Agenda for Council on Monday 21st May 2018, 7.30 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Hawthorne Theatre, Campus West, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. View directions

Contact: Graham Seal 

Items
No. Item

1.

ELECTION OF MAYOR

To elect the Mayor for the Municipal Year 2018/19.

Minutes:

Due to the sad passing away of the former Mayor Lynne Sparks, the Chief Executive invited nominations for the election of the Mayor of the Borough of Welwyn Hatfield for the Municipal Year 2018/19.  It was moved by Councillor H.Bromley and seconded by Councillor D.Bell that Councillor B.Fitzsimon be elected. The Chief Executive then asked if there were any other nominations. There being no other nominations, it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Councillor B.Fitzsimon be elected Mayor of the Borough of Welwyn Hatfield for the Municipal Year 2018/19.

 

Councillor B.Fitzsimon made the formal Declaration of Acceptance of Office as Mayor pursuant to Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

Councillor B.Fitzsimon expressed appreciation of the honour bestowed upon her by the Council in electing her as Mayor.

 

On behalf of the Council, Councillor M.Perkins paid tribute to Councillor B.Fitzsimon, for the excellent way that she had carried out her duties as the Borough’s Deputy Mayor during 2017/18 and presented her with flowers as a token of the Council’s appreciation of her service.

 

Councillor M.Perkins was joined in her remarks by Councillors K.Thorpe, Labour Group Leader and M.Cowan, Liberal Democrat Group Leader.

2.

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY MAYOR

To appoint the Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2018/19.

Minutes:

The Mayor invited nominations for the appointment of the Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2018/19. It was moved by Councillor J.Cragg and seconded by Councillor S.Thusu that Councillor R.Trigg be appointed. The Mayor, Councillor B.Fitzsimon, then asked if there were any other nominations. There being no other nominations, it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Councillor R.Trigg be appointed Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

 

Councillor R.Trigg made the formal Declaration of Acceptance of Office as Deputy Mayor pursuant to Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972.

3.

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS

The Mayor will present the Civic Awards and Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee Awards for 2018.

Minutes:

The Council, in partnership with Mears, hosted a Civic Awards Scheme.  Awards were presented to people living in the Borough for extraordinary commitment, dedication, energy and effort in their field or towards achieving a particular goal.

3a

Civic Awards

Minutes:

The Mayor presented the Borough’s Civic Awards for 2018 as follows:-

 

      Jean Dossett in recognition of the work she had undertaken for the Girl Guides and their new facility in Welwyn Garden City.

In the absence of Jean Dossett, Sue Rees received the award on her behalf.

 

      Robert Ducat-Brown in recognition of the work he had undertaken fundraising for charities in Welwyn Garden City.

 

      Ricky Jennings in recognition of the work he had undertaken volunteering and preventing youth homelessness.

 

The Mayor invited Scott Clarke, Mears Site Manager, to present the Mears Community Award to Sue Finney in recognition of the work she had undertaken as a volunteer for Isabel Hospice for over 25 years.

 

The Mayor invited Geraldine Ward, Dean of Students, to present the University of Hertfordshire young person award to Georgia Ormrod as a shining example of tenacity and determination.

3b

Queen's Sapphire Jubilee Awards

Minutes:

The Mayor presented the Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee Awards for 2018 in recognition of talented young people in the Borough as follows:-

 

Melody Chai

Dance (not able to be present)

Shivani Patel

Dance

Josephine Clayton

Music - Flute and Piano

Holly Clayton

Sport - Badminton

Dylan Martin

Sport - Bowls

Alfie Tibbles

Sport - Clay Pigeon Shooting

Euan Woodliffe

Sport - Cycling

Imogen Chastell

Sport - Cycling

Thomas Martin

Sport - Football

Betty Brocklesby Sum

Sport - Gymnastics

Gracie-Rae Kilby

Sport - Gymnastics

Olivia Kilby

Sport - Gymnastics

Jessie Edwards

Sport - Judo

Callum Nicolson

Sport – Running (not able to be present)

Emily Nicolson

Sport - Running

Hannah Williams

Sport - Running

Joseph Strong

Sport - Running

Joshua Horleston

Sport - Running

David Shipman

Sport - Swimming

Arabella Moen

Sport - Tennis

 

The Mayor then presented her husband Norman with cufflinks as a token of the Council’s appreciation of his service as her Consort as Deputy Mayor.

