Agenda, decisions and minutes

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Contact: Jaswinder Kaur  01902 550320 or Email: jaswinder.kaur@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Craig Collingswood, Asha Mattu, Louise Miles and Paul Sweet.

2.

Declarations of interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Tracey Christie declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 12 – Interim Appointment of Monitoring Officer as she was directly impacted by the recommendations.

 

3.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 363 KB

[To receive minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 April 2019.]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The retiring Mayor proposed, the retiring Deputy Mayor seconded, and it was resolved:

 

That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 3 April 2019, be agreed as a correct record and signed accordingly by the retiring Mayor.

4.

To elect a Mayor

[To elect a Mayor for the municipal year.]

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

That Councillor Marie Claire Darke be elected as Mayor for the 2019 - 2020 municipal year.

 

Minutes:

It was proposed by Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, seconded by Councillor Anwen Muston that Councillor MarieClaire Darke be elected as Mayor of the Council for the ensuing year.

 

Resolved:

 

That Councillor Marie Claire Darke be elected as Mayor for the 2019 - 2020 municipal year, having made the declaration of office prescribed by the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and having been invested with the Mayor's Chain of Office and Robe.

 

5.

To appoint a Deputy Mayor

[To appoint a Deputy Mayor for the municipal year.]

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

That Councillor Greg Brakenridge be appointed as Deputy Mayor for the 2019 - 2020 municipal

year.

 

Minutes:

It was proposed by Councillor Obaida Ahmed, seconded by Councillor Phil Bateman

that Councillor Greg Brackenridge be appointed as Deputy Mayor of the Council for the ensuing year.

 

Resolved:

 

That Councillor Greg Brackenridge be appointed as Deputy Mayor for the 2019 - 2020

municipal year, having made the declaration of office prescribed by the Local

Government Act 1972 (as amended) and having been invested with the Deputy

Mayor's Chain of Office and Robe.

 

6.

To pass a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor and Mayoress

[The Council to express to the retiring Mayor and Mayoress appreciation of the service

they have rendered to the Council during his term of office.]

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the Council expresses to Councillor Phil Page and Elaine Hadley-Howell its grateful

appreciation of their work and service as Mayor and Mayoress of the City during the 2018-2019

municipal year.

 

Minutes:

A vote of thanks for the retiring Mayor, Councillor Phil Page and retiring Mayoress, Mrs Elaine Hadley-Howell, was moved by Councillor Milkinder Jaspal and seconded by Councillor Wendy Thompson.

 

The Mayor presented Councillor Phil Page and Mrs Elaine Hadley-Howell with their medallions of office.

 

Councillor Phil Page responded to the vote of thanks.

 

Resolved:

 

That the Council expresses to Councillor Phil Page and Elaine Hadley-Howell its

grateful appreciation of their work and service as Mayor and Mayoress of the City

during the 2018-2019 municipal year.

 

7.

To receive a return of the Councillors elected on 2 May 2019

[The Deputy Monitoring Officer to present a return of the Councillors elected on 2

May 2019.]

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the return of Councillors elected on the 2 May 2019 be noted.

 

Minutes:

The Deputy Monitoring Officer, Tracey Christie, reported the names of the Councillors elected to office on the 2 May 2019 as follows:

 

