Agenda and minutes

The Mayor to make and deliver the statutory Declaration of Office.

It was moved by Councillor Douglas Auld, seconded by Councillor Melanie Stevens and

RESOLVED that Councillor Julian Benington be elected Mayor of the Borough.

Councillor Benington made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of the Office of Mayor and thereupon adjourned from the Chamber in company with the retiring Mayor to receive the insignia of office.

In the chair, the Mayor, Councillor Julian Benington. 

On his return to the Chamber the Mayor expressed his thanks for the honour conferred upon him and announced that during his year of office the charities that he would be supporting were the Bromley Community Fund and CONNECT, a south east London based charity which supports people with Aphasia.

On a motion by Councillor David Jefferys which was seconded by Councillor Nicholas Bennett it was –

RESOLVED

That at the conclusion of the year of office of Councillor Ernest Noad as Mayor of the London Borough of Bromley, the Council places on record its appreciation of the able manner in which he has presided at meetings of the Council and the distinction with which he has maintained and discharged the high traditions and responsibilities of that office.

The Council also recognises the committed and dedicated manner in which he has carried out Mayoral duties when representing the borough, spreading awareness of the history and tradition of the Mayoralty, as well as strengthening our long-standing relationship with Neuwied.

The Council acknowledges his particular interest and involvement in the education and development of children and young people. Also recorded is his support for the borough’s many voluntary community groups, other organisations and the business community. 

The Council further acknowledges his enthusiastic support and fund raising efforts through his Charity appeal for Bromley Y.

That the Corporate Seal be affixed to an engrossment of this resolution for presentation to Councillor Ernest Noad and a past Mayor’s Badge be presented to him in token of the appreciation hereby expressed.

Thereupon the Mayor, on behalf of the Council, invested Ernest Noad with a badge in token of the appreciation of his services as Mayor of the Borough.

Mr Noad expressed his thanks for the terms of the resolution and for the support accorded to him which had contributed greatly to his year of office as Mayor.

On a motion by Councillor Ian Payne which was seconded by Councillor Katy Boughey it was

RESOLVED that the Council

(1) records its appreciation of the able and courteous services of Councillor Judi Ellis and Mr Bob Ellis when as Deputy Mayor and Deputy  Consort for the year 2013/14 they represented the Mayoralty and the Council; and

(2) provides them with an attested copy of this Resolution. 

Councillor Ellis expressed her thanks for the terms of the resolution and for the support accorded to her during her year of office as Deputy Mayor.

The Mayor signified orally and in writing his appointment of Councillor Kate Lymer as the Deputy Mayor.

The Deputy Mayor was invested by the Mayor with the insignia of her office and she expressed appreciation for the honour of this appointment.

On a motion by Councillor Stephen Carr, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith, to authorise submission of the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 14^th April 2014 it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 14^th April 2014 be submitted for confirmation at the next ordinary meeting of the Council.    

The election of Councillors on 22^nd May 2014 as set out in the appendix circulated with the agenda was noted.  

In accordance with the Council’s constitutional arrangements consideration  was given to the appointment of a Leader of the Council for a four

year term of office.

On a motion by Councillor William Huntington-Thresher and seconded by

Councillor Sarah Phillips it was

RESOLVED that Councillor Carr be elected as Leader of the Council

for a four year term of office.

In accordance with the Council’s constitutional arrangements the Leader of the Council advised Council of the following appointments:

Councillor Colin Smith – Deputy Leader of the Council

Members of the Executive:

Councillor Graham Arthur – Portfolio Holder for Resources

Councillor Robert Evans – Portfolio Holder for Care Services

Councillor Peter Morgan – Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation

Councillor Colin Smith – Portfolio Holder the Environment

Councillor Tim Stevens – Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Safety

Councillor Stephen Wells – Portfolio Holder for Education.

Elected Members of the Health and Wellbeing Board:

Councillors Ruth Bennett, Mary Cooke, Ian Dunn, Judi Ellis, Robert Evans, Peter Fortune (Chairman), William Huntington-Thresher, David Jefferys (Vice-Chairman), Terence Nathan, Angela Page and Diane Smith (Vice-Chairman).

RESOLVED that the appointments made by the Leader of the

Council, as set out above, be noted.

In accordance with the agreed constitutional arrangements that the Leader of the Council may elect to address the meeting, Councillor Carr made a brief statement.

He added his personal congratulations to the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor on their appointments and his thanks to the outgoing Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Carr stated that it was a great honour to continue to serve the Borough in a new Council, and that he would work with Members from all sides. The election results had been an endorsement of his administration’s approach which was to protect front-line services, avoid gimmicks and quick fixes, and provide a lean, efficient, bureaucracy-free Council offering value for money services. His administration would continue to protect the green open spaces of the borough, encourage residents to take responsibility through Friends Groups and the like, protect the vulnerable, and lobby for a fairer deal from government. 

Councillor William Huntington-Thresher moved and Councillor Nicholas Bennett seconded a motion that the appointment of Councillors to Committees and the election of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen be approved as set out in the schedule circulated. 

Councillor Nicholas Bennett indicated that it was intended that the Chairman of the Education Budget Sub-Committee would be appointed at the first meeting.

RESOLVED that the appointments indicated in the schedule be agreed.

(Note: One error was subsequently identified in the appendix, which was that Councillor Kevin Brooks should be appointed to SACRE, rather than Councillor Angela Wilkins).

Report CSD14070

The Scheme of Delegation to Officers was approved by the Leader and Council at the annual meeting each year. A small number of amendments to the scheme were set out in the report.

Councillor Tony Owen moved and Councillor Russell Mellor seconded a motion to confirm the Scheme of Delegation. 

RESOLVED that the scheme of executive delegation be received from the Leader and the scheme of delegation of non-executive functions be  confirmed.

Report CSD14089

The report proposed clarifications to the terms of reference of the General Purposes and Licensing Committee, Licensing Sub-Committee, Development Control Committee and Plans Sub-Committees.

Councillor Nicholas Bennett moved and Councillor Stephen Carr seconded a motion to accept the proposed changes.

RESOLVED that the proposed changes to the Constitution be approved.  

Report CSD14073

In accordance with the agreed procedure a report was submitted setting out details of Members’ attendances at meetings during the 2013/14 Council year. An amended appendix had been circulated.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Report CSD14087

In accordance with agreed procedures reports had been submitted from Councillors appointed to serve on outside bodies with a significant role and budget.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Mayor advised that his Chaplain would be the Revd. Jeanette McLaren from St. Mark’s Church, Biggin Hill. He also announced the following dates –

·  The Civic Reception for Voluntary Workers on Thursday 10^th July 2014 at the Old Palace from 6.30 p.m. onwards - invitations would shortly be sent to all Councillors.

·  The Civic Service would be held at St. Mark’s Church, Biggin Hill (the moving Church) on Sunday 13^th July 2014 at 10.30 a.m. – again, invitations would be sent out shortly.