Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: To be held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Watford

Contact: Caroline Harris 

Items
No. Item

Minute's Silence - Manchester

The Chairman, Councillor Walford, asked all those present to join him in a minute’s silence for the victims and their families following the terrible attack at Manchester Arena the previous evening.

1.

Election of Chairman

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Bell and seconded by Councillor Taylor:

 

“That Councillor Jagtar Singh Dhindsa be elected Chairman of Watford Borough Council for the Municipal Year 2017/18”.

 

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

 

RESOLVED –

 

that Councillor Jagtar Singh Dhindsa be elected Chairman of Watford Borough Council for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

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

2.

Election of Vice-Chairman

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Taylor and seconded by Councillor Bell:

 

“That Councillor Rabi Martins be elected Vice Chairman for the Municipal Year 2017/18.” 

 

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

 

RESOLVED –

 

that Councillor Rabi Martins be elected Vice Chairman of Watford Borough Council for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

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

The Chairman welcomed the new councillors, Councillors Peter Jeffree, Maggie Parker and Richard Smith.

3.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Barks and Hofman.

4.

Disclosure of Interests

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of interest.

5.

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2017 to be submitted and signed.   

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2017 were submitted and signed.

6.

Official Announcements

Minutes:

Councillor Ann Shaw OBE

 

The Chairman stated that it was sad to hear of the passing of Councillor Ann Shaw, the former leader of Three Rivers District Council.  He advised that the Mayor had sent condolences and he was sure that everyone’s thoughts were with Councillor Shaw’s family.

 

Annual Scrutiny Survey

 

The Chairman reminded Council that the annual scrutiny survey had been emailed to all councillors in April.  A further reminder would be sent with the link to the online survey.

 

Neighbourhood Forum Annual Reports

 

The Chairman advised that the draft reports had been emailed for electronic completion and should be returned by 2 June.

 

Members’ Self-assessments

 

The Chairman informed Council that the self-assessment deadline had been extended to 15 June.  Members had been emailed a link to the online survey.

7.

Questions by Members of the Council under Council Procedure Rule 10.0

Minutes:

No questions had been received.

8.

Petitions Presented under Council Procedure Rule 12.0

Minutes:

No petitions had been received.

9.

Business Especially Brought Forward by the Chairman or the Head of Paid Service which in the Opinion of the Chairman Should be Considered as a Matter of Urgency

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

10.

Notice of Constitution of Political Groups pdf icon PDF 39 KB

Report of Democratic Services Manager

Minutes:

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 David Barks

Group Secretary      Councillor Stephen Bolton

 

Group Members     Mayor Thornhill and Councillors Barks, Bolton, Cavinder, Collett, Crout, Dychton, Fahmy, Grimston, Hastrick, Hofman, Jeffree, J Johnson, S Johnson, Kent, Laird, Martins, Parker, Saffery, Scudder, Sharpe, Steele, Taylor, Walford, Watkin 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, Ahsan Khan, Asif Khan, Mauthoor, Mills, Shah, Smith and Turmaine

 

It was noted that Councillor Ahsan Khan’s first name had been spelt incorrectly in the report.

11.

Notification to Council of Members of the Cabinet and Portfolio Holders pdf icon PDF 41 KB

Report of the Mayor

Minutes:

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.

12.

Executive Scheme of Delegation pdf icon PDF 35 KB

Report of Head of Democracy and Governance

Minutes:

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.

 

RESOLVED –

 

that the unchanged Executive Scheme of Delegation approved by the Mayor be noted.

13.

Programme of Meetings pdf icon PDF 53 KB

Report of Democratic Services Manager

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council received a report of the Democratic Services Manager including the programme of ordinary meetings of the Council for the Municipal Year 2017/18.  All Members had been consulted on the dates and given an opportunity to comment. 

 

RESOLVED –

 

that the timetable of meetings for 2017/18 be adopted.

14.

Establishment of Committees and Appointment of Chairs and Vice Chairs pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Report of Democratic Services Manager

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council received a report of the Democratic Services Manager requesting:

 

a)      that Council unanimously agrees that the Standards Committee is not politically balanced as set out in paragraph 3.3.1 of the report;

 

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;

 

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

 

Councillor Asif Khan, Group Secretary of the Labour Group, informed council that Councillor Ahsan Khan had agreed to have his nomination withdrawn from the Major Projects Board.  Councillor Ahsan Khan would replace Councillor Shah as a Labour nomination for Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  Councillor Shah would replace Councillor Ahsan Khan as a Labour nomination for Budget Panel.  Finally Councillor Connal had been added to the list of Labour nominations for Member Development Group.

 

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.

 

There were no further nominations.

 

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 Collett stated that she would like to take up the vacant seat.

 

Digital Watford Board

 

The Chairman announced that there was an under subscription of one seat on Digital Watford Board.  He asked for any nominations for the remaining seat.

 

There were no further nominations.

 

The Chair moved the nominations circulated with the agenda and further updated at the meeting

 

On being put to Council the nominations were AGREED.

 

Chairs and Vice-Chairs

 

Budget Panel – Appointment of Chair

 

The Chairman requested nominations for the position of Chair of Budget Panel.  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 Mills.

 

On being put to Council the nomination was AGREED.

 

Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Appointment of Vice-Chair

 

The Chairman asked for nominations to the position of Vice-Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

Councillor Bell nominated Councillor Ahsan Khan, which was seconded by Councillor Shah.

 

On being put to Council the nomination was AGREED.

 

Councillor Taylor, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, stated that his group wished to make some amendments to the nominations for vice chairs shown within the report.  Councillor J Johnson would replace Councillor Williams as vice chair for Audit Committee and Councillor Barks would replace Councillor Collett as vice chair for Digital Watford Board.  The amendments were seconded by Councillor Williams.

 

On being put to Council the amendments were AGREED.

 

The Chairman  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Appointment of Representatives of the Council on Outside Bodies pdf icon PDF 42 KB

Report of Democratic Services Manager

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

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. 

16.

Motions Submitted Under Council Procedure Rule 13.0

Minutes:

No motions had been submitted.

 

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