Councillor Richards will respond to the vote of thanks and address the meeting.

On the motion of Councillor Rooney, seconded by Councillor Roberts, it was

RESOLVED – Councillor Allen be elected Mayor for the ensuing municipal year.

Cllr Allen made the requisite declaration of acceptance of office and the retiring Mayor invested him with the Chain of Office.

The Mayor, Cllr Allen, took the chair at this juncture.

The retiring Mayor’s Consort invested Mrs Allen with the Consort’s chain.

In addressing the meeting, Cllr Allen announced that Pastor Garry Kelly had agreed to be his Chaplain and he introduced his Air and Sea Cadets. Cllr Allen indicated that he would be raising funds for two charities during his Mayoral year – Huncote Animal Aid and the Leicestershire & Rutland Youth Sailing Association.

It was then moved by Cllr Hall, seconded by Cllr Ladkin and

RESOLVED – a vote of thanks be accorded to Cllr Richards for service during her term of office as Mayor.

Cllr Richards then addressed the meeting, thanking her Chaplain, Cadets and officers, and also presenting medals to her Cadets.

It will be proposed by Councillor Boothby and seconded by Councillor Williams that Councillor LJP O’Shea be appointed Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year. Councillor O’Shea will make and sign the declaration of acceptance of office, following which Councillor Allen will invest Councillor O’Shea with the Deputy Mayor’s chain of office and Mrs O’Shea with the Deputy Mayoress’ chain. Councillor O’Shea will then sit in the Deputy Mayor’s chair.

Councillor Richards will take Councillor O’Shea’s former seat in the Chamber.

On the motion of Councillor Boothby, seconded by Councillor Williams, it was

RESOLVED – Councillor O’Shea be appointed Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year.

Councillor O’Shea then made the requisite declaration of acceptance of office and the Mayor invested him with the Deputy Mayor’s Chain of Office and Mrs O’Shea with the Deputy Consort’s chain.

The Leader will present the Leader’s medal to Mr Richards.

Councillor Hall presented Mr Richards, past Consort, with the Leader’s medal.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Nichols, Taylor and Ward.

No interests were declared at this stage.

The Leader will announce his Executive.

The Leader announced his Executive as follows:

Cllr M Hall                   -           (Leader of the Council & Chairman of the Executive)

                                                Executive member for communications, strategic leadership & direction, economic development, finance, ICT, revenues & benefits

Cllr K Morrell               -           (Deputy Leader of Council & Vice-Chair of the Executive)

                                                Executive member for rural communities, tourism, licensing & environmental services

Cllr CW Boothby         -           Executive member for housing and community safety

Cllr C Ladkin               -           Executive member for town & urban communities

Cllr M Nickerson         -           Executive member for neighbourhood services

Cllr SL Rooney           -           Executive member for development services

Cllr MJ Surtees           -           Executive member for regeneration, asset management and growth

Cllr A Wright                -           Executive member for culture, sport & leisure, partnerships & outside bodies, corporate & member services.

It will be moved by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Morrell that the following appointments be made to the Member Issues Group:

Councillors Hall, Ladkin, Lay, Richards and Witherford.

On the motion of Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Morrell, it was

RESOLVED – members of the Member Issues Group be appointed as follows:

Cllr MA Hall; Cllr C Ladkin; Cllr MR Lay; Cllr J Richards and Cllr BM Witherford.

It will be moved by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Morrell that the following appointments be made to the Asset & Regeneration Strategy Group:

Councillors Bill, Boothby, Lay, Nichols, Rooney, Surtees and Wallace.

On the motion of Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Morrell, it was

RESOLVED – members of the Asset & Regeneration Strategy Group be appointed as follows:

Councillors Bill, Boothby, Lay, Nichols, Rooney, Surtees and Wallace.

It will be moved by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Morrell that the following appointments be made to the Statutory Officer Employment Panel:

Councillors Bray, Hall, Lay, Nickerson and Sutton.

On the motion of Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Morrell, it was

RESOLVED – members of the Member Issues Group be appointed as follows:

Councillors Bray, Hall, Lay, Nickerson and Sutton.

It will be moved by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Morrell that the following appointments be made to outside bodies:

It was moved by Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Morrell and

RESOLVED – the following appointments be made to outside bodies:

It will be moved by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Morrell that Councillor J Richards be appointed to the George Ward Centre Ltd.

It was moved by Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Morrell and

RESOLVED – Councillor J Richards be appointed to the George Ward Centre Ltd for a period of one year.

