It was moved by Councillor Taylor and seconded by Councillor S Johnson:

“That Councillor Darren Walford be elected Chairman for the Municipal Year 2016/17”.

The motion on being put to the meeting was declared to be CARRIED.

RESOLVED –

that Councillor Darren Walford be elected Chairman for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

The Chairman made and delivered the declaration of acceptance of office according to law. 

It was moved by the Chairman, Councillor Walford and seconded by Councillor Bell:

“That Councillor Jagtar Singh Dhindsa be elected Vice Chairman for the Municipal Year 2016/17.” 

The motion on being put to the meeting was declared to be CARRIED.

RESOLVED –

that Councillor Jagtar Singh Dhindsa be elected Vice Chairman for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

The Managing Director then confirmed the appointment of Mrs Tanya Walford as the Chairman’s Consort and Mrs Rajinder Kaur Dhindsa as the Vice Chairman’s Consort.

The Chairman congratulated all councillors who had been re-elected and welcomed the new councillors, Councillors David Barks, Stephen Cavinder, Aga Dychton, Joe Fahmy, Amanda Grimston, Jane Johnson, Paddy Kent, Ahsan Khan, Robbie Laird, Joanna Maestas, Glen Saffery and Nikki Steele.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no disclosures of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2016 to be submitted and signed. 

(All minutes are published on the Council’s website - Browse Meetings :: Watford Borough Council

Copies of the minutes of this meeting are usually available seven working days following the meeting and can be found on the Council's website.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2016 were submitted and signed.

Annual Scrutiny Survey

The Chairman informed Council that the annual scrutiny survey would be emailed to all councillors shortly.  He asked members to complete the online survey by 10 June 2016.

Members’ Registers of Interests

The Chairman reminded all councillors that they needed to complete their register of interests.  He asked that the outstanding forms were returned to the Head of Democracy and Governance by Friday 3 June.  Those members who had not completed their form would find one at their place in the Council Chamber.

No questions had been received.

No petitions had been received.

There was no urgent business.

No motions had been submitted.

Report of Democratic Services Manager

The Democratic Services Manager reported receipt of notice under the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 and Council Procedure Rule 24.0 about the formation of political groups.  The political group details were as follows:

Liberal Democrat Group

Leader                          Councillor Peter Taylor

Deputy Leader             Councillor Keith Crout

Group Secretary          Councillor Stephen Bolton

Group Members         Mayor Thornhill and Councillors Barks, Bolton, Cavinder, Collett, Crout, Dychton, Fahmy, Grimston, Hastrick, Hofman, J Johnson, S Johnson, Kent, Laird, Maestas, Martins, Rindl, Saffery, Scudder, Sharpe, Steele, Taylor, Watkin, Walford and Williams

Labour Group

Leader                          Councillor Nigel Bell

Deputy Leader             Councillor Jagtar Singh Dhindsa

Group Secretary          Councillor Asif Khan

Group Members         Councillors Bashir, Bell, Connal, Dhindsa, Joynes, Ahsan Khan, Asif Khan, Mauthoor, Mills, Shah and Turmaine

Report of the Mayor

Council received a report of the Mayor setting out details of the Deputy Mayor, Members of the Cabinet and Portfolio Holders and their responsibilities. 

RESOLVED –

that the appointments made by the Mayor be noted.

Report of Democratic Services Manager

Council received a report of the Democratic Services Manager informing members that the Mayor had approved the Executive Scheme of Delegation with no changes from that currently set out in the Constitution apart from the relevant Portfolio Holder who has delegated authority.

RESOLVED –

that the unchanged Executive Scheme of Delegation, apart from the relevant Portfolio Holder who has delegated authority, approved by the Mayor be noted.

Report of Democratic Services Manager

Council received a report of the Democratic Services Manager and the programme of ordinary meetings of the Council for the Municipal Year 2016/17, which had been printed separately. All Members had been consulted on the dates and given an opportunity to comment. 

It was noted that the Licensing Committee due to take place on 28 June would be cancelled due to a lack of business.

RESOLVED –

that the timetable of meetings for 2016/17 circulated separately be adopted with the deletion of the meeting of the Licensing Committee on 28 June 2016.

