Taking into account the ‘minded to’ decisions made during the non-decision making virtual meeting of Annual Council held on 18 May 2021, to be advised at the meeting by the Monitoring Officer, the Council is required to formally resolve the following matters:
1. Election of Vice Chair of the Council for 2021 to 2022
2. Note the appointment of Cabinet members
3. Review of political balance and appointment to politically balanced bodies 2021 to 2022 (Report number: AGM/WS/21/001 attached to the agenda for 18 May 2021)
4. Appointment of Chair and Vice Chairs to the:
a. Overview and Scrutiny Committee
b. Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee
5. Review and representation on outside bodies 2021 to 2022
(Report number: AGM/WS/21/002 attached to the agenda for 18 May 2021)
Minutes:
Council was required to formally resolve the matters where ‘minded to’ decisions were made at the previous evening’s non-decision making virtual Annual Meeting of Council.
The Chair invited the Monitoring Officer to advise of the ‘minded to’ decisions made at that meeting, and it was suggested that a vote be taken ‘en bloc’ to formally resolve those matters collectively.
The list of ‘minded to’ decisions made in the following order as listed on the agenda were:
1. Election of Vice Chair of the Council for 2021 to 2022:
Councillor Mike Chester
2. It be noted that the appointment of Deputy Leader, Cabinet members and their portfolios presently remain unchanged
3. Review of political balance and appointment to politically balanced bodies 2021 to 2022:
Recommended as proposed in Report number: AGM/WS/21/001
4. Appointment of:
a. Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee:
Councillor Ian Shipp
b. Vice Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee:
Councillor Stephen Frost
c. Chair of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee:
Councillor Ian Houlder
d. Vice Chair of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee:
Councillor Karen Richardson
5. Review and representation on outside bodies 2021 to 2022: Recommended as proposed in Report number: AGM/WS/21/002
Councillor John Griffiths, Leader of the Council, reiterated his comments made during his announcements of the previous evening, including formally welcoming the six new members to the Council which had recently been elected in by-elections, namely Councillors Nick Clarke, Birgitte Mager, Colin Noble, Sarah Pugh, Sarah Stamp and Julia Wakelam. He also paid tribute to those members who were no longer with the Council, including those that had sadly passed away during 2020 to 2021, namely Councillors David Gathercole and Jim Meikle.
He again commended West Suffolk Council staff for their sterling work during these extremely challenging times, whilst continuing to deliver services.
Other than 2. above which was to be noted by Council, Councillor Griffiths moved the motion to formally resolve the aforementioned ‘minded to’ decisions taken at the virtual Annual Meeting. This was duly seconded by Councillor Sara Mildmay-White.
The motion was put to the vote and with the vote being unanimous, it was
Resolved:
That:
1. Election of Vice Chair of the Council for 2021 to 2022
Councillor Mike Chester be elected Vice Chair elect of West Suffolk Council for the 2021 to 2022 civic year.
2. Review of political balance and appointment to politically balanced bodies 2021 to 2022
a. The committees and sub-committees for 2021 to 2022 be approved, in accordance with the number of seats and terms of reference, as contained in Appendix C of Report number: AGM/WS/21/001.
b. The political balance and allocation of seats on committees as contained in Appendix A to Report number: AGM/WS/21/001, be approved.
c. The political balance and allocation of substitutes on Committees as contained in Appendix B to Report number: AGM/WS/21/001, be approved.
d. Based on the agreed allocations, it be agreed that Group Leaders have up to 14 days in which to notify the Monitoring Officer of their nominations to committee places, on which the Monitoring Officer will appoint members and substitute members to committees and sub-committees.
3. Appointment of:
a. Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Councillor Ian Shipp be elected Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2021 to 2022.
b. Vice Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Councillor Stephen Frost be elected Vice Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2021 to 2022.
c. Chair of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee
Councillor Ian Houlder be elected Chair of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee for 2021 to 2022.
d. Vice Chair of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee
Councillor Karen Richardson be elected Vice Chair of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee for 2021 to 2022.
4. Review and representation on outside bodies 2021 to 2022
a. The Service Manager (Democratic Services) and Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority to appoint the Council’s representatives on outside bodies, in accordance with the nominations put forward by relevant Group Leaders, or the nominated body, or the individual listed, as detailed in Appendix A to Report number: AGM/WS/21/002.
b. Where no representative is nominated, the Service Manager (Democratic Services) and Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority to seek nominations from other bodies and individuals, to be approved by Council in due course.
c. It be noted that where the outside organisation is discharging executive functions, or the Council is an observer on an organisation, these appointments will be made by Cabinet.
d. It be noted that it is intended to continue to review representation on outside bodies to ensure that it remains beneficial for the organisation and for the Council.
e. It be noted that the nominations to the Suffolk County Council Health Scrutiny Committee, be proposed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for subsequent confirmation by Council.
Due to complying with current health and safety regulations, the incoming Vice Chair applied the Chain of Office himself, which was located in its case directly to the side of him. He then signed his Declaration of Acceptance of Office, which would be signed by the Monitoring Officer at the conclusion of the meeting.
The Vice Chair then briefly acknowledged his forthcoming year in office, reiterating many of his comments made at the virtual meeting held on the previous evening.