 

Finally, the Mayor thanked S.Houghton, Mayoral and Civic Officer for the help she had given during her year as Deputy Mayor presenting her with flowers.

4.

APOLOGIES

To receive apologies for absence, if any.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J.Boulton and S.Roberts.

5.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 136 KB

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 9 April 2018. 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 9 April 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

6.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Leader of the Council, Member of the Cabinet or the Head of Paid Service.

Minutes:

The Mayor made the following announcements:-

6a

Mayor's Charity

Minutes:

The Mayor announced that Lynne Sparks as last year’s Mayor, raised £3800 for her charities and in accordance with her wishes, money was distributed throughout the year with donations made to:

 

      Cruse Bereavement

      Friendship House

      Hatfield Night Shelter

      Defibrillators in Public Places

      Isabel Hospice

      Janette Connell, who received a donation towards her blind reading device

      2nd Welwyn Scout Group who received a donation towards their defibrillator

 

The Mayor announced that her charity for 2018/19 would be Riding for the Disabled, Digswell Place Group a purpose-built, voluntarily run riding stable for adults and children with most kinds of disability.

6b

Councillors No Longer Serving

Minutes:

On behalf of the Council the Mayor expressed thanks to former Councillors J.Beckerman, H.Beckett, and D.Bennett, who were no longer serving Members.

6c

Award for Welwyn Hatfield and Mears

Minutes:

The Mayor advised the Council that on 25 April 2018 the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy announced that Welwyn Hatfield had won its innovation award for ‘alternative service delivery model of the year’.

 

This was a fantastic achievement and recognition of the Council’s partnership with Mears – the model had identified significant savings which had been reinvested back into the housing stock. 

 

The Mayor thanked Director Simone Russell, Head of Property Services Peter Gray and the team for this achievement and for all of the hard work that had been done.

 

This national recognition helped promote the Council with peers and colleagues.

 

The Mayor invited Councillor Mandy Perkins, Chief Executive Rob Bridge, Director Simone Russell and Mears Site Manager Scott Clarke to join her at the lectern for photographs with the award.

6d

Order of Business

Minutes:

The Mayor stated that she was varying the order of business at the meeting to take Agenda item 11 before Item 10 so that the Review of the Constitution could be agreed before Member Appointments were made.

7.

ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES AND ON MEMBER DEVELOPMENT 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 113 KB

To receive the Annual Reports of the Environment, Resources and Social Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the Annual Report on Member Development.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Annual Reports of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees for 2017/18 and on Member Development were submitted.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That in accordance with Article 6.3(c) of the Constitution, the Annual Reports on the work and future work programmes of the Environment, Resources and Social Overview and Scrutiny Committees and on Member Development be received.

8.

REVIEW OF POLITICAL PROPORTIONALITY pdf icon PDF 93 KB

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer on a review of political proportionality of Member appointments to Committees.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor called on the Council to approve the review of political proportionality of Member appointments to Committees and changes to the allocation of seats.

 

It was moved by Councillor M.Perkins, seconded by Councillor T.Kingsbury and

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the review of political proportionally of Member appointments to Committees, as set out in the schedule to the report, be approved.

9.

REVIEW OF THE CONSTITUTION pdf icon PDF 113 KB

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer on a review of the Constitution.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Monitoring Officer on a review of the Constitution.

 

It was moved by Councillor M.Perkins and seconded by Councillor T.Kingsbury that the proposed changes to the Constitution be approved.

 

Following discussion it was agreed that the proposed new wording in Appendix  C1 to the report (Local code of Guidance for Members and Officers involved in Planning and Welwyn Garden City Estates Management matters – Paragraph 2 Cabinet Members Serving on the Development Management Committee) be amended to read as follows:-

 

“In order to ensure a full exchange of information between the Cabinet and the Development Management Committee, one Cabinet Member may also be a Member of the Committee (but not as the Chairman or Vice-Chairman).

 

Any other Cabinet Member may act as a substitute for the nominated Cabinet Member on the Development Management Committee providing all necessary training requirements for planning have been met by the Member. If that Cabinet Member has participated at the Cabinet in relation to a landowning matter or any other matter likely to present a conflict of interest coming before the Development Management Committee, they must declare an interest and not participate nor vote in that matter coming before the Development Management Committee. Alternatively, the Cabinet Member may choose not to participate nor vote in a matter coming before the Cabinet and in so doing, may participate and vote when that matter comes before the Development Management Committee, providing the matter is not likely to present a conflict of interest.”