To recommend appointment of Independent Persons in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 in advance of expiry of the term of office of the current appointees.

Members received a report which sought approval for the appointment of Independent Persons as required under Section 7 of the Localism Act 2011. It was moved by Councillor Wright, seconded by Councillor Morrell and

RESOLVED – the six Independent Persons listed in the appendix to the report be appointed for a period of four years.

The following amendments to the report are recommended:

-       The Independent Remuneration Panel be recommended to consider an allowance of £2,500 pa for the chair of the Audit Committee, which will be reviewed after a year when the delegation of responsibility to that body is reconsidered;

-       The date of the Audit Committee in June 2016 be moved from 23 June to 27 June;

-       The date of the Executive in May 2017 be moved from 3 May to 26 April.

The following appointments to council bodies be made:

Planning Committee (17 members)

Councillor R Ward (Chair); Councillor BE Sutton (Vice-Chair); Councillor PS Bessant; Councillor MA Cook; Councillor GAW Cope; Councillor WJ Crooks; Councillor L Hodgkins; Councillor E Hollick; Councillor J Kirby; Councillor C Ladkin; Councillor LJP O’Shea; Councillor R Roberts, Councillor H Smith; Councillor MJ Surtees; Councillor DM Taylor; Councillor BM Witherford and Councillor AV Wright.

Scrutiny Commission (11 members)

Councillor MR Lay (Chair); Councillor R Camamile (Vice-Chair); Councillor KWP Lynch (Vice-Chair); Councillor DC Bill; Councillor SL Bray; Councillor WJ Crooks; Councillor J Richards; Councillor BE Sutton; Councillor P Wallace; Councillor R Ward and Councillor HG Williams.

Finance & Performance Scrutiny (9 members)

Councillor KWP Lynch (Chair); Councillor PS Bessant; Councillor R Camamile; Councillor DS Cope; Councillor J Kirby; Councillor H Smith; Councillor DM Taylor; Councillor P Wallace and Councillor HG Williams.

Hinckley Area Committee

Councillor J Kirby (Chair); Councillor L Hodgkins (Vice-Chair); Councillor DC Bill; Councillor SL Bray; Councillor DS Cope; Councillor GAW Cope; Councillor KWP Lynch; Councillor K Nichols; Councillor DM Taylor and Councillor BM Witherford.

Licensing Committee (11 members)

Councillor H Smith (Chair); Councillor MA Hall (Vice-Chair); Councillor CW Boothby; Councillor MB Cartwright; Councillor DS Cope; Councillor L Hodgkins; Councillor K Morrell; Councillor K Nichols; Councillor M Nickerson; Councillor SL Rooney and Councillor M Surtees.

Licensing (Regulatory) Committee (11 members)

Councillor H Smith (Chair); Councillor MA Hall (Vice-Chair); Councillor CW Boothby; Councillor MB Cartwright; Councillor DS Cope; Councillor L Hodgkins; Councillor K Morrell; Councillor K Nichols; Councillor M Nickerson; Councillor SL Rooney and Councillor M Surtees.

Ethical Governance & Personnel Committee (9 members)

Councillor LJP O’Shea (Chair); Councillor CW Boothby; Councillor MB Cartwright; Councillor WJ Crooks; Councillor MR Lay; Councillor K Morrell; Councillor M Nickerson; Councillor BM Witherford and Councillor AV Wright.

Audit Committee (11 members)

Councillor R Camamile (Chair); Councillor P Wallace (Vice-Chair); Councillor MA Cook; Councillor DS Cope; Councillor L Hodgkins; Councillor MR Lay; Councillor KWP Lynch; Councillor LJP O’Shea; Councillor J Richards and Councillor DM Taylor and Councillor HG Williams.

Appeals Panel (pool of 12 members, from which 3 will be drawn when necessary)

Councillor MA Cook (Chair); Councillor CW Boothby; Councillor MB Cartwright; Councillor GAW Cope; Councillor MA Hall; Councillor E Hollick; Councillor C Ladkin; Councillor K Morrell; Councillor M Nickerson; Councillor SL Rooney; Councillor MJ Surtees and Councillor BM Witherford.

