Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Lamina Lloyd.

There were no declarations of interest submitted.

[To receive minutes of the previous meeting held on 29 March 2023]

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

That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 29 March 2023, be agreed as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Mayor.

[To elect a Mayor for the municipal year]

That Councillor Dr Mike Hardacre be elected as Mayor for the 2023-2024 Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor John Reynolds, seconded by Councillor Philip Bateman that Councillor Dr Mike Hardacre be elected as Mayor of the Council for the ensuing year.

Resolved:

That Councillor Dr Mike Hardacre be elected as Mayor for the 2023-2024 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.

[To appoint a Deputy Mayor for the municipal year]

That Councillor Linda Leach be elected as Deputy Mayor for the 2023-2024 Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor Mary Bateman, seconded by Councillor Steve Evans that Councillor Linda Leach be appointed as Deputy Mayor of the Council for the ensuing year.

Resolved:

That Councillor Linda Leach be elected as Deputy Mayor for the 2023-2024 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.

[The Council to express to the retiring Mayor and Consort appreciation of the service they have rendered to the Council during their term of office]

That the Council expresses to Sandra Samuels OBE and Karl Samuels its appreciation of the service they have rendered to the Council during their term of office.

A vote of thanks for the retiring Mayor, Mrs Sandra Samuels OBE and retiring Consort, Mr Karl Samuels, was moved by Councillor Jacqueline Sweetman and seconded by Councillor Wendy Thompson.

The Mayor presented Mrs Sandra Samuels OBE and retiring Consort, Mr Karl Samuels with their medallions of office and resolution of thanks. Mrs Sandra Samuels OBE responded to the vote of thanks.

Resolved:

That the Council expresses to Sandra Samuels OBE and Karl Samuels its appreciation of the service they have rendered to the Council during their term of office.

[The Chief Operating Officer to present a return of the Councillors elected on 4 May 2023]

That the return of Councillors elected on 4 May 2023 be noted.

The Monitoring Officer, David Pattison, reported the names of the Councillors elected to office on the 4 May 2023 as follows:

Resolved:

That the return of Councillors elected on 4 May 2023 be noted.

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

That the Council place on record its appreciation of the valuable service rendered to the City by former Councillors Olivia Birch, Paul Birch, Adam Collinge, Rupinderjit Kaur, Beverley Momenabadi, Lynn Moran, Philip Page, Andrew Randle, Claire Simm, Sandra Samuels, Mak Singh and Jonathan Yardley. 

The Mayor welcomed new Councillors 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 Olivia Birch, Paul Birch, Adam Collinge, Rupinderjit Kaur, Beverley Momenabadi, Lynne Moran, Philip Page, Andrew Randle, Clare Simm, Sandra Samuels, Mak Singh and Jonathan Yardley. 

[To receive the Mayor’s announcements]

That the Mayor’s Communications be noted.

1.   His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla Coronation

The Mayor was delighted to report retiring Mayor Samuels joined the City’s celebrations of the King and Queen’s Coronation, and over the Coronation weekend attended 12 street parties all over the City.

The retiring Mayor Samuels had organised in conjunction with our Libraries Service a Coronation Poetry Competition. An Afternoon Tea style awards ceremony was held for the winners at the Art Gallery.

The winning poems would be printed, bound and sent to Buckingham Palace for His Majesty’s attention.

2.   Civic Sunday

The Mayor reported the annual Civic Sunday service would take place on Sunday 4^th June at the Collegiate Church of St Peter. Civic Sunday was an important occasion in the city’s Civic calendar. An invitation would be issued to all in due course.

3.   Falklands War Memorial Service

The Mayor reported this year marked the 41st Anniversary of the Falklands War and the Royal British Legion were holding a service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in St. Peters Square, on Thursday 15th June at 11 am. The Mayor encouraged all to attend to remember the fallen.

4.   Armed Forces Day

The Mayor reported Armed Forces Week 2023 would begin with a flag-raising ceremony on Monday 19th June at 11am at the flagpole on the piazza.

The Armed Forces Day Celebration Event would take place at West Park between 12noon and 4:30pm on Saturday 24th June.  The celebration would give everyone an opportunity to say thank you for all our armed forces do for our city and the country.

5.    Wolverhampton Wanderers
The Mayor congratulated Wolverhampton Wanderers on securing their place in the Premier League for another season.

6.    Wolverhampton Pride Festival

The Mayor reported the Wolverhampton Pride Festival takes place on Saturday 10^th June in the City Centre and encouraged all to attend to show support for our LGBTQ+ community.

Resolved:

That the Mayor’s Communications be noted.

[To elect a Leader of the Council]

That Councillor Ian Brookfield be elected as Leader of the Council for a four year term till May 2027.

It was proposed by Councillor Milkinder Jaspal, seconded by Councillor Stephen Simkins, 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 for a four year term till from May 2023 - May 2027.

[To approve 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. To Follow

1.    That the political composition of the Council, and how this is applied to appointments to Council bodies, in accordance with the political balance model set out in Appendix 1 to the report 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 set out in Appendix 2 be noted.

3.    That the appointment of Councillors to the Scrutiny Board, and Scrutiny Panels, including Chairs and Vice-chairs, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report be approved.

4.    That the appointment of Councillors to Regulatory, Oversight and other Committees and advisory groups, including Chairs and Vice-Chairs, as set out in Appendix 4 to the report be approved.

5.    That the appointments to Joint Authorities/Committees and Outside Bodies, as set out in Appendices 5 and 6 to the report, including lead, substitute lead and voting Councillors be approved.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield presented a report (report and 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 Milkinder Jaspal seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

1.    That the political composition of the Council, and how this is applied to appointments to Council bodies, in accordance with the political balance model set out in Appendix 1 to the report 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 set out in Appendix 2 be noted.

3.    That the appointment of Councillors to the Scrutiny Board, and Scrutiny Panels, including Chairs and Vice-chairs, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report be approved.

4.    That the appointment of Councillors to Regulatory, Oversight and other Committees and advisory groups, including Chairs and Vice-Chairs, as set out in Appendix 4 to the report be approved.

5.    That the appointments to Joint Authorities/Committees and Outside Bodies, as set out in Appendices 5 and 6 to the report, including lead, substitute lead and voting Councillors be approved.