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)       That to help work towards a “One Team” culture of working better together it be noted the Chief Executive had changed the titles of each of the Council’s three Directors from “Executive Director” to “Corporate Director”.

 

(2)       That it be noted the Chief Executive had refreshed the Council’s senior management team so that the Executive Board becomes the Corporate Management Team (CMT) comprising the current membership (the Chief Executive and three Directors plus the Monitoring Officer) with the Extended Management Team (ECMT) comprising the CMT plus Heads of Service.

 

(3)       That in order to ensure a full exchange of information between the Cabinet and the Development Management Committee one Cabinet Member may also be a Member of the Committee, but not as the Chairman or Vice-Chairman.   Any other Cabinet Member may act as a substitute for the nominated Cabinet Member on the Development Management Committee providing all necessary training requirements for planning have been met by that Member. If that Cabinet Member has participated at the Cabinet in relation to a landowning matter or any other matter likely to present a conflict of interest coming before the Development Management Committee, they must declare an interest and not participate nor vote in that matter coming before the Development Management Committee. Alternatively, the Cabinet Member may choose not to participate nor vote in a matter coming before the Cabinet and in so doing, may participate and vote when that matter comes before the Development Management Committee, providing the matter is not likely to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

APPOINTMENT OF THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL, CABINET AND COMMITTEES 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 119 KB

Minutes:

The Mayor called on Councillor T.Kingsbury to move and Councillor S.Glick to second the appointment of M.Perkins as Leader of the Council. It was

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Councillor M.Perkins be appointed as Leader of the Council.

 

The Mayor then asked the Council to note the appointments made by Councillor M.Perkins as Leader of the Council of the Cabinet.

 

It was moved by Councillor M.Perkins, seconded by Councillor T.Kingsbury and

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)       That the appointment of the Cabinet by the Leader of the Council, as set out in Appendix A to the Agenda, be noted.

 

(2)       That the membership of non-executive Committees with their respective Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen, as set out in Appendix A to the Agenda, be approved.

11.

APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES pdf icon PDF 22 KB

To appoint representatives to serve on outside bodies in 2018/19 (Appendix “D” attached).

Minutes:

The Mayor advised the Council that there were more nominations than places for appointment to the Haldens and Residents Community Association so a vote would have to be taken.

 

The Mayor firstly asked for votes for Councillor T.Mitchinson and then for Councillor M.Larkins. On being put to the meeting Councillor T.Mitchinson was declared appointed (with 24 votes for and 22 votes for Councillor M.Larkins).

 

The Mayor reported that there were three nominations for two places on the Stanborough Reedmarsh Nature Reserve.

 

The nomination of Councillor J.Cragg had been withdrawn so the appointed representatives would be Councillors H.Bromley and S.Elam.

 

The Mayor then called on the Council to confirm the appointments of Members to serve as representatives of non-executive outside bodies as shown in Appendix “D” to the Agenda and as agreed at the meeting.

 

It was moved by Councillor M.Perkins, seconded by Councillor T.Kingsbury and

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the appointments of Members to serve as the Council’s representatives on outside bodies, as listed in Appendix “D” to the Agenda and as agreed at the meeting, be approved.

12.

ATTENDANCES pdf icon PDF 121 KB

To note the summary of attendances by Members at meetings during 2017/18 (Appendix “E” attached).

Minutes:

Attendances by Councillors at meetings of the Council, Cabinet, Committees and Panels during the Municipal Year 2017/18 were set out in Appendix “E” to the Agenda.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the list showing the number of attendances by Councillors at meetings of the Council, Cabinet, Committees and Panels during the Municipal Year 2017/18, as set out in Appendix “E” to the Agenda, be received.

13.

TIMETABLE OF MEETINGS 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 69 KB

To approve the dates of meetings for the Municipal Year 2018/19 (Appendix “F” attached). 

Minutes:

Dates of meetings of the Council, Cabinet, Committees and Cabinet Panels for the Municipal Year 2018/19 were set out in Appendix “F” to the Agenda.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That dates of meetings of the Council, Cabinet, Committees and Cabinet Panels for the Municipal Year 2018/19, as set out in Appendix “F” to the Agenda, be approved.