Report of Democratic Services Manager

Council received a report of the Democratic Services Manager requesting

a)      that Council unanimously agrees that the Standards Committee is not politically balanced;

b)      that Council agrees the establishment of politically balanced committees as set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report;

c)       that Council agrees the establishment of non politically balanced committees as set out in paragraph 3.1.2 of the report;

d)      that Council agrees the appointment of Members to politically balanced committees as set out in paragraph 3.2.1 of the report.

e)      that Council agrees appointments to non politically balanced committees as set out in paragraphs 3.3 of the report.

f)       that Council appoints Chairs and Vice-Chairs to committees listed in paragraphs 3.1 and 3.1.2 of the report.

The Chairman advised that an amended Appendix A, committee membership nominations, had been circulated round the Council Chamber.  This was following an amendment to the Liberal Democrat nominations to the Licensing Committee. 

Major Projects Board

The Chairman informed Council that there had been an under subscription of one seat on Major Projects Board.  He asked for any nominations for the remaining seat.

Councillor Asif Khan nominated Councillor Mauthoor, which was seconded by Councillor Joynes.

On being put to Council this was AGREED.

Constitution Working Party

The Chairman advised Council that there was an under subscription of two seats on Constitution Working Party.  He asked for any nominations for the remaining seats.

Councillor Asif Khan nominated Councillor Joynes and Councillor Bell nominated Councillor Asif Khan.  Councillor Dhindsa seconded both nominations.

On being put to Council the nominations were AGREED.

Planning Policy Advisory Group

The Chairman informed Council that there was an under subscription of one seat on Planning Policy Advisory Group.  He asked for nominations for the remaining seat.

Councillor Asif Khan nominated Councillor Shah, which was seconded by Councillor Dhindsa.

On being put to Council the nomination was AGREED.

Member Development Group

The Chairman notified Council that there was an under subscription of two seats on Member Development Group.  He asked for any nominations for the remaining seats.

Councillor Asif Khan nominated Councillor Connal, which was seconded by Councillor Mauthoor.

On being put to Council this nomination was AGREED.

Councillor Taylor nominated Councillor Grimston, which was seconded by Councillor Williams.

On being put to Council this nomination was AGREED.

Housing Policy Advisory Group

The Chairman advised that there was an under subscription of one seat on Housing Policy Advisory Group.  He asked for any nominations for the remaining seat.

Councillor Asif Khan nominated Councillor Ahsan Khan, which was seconded by Councillor Dhindsa.

On being put to Council the nomination was AGREED.

Chairs and Vice-Chairs

Budget Panel – Appointment of Chair

The Chairman requested nominations for the position of Chair of Budget Panel from the opposition.  He reminded Council that the Chair had to be a member of Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Bell nominated Councillor Asif Khan, which was seconded by Councillor Dhindsa.

On being put to Council the nomination was AGREED.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Appointment of Vice-Chair  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

Report of Democratic Services Manager

Council received a report of the Democratic Services Manager including nominations to Council appointments on outside bodies and details of the Mayor’s appointments.

The Mayor informed Council that since the publication of the report a vacancy had arisen on Watford Citizens Advice Bureau.  She also advised that there was a vacancy on the Hertfordshire Community Covenant Group.  The Hertfordshire Community Covenant was a commitment from public and private organisations in the county to support the active and retired Armed Forces community living and working in Hertfordshire.  The Mayor asked members to contact her if they were interested in either position.

RESOLVED –

1.      that Council appoints as its representatives on outside bodies those people listed in Appendix 3 to these minutes;

2.      that Council notes the appointments made by the Mayor to those organisations listed in Appendix 4 to these minutes. 

Report of Democratic Services Manager

Council received a report of the Democratic Services Manager that outlined a Members’ Performance Scheme; a key part of this involved Members completing self assessments.  A summary of the assessments submitted for 2015/16 had been circulated separately.  It was noted that all self-assessments would be published on the councillors’ pages on the Council’s website.

RESOLVED –

that Council notes the summary of the Members’ self-assessments for 2015/16.

Report of Democratic Services Manager

Council received a report of the Democratic Services Manager which asked for the extension of the terms of office for the current members of the Independent Members Remuneration Panel until 31 March 2018.

RESOLVED –

that Council approves to extend the terms of office for the four members of the current Independent Members Remuneration Panel to 31 March 2018.