Ward

Name

Party

Bilston East

Councillor Rashpal Kaur

Labour

Bilston North

Councillor Olivia Birch

Labour and Cooperative

Blakenhall

Councillor Paul Birch

Labour and Cooperative

Bushbury North

Councillor Paul Appleby

Conservative

Bushbury South and Low Hill

Councillor Paula Brookfield

Labour

East Park

Councillor Harman Banger

Labour

Ettingshall

Councillor Sandra Samuels

Labour

Fallings Park

Councillor Valerie Evans

Labour

Graiseley

Councillor Jacqueline Sweetman

Labour and Cooperative

Heath Town

Councillor Milkinderpal Jaspal

Labour

Merry Hill

Councillor Chris Haynes

Conservative

Oxley

Councillor Clare Simm

Labour

Park

Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre

Labour and Cooperative

Penn

Councillor Paul Singh

Conservative

Spring Vale

Councillor Rupinderjit Kaur

Labour

St Peters

Councillor Lynne Moran

Labour

Tettenhall Regis

Councillor Jonathan Yardley

Conservative

Tettenhall Wightwick

Councillor Wendy Thompson

Conservative

Tettenhall Wightwick

Councillor Jonathan Crofts

Conservative

Wednesfield North

Councillor Rita Potter

Labour

Wednesfield South

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal

Labour

Wednesfield South

Councillor Jacqui Coogan

Labour

 

Resolved:

 

That the return of Councillors elected on the 2 May 2019 be noted.

 

8.

Welcome new Councillors and to move the vote of thanks to former

[The Mayor to welcome new Councillors and to move the vote of thanks to former

Councillors.]

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

          That the Council place on record its appreciation of the valuable service rendered tothe City byformer Councillors Ian Angus, Harbans Singh Bagri, Val Gibson, Welcome Koussoukama, Peter O’Neil and Arun Photay.

 

Minutes:

The Mayor welcomed Councillors Rashpal Kaur, Olivia Birch, Paul Birch J.P, Paul Appleby, Jonathan Crofts and Jacqui Coogan to the Council, and expressed the Council’s appreciation of the service provided by former Councillors.

 

Resolved:

 

          That the Council place on record its appreciation of the valuable service rendered to the City by former Councillors Ian Angus, Harbans Singh Bagri, Val Gibson, Welcome Koussoukama, Peter O’Neil and Arun Photay.

 

9.

Communications

[To receive the Mayor’s announcements.]

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the Mayor’s Communications be noted.

Minutes:

The Mayor made the following announcements and highlighted forthcoming civic events:

 

1.    Letter of Condolence

 

The Mayor condemned the recent terror attack which had taken place on Easter Sunday, where three Christian churches across Sri Lanka and three luxury hotels were targeted. Over 250 people were killed, including at least 42 British and other foreign nationals. The former Mayor Councillor Phil Page had sent a letter of condolence to the Mayor of Columbo, Mayor Rosy Senanayakyon, on behalf of the City offering our sincere condolences, and as a sign of respect the City held a remembrance event and the flag was lowered to half-mast on 23 April.

 

2. Forthcoming Civic Events

 

Civic Sunday

 

The Mayor informed Councillors of the arrangement for Civic Sunday service which was taking place on Sunday 2 June at 11:15am at the Collegiate Church of St Peter.

 

             Armed Forces Day

 

The Mayor reported that the City would be marking Armed Forces Day with a flag-raising ceremony at 11am on Monday 24 June at the flagpole on the piazza.

 

The Mayor added the Armed Forces Day Celebration Event would take place at West Park between 12noon and 4:30pm on Saturday 29 June.  The celebration was free to enter and would begin with a parade led by the RAF Cosford Voluntary Band.  The parade would step off at 12noon and march into the arena, which would give everyone an opportunity to say thank you for all our armed forces do for our city and the country.

 

 

IDAHOT 2019

 

The Mayor reported the Council would be marking International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) this Friday in celebration of diverse sexualities and gender identities.

 

The Mayor added the IDAHOT flag would be raised on the piazza on Friday 17 May at 9:50am to mark the occasion, followed by an event in the Council Chamber between 10:20am and 12:30pm which would look at how education can play a part in bringing together different communities to understand what can be done to help end prejudice against the LGBT+ community.

 

Resolved:

 

That the Mayor’s Communications be noted.

10.

Election of the Leader of the Council

[To elect a Leader of the Council.]

Additional documents:

Decision:

That Councillor Ian Brookfield be elected as Leader of the Council on a four year term from 2019-2023.

Minutes:

It was proposed by Councillor Peter Bilson, seconded by Councillor Alan Bolshaw, that Councillor Ian Brookfield be elected as Leader of the Council on a four year term.

Resolved:

That Councillor Ian Brookfield be elected as Leader of the Council on a four year term from 2019-2023.

