Agenda and minutes

The Mayor’s Chaplain said prayers, at the request of the Mayor.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda for the morning session of the meeting.

Councillors H Gaddum and O Hunter declared a non- pecuniary interest in the agenda items relating to appointment of Mayor and Deputy Mayor 2015/16, by virtue of being the persons nominated.

To elect a Mayor for 2015/16, who will also act as Chairman of the Council.

Council was requested to elect a Mayor for the Borough of Cheshire East for 2015/16, who would also act as Chairman of the Council for that period. 

It was proposed by Councillor J Macrae, seconded by Councillor J Jackson, and :-

RESOLVED

That Councillor Hilda Gaddum be elected Mayor of the Borough of Cheshire East for the year 2015/16 and Chairman of the Council for that period.

The Mayor was invested with her chain of office and then completed her Declaration of Acceptance of Office and took the oath of loyalty.

The Mayor thanked the Council for electing her to this office and informed Members that her daughter-in-law, Mrs Jane Gaddum, was to be her Mayoress. Mrs Jane Gaddum was then invested with the badge of office. 

To appoint a Deputy Mayor for 2015/16, who will also act as Vice-chairman of the Council.

Council was requested to appoint a Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Cheshire East for the year 2015/16, who would also act as Vice-Chairman of the Council for that period.

It was proposed by Councillor S Gardiner, seconded by Councillor L Smetham, and

RESOLVED

That Councillor Olivia Hunter be appointed as Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Cheshire East for the year 2015/16 and Vice-Chairman of the Council for that period.

The Deputy Mayor thanked the Council for appointing her to this office.

The Mayor announced that her Chaplain for the forthcoming Municipal Year would be the Rt Rev William Pwaisiho. Rt Rev Pwaisiho stood forward and shook hands with the Mayor.

Councillor Michael Jones paid tribute to the retiring Mayor and Mayoress, Wesley Fitzgerald and Mrs Joan Fitzgerald, for the dedicated work they had undertaken during their term of office.

The Mayor presented Mr Fitzgerald with his Past Mayor’s Medal. 

The Chief Executive of the Council reported that, Wesley Fitzgerald had been presented with a “new-style” Past Mayors’ Medal and that he was delighted to report that the Council had “new-style” medals for all of its former Mayors.

Each of the former Mayors were presented with new Past Mayors’ Medals by the Mayor and Leader of the Council as follows:-

Cllr Margaret Simon - The inaugural Mayor of Cheshire East.

Cllr Gordon Baxendale - Mayor for the 2010 /11 civic year.

Mr Roger West - Mayor for the 2011/12 civic year.

Cllr George Walton - Mayor for the 2012/13 civic year.

Cllr Dorothy Flude - Mayor for the 2013/14 civic year.

The Mayor then presented the Past Mayoress Medal to Mrs Joan Fitzgerald.

Mr Wesley Fitzgerald then gave a speech of thanks, as outgoing Mayor.

(At this point in the meeting Cllr H Gaddum, as Mayor, took the chair).

The Mayor informed Members that the meeting would now stand adjourned until 1.45pm, when the remaining items of business on the agenda would be considered.

She thanked all guests and Members for joining her in celebrating this momentous occasion.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda for the afternoon session of the meeting.

There were no further declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2015 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2015 be approved as a correct record.

There were no members of the public present wishing to use public speaking time.

For the Leader to announce appointments to the Cabinet and to make other announcements.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Michael Jones, presented to Council information about executive functions for the forthcoming year, including the names, addresses and electoral divisions of those Members appointed to the Cabinet and Cabinet Roles and responsibilities. An updated version of the information is attached to these minutes at minute 12.

The Leader also highlighted the key points of his written speech, which would be circulated to all Members of the Council.

The Leaders of the Council’s political groups were given an opportunity to speak in response to the Leader’s announcements.

RESOLVED

That the Leader’s address and the information on executive functions in respect of the forthcoming year be noted.

To determine the political group representation on the Council's Committees.

Consideration was given to a report inviting the Council to determine political group representation on the Council's Committees, in relation to the overall political composition of the Council.

An updated version of the report and Appendix 1 to the report, showing the latest position regarding the proportional distribution of seats on Committees amongst the political groups, was circulated at the meeting.

RESOLVED

That the political group representation, as set out in the updated Appendix 1 and the  methods, calculations and conventions used in determining this, as outlined in the revised report, as circulated at the meeting and attached to these minutes at minute 13,  be approved.

To receive the political groups’ nominations of Members to the Council’s Committees, in accordance with item 14 above.

           Consideration was given to a report relating to the review of the membership of the Council’s decision-making and other bodies.

The nominations made by the Group Leaders to these bodies were listed in an appendix to the report, which was circulated at the meeting.

In addition to the nominations contained in the circulated Appendix, Cllrs M Parsons and M Warren were nominated to fill the two Independent group vacancies on the Appeals Sub-committee, Cllr C Browne was nominated as Chairman of the Northern Planning Committee and Cllr J Clowes was added to the nominations to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

RESOLVED

That, subject to the above additional nominations, the nominations made by the Group Leaders to the bodies listed in Appendix 1 to the report, as circulated at the meeting, be noted and agreed and that the bodies listed in Appendix 1 be approved.

(The Committee membership as approved by Council, is attached to these minutes at minute 14).

To appoint the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Council’s Committees.

Consideration was given to the appointment of Chairmen and Vice-chairmen of the Council’s decision making and other bodies.

The Political Group Leaders’ nominations for Chairmen and Vice-chairmen of the Council’s decision-making and other bodies were circulated at the meeting and were updated at the meeting, as indicated at minute 14.

RESOLVED

That the Chairmen and Vice-chairmen of the Council’s decision-making and other bodies, as circulated at the meeting (as updated at the meeting) and as attached to these minutes at minute 14, be appointed, including the appointment of Cllr C Browne as Vice-chairman of the Northern Planning Committee.

To approve the appointments to Statutory panels which do not fall within the definition of “a Committee”.

Consideration was given to appointments to the Adoption Panel and the Fostering Panel.

RESOLVED

1.            That Councillor L Jeuda be appointed to the Adoption Panel.

2.            That Councillor G Merry be appointed to the Fostering Panel.

To make appointments to the Cheshire Fire Authority, the Cheshire Police  and Crime Panel and Burland Parish Council.

Consideration was given to appointments to the Cheshire Fire Authority and the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel and to the recommendation that Councillor S Davies be appointed to Burland Parish Council, until such time as the Parish Council had successfully co-opted one or more additional members, thereby making it quorate.

RESOLVED

1     That Councillors D Marren, G Merry, M Simon, J Weatherill, P Mason, D Bailey, D Flude and D Mahon be nominated to serve on the Cheshire Fire Authority.

2     That Councillors P Findlow, D Marren and H Murray be nominated to serve on the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel, with Councillor
G Walton as nominated substitute.

3     That Councillor S Davies be appointed to Burland Parish Council, until such time as the Parish Council successfully co-opts one or more additional members, thereby making it quorate.