Agenda and minutes

To elect the Chair of the Council until the Annual Meeting on 25^th May 2023.

Nominations were sought for the position of Chair of North Northamptonshire Council for the Municipal Year 2022/2023.

The nomination of Councillor Larry Henson was MOVED by Councillor Scott Edwards and SECONDED by Councillor Russell Roberts. There were no further nominations.

RESOLVED that: -

Councillor Larry Henson be elected as Chair of North Northamptonshire Council for the Municipal Year 2022/2023.

(Councillor Henson took the chair of the meeting at this point).

To appoint the Vice Chair of the Council until the Annual Meeting on 25^th May 2023.

Nominations were sought for the position of Vice Chair of North Northamptonshire Council for the Municipal Year 2022/2023.

The nomination of Councillor Barbara Jenney was MOVED by Councillor Larry Henson and SECONDED by Councillor Gill Mercer. There were no further nominations.

RESOLVED that: -

Councillor Barbara Jenney be appointed as Vice Chair of North Northamptonshire Council for the Municipal Year 2022/2023.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Valerie Anslow, David Brackenbury, Cedwien Brown, Leanne Buckingham, Jim Hakewill, Kirk Harrison, Graham Lawman, Roger Powell, Simon Rielly, David Sims, Joseph Smyth and Malcolm Waters.

Members to declare any interest as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at the meeting.

There were no Declarations of Interest on this occasion.

The minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 31 March 2022 to be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 31^st March 2022 had been circulated.

Councillor Henson (Chair) MOVED the minutes of the meeting held on 31^st March 2022 be agreed. Councillor Jason Smithers SECONDED the motion.

This is an information report only confirming Group leadership for 2022/23.

Annual Council received a report noting the political group leadership for the Municipal Year 2022/2023.

• Leader of the Conservative Group – Councillor Jason Smithers
• Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group – Councillor Helen Howell
• Leader of the Labour Group – Councillor John McGhee
• Deputy Leader of the Labour Group – Councillor Jean Addison
• Leader of the Green Alliance Group – Councillor Emily Fedorowycz
• Deputy Leader of the Green Alliance Group – Councillor Dez Dell

The recommendation was MOVED by Councillor Lora Lawman and SECONDED by Councillor Helen Howell.

RESOLVED that: -

That the leadership arrangements of the Conservative Group, the Labour Group and the Green Alliance Group for 2022/2023 as detailed within the report be noted.

To receive any announcements from the Leader.

Councillor Jason Smithers (Leader of the Council) addressed the meeting. In doing so, the Leader stressed the achievements of the Council in its first year, thanked staff and councillors for their continuing work and effort, and recognised the challenges that still lay ahead in fulfilling the Corporate Plan and transforming local services to the public. Councillor John McGhee (Leader of the Labour Group) and Councillor Emily Fedorowycz (Leader of the Green Alliance Group) also addressed Council.

The Council is requested to note the appointment of the Deputy Leader as may be announced by the Leader.

The Council is requested to note the appointment of members of Executive and Executive Portfolios as may be announced by the Leader.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Jason Smithers) had circulated details of the appointments to the Executive for 2022/2023. These included: -

The Leader indicated to Annual Council that he would be appointing to the vacant role of Executive Member for Housing and Community during the next few weeks.

To consider and determine the allocation of seats to Committees in accordance with political balance rules set out in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Annual Council were being requested to note the nominations from recognised political groups for seats on formal committees of Council for the Municipal Year 2022/2023. Annual Council was also requested to elect/appoint the Chairs and Vice Chairs of committees in accordance with the procedure detailed in the Constitution.

The recommendations were MOVED by Councillor Matt Binley and SECONDED by Councillor Philip Irwin.

RESOLVED that: -

(i)            The proportionality rules detailed in Appendix A be applied;

(ii)           The appointments made by the respective recognised political groups to the governance structure as detailed in Appendix B be noted;

(iii)          It be noted that the Officer Scheme of Delegation grants authority to the Monitoring Officer to make in-year changes to the membership of committees on behalf of the Council, in consultation with the Leaders of the political groups; and

(iv)          That the current North Northamptonshire Council representation on the –

Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel

Patrol Adjudication Joint Committee

Pensions Committee

Local Pensions Board

Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE)

Continue until subject to review.

Annual Council then considered the nominations received in relation to the election of committee Chairs and appointment of Vice Chairs.

Those Chair and Vice Chair positions where only one nomination had been received were MOVED by Councillor Matt Binley and SECONDED by Councillor Philip Irwin.

RESOLVED that: -

The following be duly elected/appointed for the Municipal Year 2022/2023 –

Nominations for certain Chair and Vice Chair positions had been received from both the Conservative Group and the Labour Group.

Councillor Macaulay Nichol MOVED the Conservative Group nominations; these were SECONDED by Councillor Wendy Brackenbury. Councillor Matt Keane MOVED the Labour Group nominations; these were SECONDED by Councillor Lyn Buckingham.

RESOLVED that:

The following be duly elected/appointed for the Municipal Year 2022/2023 –

To approve the Calendar of Meetings for 2022/23.

Annual Council was requested to approve the Municipal Timetable 2022/2023. Full Council held on the 31^st March 2022 had provisionally approved the draft timetable.

The recommendation to approve the draft timetable was MOVED by Councillor Lora Lawman and SECONDED by Councillor Macaulay Nichol.

RESOLVED that:

(i)            The Municipal Timetable 2022/2023 be approved.