A report was presented which proposed changes to the decision making structure, terms of reference for a new Audit Committee and a revised overview & scrutiny body (Finance & Performance Scrutiny), the calendar of meetings for 2016/17 and committee membership for the year. It was moved by Councillor Wright, seconded by Councillor Morrell and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The revised decision making structure be approved and the Constitution be amended as necessary;

(ii)           The terms of reference for the Audit Committee and Finance & Performance Scrutiny be approved;

(iii)          The calendar of meetings for May 2016 to December 2017 be approved;

(iv)         The Constitution be amended to reflect the change in frequency of meetings;

(v)          A supplementary budget of £1,500 be approved to fund the revised structure;

(vi)         The membership of council bodies be approved as follows:

Planning Committee (17 members)

Councillor R Ward (Chair); Councillor BE Sutton (Vice-Chair); Councillor PS Bessant; Councillor MA Cook; Councillor GAW Cope; Councillor WJ Crooks; Councillor L Hodgkins; Councillor E Hollick; Councillor J Kirby; Councillor C Ladkin; Councillor LJP O’Shea; Councillor R Roberts, Councillor H Smith; Councillor MJ Surtees; Councillor DM Taylor; Councillor BM Witherford and Councillor AV Wright.

Scrutiny Commission (11 members)

Councillor MR Lay (Chair); Councillor R Camamile (Vice-Chair); Councillor KWP Lynch (Vice-Chair); Councillor DC Bill; Councillor SL Bray; Councillor WJ Crooks; Councillor J Richards; Councillor BE Sutton; Councillor P Wallace; Councillor R Ward and Councillor HG Williams.

Finance & Performance Scrutiny (9 members)

Councillor KWP Lynch (Chair); Councillor PS Bessant; Councillor R Camamile; Councillor DS Cope; Councillor J Kirby; Councillor H Smith; Councillor DM Taylor; Councillor P Wallace and Councillor HG Williams.

Hinckley Area Committee

Councillor J Kirby (Chair); Councillor L Hodgkins (Vice-Chair); Councillor DC Bill; Councillor SL Bray; Councillor DS Cope; Councillor GAW Cope; Councillor KWP Lynch; Councillor K Nichols; Councillor DM Taylor and Councillor BM Witherford.

Licensing Committee (11 members)

Councillor H Smith (Chair); Councillor MA Hall (Vice-Chair); Councillor CW Boothby; Councillor MB Cartwright; Councillor DS Cope; Councillor L Hodgkins; Councillor K Morrell; Councillor K Nichols; Councillor M Nickerson; Councillor SL Rooney and Councillor M Surtees.

Licensing (Regulatory) Committee (11 members)

Councillor H Smith (Chair); Councillor MA Hall (Vice-Chair); Councillor CW Boothby; Councillor MB Cartwright; Councillor DS Cope; Councillor L Hodgkins; Councillor K Morrell; Councillor K Nichols; Councillor M Nickerson; Councillor SL Rooney and Councillor M Surtees.

Ethical Governance & Personnel Committee (9 members)

Councillor LJP O’Shea (Chair); Councillor CW Boothby; Councillor MB Cartwright; Councillor WJ Crooks; Councillor MR Lay; Councillor K Morrell; Councillor M Nickerson; Councillor BM Witherford and Councillor AV Wright.

Audit Committee (11 members)

Councillor R Camamile (Chair); Councillor P Wallace (Vice-Chair); Councillor MA Cook; Councillor DS Cope; Councillor L Hodgkins; Councillor MR Lay; Councillor KWP Lynch; Councillor LJP O’Shea; Councillor J Richards; Councillor DM Taylor and Councillor HG Williams.

Appeals Panel (pool of 12 members, from which 3 will be drawn when necessary)

Councillor MA Cook (Chair); Councillor CW Boothby; Councillor MB Cartwright; Councillor GAW Cope; Councillor MA Hall; Councillor E Hollick; Councillor C Ladkin; Councillor K Morrell; Councillor M Nickerson;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

To undertake the annual review of the Council’s Constitution. Updates and amendments are recommended.

Members received a report which recommended updates to the Council’s Constitution. On the motion of Councillor Wright, seconded by Councillor Ladkin, it was

RESOLVED – the changes to the Constitution proposed in the report be approved.

To seek consent for a proposal to permit a sewer to be constructed across council land and for release of restrictive covenants.

Members received a report which sought consent for a proposal to permit a sewer to be constructed across council land and for release of restrictive covenants. A member thanked officers for continuing to work to resolve the access issues. It was moved by Councillor Surtees, seconded by Councillor Hall and

RESOLVED – permitting construction of a sewer across the land forming part of the former depot site and release of covenants on adjacent land upon payment to the council of £160,000 be approved.