11.

Political balance, appointment of the Cabinet, appointments to Scrutiny and Regulatory and other Committees, and appointments to outside bodies for 2019-2020 pdf icon PDF 159 KB

[To approve appointment of the Cabinet and Cabinet Panels, the Scrutiny Boardand Scrutiny Panels, Regulatory and other Committees, and representation onJoint Authorities/Committees and outside bodies. Appendices 1 -6 To be tabled]

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.    That the political composition of the Council, and how this is applied to appointments to

Council bodies be approved.

2.    That the appointment, by the Leader of the Council, of Councillors to the Cabinet, the

specified lead Cabinet Member roles and Cabinet Panels be approved.

3.    That the appointment of Councillors to the Scrutiny Board, and Scrutiny Panels, including Chairs and Vice-chairs be approved, subject to Councillor Stephen Simkins appointed to Our Council Scrutiny Panel, Councillor Keith Inston appointed Vibrant and Sustainable City Scrutiny Panel and any vacancies being determined by the Labour Group as detailed in the Appendix 3 to the report.

4.    That the appointment of Councillors to Regulatory, Oversight and other Committees and

advisory groups, including Chairs and Vice-Chairs, and the appointment of Councillor

Champions, be approved.

5.    That the appointments to Joint Authorities/Committees and Outside Bodies, including lead, substitute lead and voting Councillors be approved.

 

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield presented a report (appendices one to six were tabled) on the appointment of the Cabinet and Cabinet Panels, the Scrutiny Board and Scrutiny Panels, Regulatory and other Committees, and representation on Joint Authorities/Committees and outside bodies.

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield proposed the recommendations and Councillor Alan Bolshaw seconded the recommendations.

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That the political composition of the Council, and how this is applied to appointments toCouncil bodies be approved.

2.    That the appointment, by the Leader of the Council, of Councillors to the Cabinet, thespecified lead Cabinet Member roles and Cabinet Panels be approved.

3.    That the appointment of Councillors to the Scrutiny Board, and Scrutiny Panels, including Chairs and Vice-chairs be approved, subject to Councillor Stephen Simkins appointed to Our Council Scrutiny Panel, Councillor Keith Inston appointed Vibrant and Sustainable City Scrutiny Panel and any vacancies being determined by the Labour Group as detailed in the Appendix 3 to the report.

4.    That the appointment of Councillors to Regulatory, Oversight and other Committees andadvisory groups, including Chairs and Vice-Chairs, and the appointment of CouncillorChampions, be approved.

5.    That the appointments to Joint Authorities/Committees and Outside Bodies, including lead, substitute lead and voting Councillors be approved.

 

 

12.

Interim Appointment of Monitoring Officer pdf icon PDF 151 KB

[To approve the appointment of an interim Monitoring Officer.]

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.    That Tracey Christie, Chief Legal Officer be appointed as Monitoring Officer on

an interim basis until a permanent Director of Governance was appointed be approved.

2.    That the Interim Monitoring Officer be authorised to exercise delegations assigned to the Director of Governance and Chief Legal Officer as detailed in the Constitution.

Minutes:

Having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in this item Tracey Christie (Chief Legal Officer) left the Council Chamber and took no part in the discussion of this item.

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield presented a report on Interim Appointment of Monitoring Officer.The report sought approval to appoint a Monitoring Officer on an interim basis until theDirector of Governance post was recruited to on a permanent basis.  He added the appointment of a Monitoring Officer was a statutory requirement.

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield proposed the recommendations and Councillor Peter Bilson seconded the recommendations.

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield and Councillor Wendy Thompson thanked the previous Director of Governance, Kevin O’Keefe for his service to the Council.  

 

1.    That Tracey Christie, Chief Legal Officer be appointed as Monitoring Officer on an interim basis until a permanent Director of Governance was appointed be approved.

2.    That the Interim Monitoring Officer be authorised to exercise delegations assigned to the Director of Governance and Chief Legal Officer as detailed in the Constitution.