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

“That Councillor Asif Khan be elected Chairman of Watford Borough Council for the municipal year 2019/20”.

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

RESOLVED –

that Councillor Asif Khan be elected Chairman of Watford Borough Council for the municipal year 2019/20.

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

The meeting will be adjourned at this point and re-convened at 7.30pm

It was moved by The Mayor and seconded by Councillor Williams:

“That Councillor Aga Dychton be elected Vice Chairman for the Municipal Year 2019/20.” 

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

RESOLVED –

that Councillor Aga Dychton be elected Vice Chairman of Watford Borough Council for the Municipal Year 2019/20.

The Managing Director then confirmed the appointment of Uzma Khan as the Chairman’s Consort and Anna Falek as the Vice Chairman’s Consort.

The Chairman welcomed new Councillors Favour Ezeifedi, Jennifer Pattinson, Jessica Stiff, Richard Wenham and Dawn Allen-Williamson.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Allen-Williamson, J. Johnson and also for Councillor Wenham from this item forward.

There were no disclosures of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2019 to be submitted and signed. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2019 were submitted and signed.

Councillor Smith

On behalf of the Council, the Chairman congratulated Councillor Smith on the birth of his first child Reuban Nathan Smith.

Members Portal

The Chairman informed members that the Members Portal had now been launched and could be used for members training and Neighbourhood Locality Fund applications.

Neighbourhood Locality Funds

The Chairman reminded members to return their Neighbourhood Locality Fund evaluation forms as soon as possible.

Retirement of the Managing Director

The Chairman invited the Mayor to make an announcement.  The Mayor informed Council that the Managing Director, Manny Lewis, would be retiring in April 2020.  The Mayor commented that Mr Lewis had been a fantastic Managing Director for 10 years.  It had been a challenging time for many councils with cuts in budget.  However, Watford had continued to achieve great things with Cassiobury Park, the Town Centre and the LGA Peer Review.  The Mayor thanked Mr Lewis for his excellent leadership.  Over the next six-months a Council appointed panel would be working on securing a new Managing Director.  It was hoped that an announcement on the new Managing Director would be made in October this year with a start date in early 2020.  The Appointments Committee would be involved alongside the Mayor and Senior Managers.  The Mayor thanked Mr Lewis for his time as Managing Director and looked forward to recruiting a worthy successor to continue his hard work.

Councillor Bell paid tribute to Mr Lewis on behalf of the Labour Group for what he had done and achieved and thanked him for working well with the Group.

Hospitality

The Chairman invited Council to attend Iftar, breaking of the fast, following the Annual Council meeting.

No questions had been received.

No petitions had been received.

There was no urgent business.

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 Karen Collett

Deputy Leader           Councillor Kareen Hastrick

Group Secretary        Councillor Peter Jeffree

Group Members        Mayor Taylor and Councillors Allen-Williamson, Bolton, Collett, Crout, Dychton, Fahmy, Grimston, Hamid, Hastrick, Hofman, Jeffree, J Johnson, S Johnson, Kloss, Martins, Parker, Pattinson, Saffery, Scudder, Sharpe, Stiff, Stotesbury, Walford, Watkin, Wenham and Williams

Labour Group

Leader                         Councillor Nigel Bell

Deputy Leader           Councillor Jagtar Singh Dhindsa

Group Secretary        Councillor Matt Turmaine

Group Members        Councillors Bashir, Bell, Dhindsa, Ezeifedi, Khan, Mauthoor, Mills, Shah, Smith 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. 

The Mayor thanked Councillor Bolton for his important piece of work in the previous municipal year on the committee structure which had gone well. 

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.

RESOLVED –

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

Report of Democratic Services Officer (IM)

Council received a report of the Democratic Services Officer (IM) including the programme of ordinary meetings of the Council for the Municipal Year 2019/20.  All Members had been consulted on the dates and given an opportunity to comment. 

RESOLVED –

that the timetable of meetings for 2019/20 be adopted.

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 as set out in paragraph 4.4.1 of the report;

b)      that Council agrees the establishment of politically balanced committees as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report;

c)      that Council agrees the establishment of non politically balanced committees as set out in paragraph 4.2 of the report;

d)      that Council agrees the appointment of Members to politically balanced and non politically balanced committees as set out in paragraphs 4.3 and 4.3.1 and Appendix A to the report;

e)      that Council appoints chairs and vice-chairs to committees listed in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 and Appendix A to the report.

Health and Wellbeing Forum

The Chairman informed Council that there was an over subscription of one seat on the Health and Wellbeing Forum.  Councillor Allen-Williamson had withdrawn her nomination.

Housing Policy Advisory Group

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

Councillor Hofman stated he would like to take the vacant seat; this was seconded by Councillor Watkin.

On being put to Council this nomination was AGREED.

Major Projects Forum

The Chairman informed Council that there was an over subscription of one seat on the Major Projects Forum.  Councillor Jeffree had withdrawn his nomination.

Member Development Group

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

Councillor Bell nominated Councillor Ezeifedi; this was seconded by Councillor Turmaine

Councillor Hamid stated he would like to take a vacant seat; this was seconded by Councillor Martins.

On being put to Council these nominations were AGREED.

Planning Policy Advisory Group

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

Councillor Bolton stated he would like to take a vacant seat; this was seconded by Councillor Grimston.

Councillor Bashir stated he would like to take a vacant seat; this was seconded by Councillor Ezeifedi

On being put to Council these nominations were AGREED.

Sustainability Forum

The Chairman informed Council that there was an under subscription of two seats on the Sustainability Forum.  He asked for nominations for the remaining seats.

Councillor Crout stated he would like to take a vacant seat; this was seconded by Councillor Stotesbury

Councillor Turmaine stated he would like to take a vacant seat; this was seconded by Councillor Mauthoor

On being put to Council these nominations were AGREED.

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

Finance Scrutiny Committee – Appointment of Chair

The Chairman requested nominations for the position of Chair of Finance Scrutiny Committee.  He reminded Council that the Chair had to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

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.

RESOLVED –

1.      that Council appoints as its representatives on outside bodies those people listed in Appendix 2 to these minutes;

2.      that Council notes the appointments made by the Mayor to those organisations listed in Appendix 3 to these minutes. 

No motions had been submitted.