Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Watford Colosseum, adjacent Town Hall, Watford

Contact: Sandra Hancock  Email: democraticservices@watford.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Election of Chairman

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Khan and seconded by Mayor Taylor:

 

“That Councillor Bilqees Mauthoor be elected Chairman of Watford Borough Council for the municipal year 2021/22.”

 

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

 

RESOLVED –

 

that Councillor Bilqees Mauthoor be elected Chairman of Watford Borough Council for the municipal year 2021/22.

 

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

2.

Election of Vice Chairman

Minutes:

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

 

“That Councillor Amanda Grimston be elected Vice Chairman for the Municipal Year 2021/22.” 

 

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

 

RESOLVED –

 

that Councillor Amanda Grimston be elected Vice Chairman of Watford Borough Council for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

 

The Managing Director then confirmed the appointment of Afzaal Mauthoor as the Chairman’s Consort.

3.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

4.

Disclosure of Interests

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of interest.

5.

Minutes

The minutes of the Ordinary Council and Extraordinary Council meetings held on 16 March 2021 to be submitted and signed. 

Minutes:

The minutes of the Ordinary Council and Extraordinary Council meetings held on 16 March 2021 were submitted and signed. 

6.

Official Announcements

Minutes:

Welcome                    

Following the recent elections, the Chairman welcomed returning councillors and those taking up their roles for the first time.  On behalf of Watford Borough Council, the Chairman thanked those councillors who had stood down at the last election for their work and support to their local communities.

 

Covid 19

The Chairman invited the meeting to observe a minute’s silence in memory of those who had lost their lives to Covid 19 and other causes during the last year.

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.

Notification of Constitution of Political Groups 2021-2022 pdf icon PDF 364 KB

  • View the background to item 10.

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

 

LeaderCouncillor       Jennifer Pattinson

Deputy Leader            Councillor Rabi Martins

Group Secretary        Councillor Peter Jeffree

 

Group Members        Councillors Allen-Williamson, Clarke-Taylor, Devonish, Dychton, Feldman, Grimston, Hamid, Hannon, Hofman, Jeffree, Johnson, Kloss, Martins, Osborn, Pattinson, A Saffery, G Saffery, Stanton, Stiff, Stotesbury, Walford, Watkin, Wenham, Williams and Mayor Taylor

 

Labour Group

 

Leader                           Councillor Nigel Bell

Deputy Leader            Councillor Favour Ezeifedi

Group Secretary        Councillor Matt Turmaine

 

Group Members        Councillors Bell, Dhindsa, Ezeifedi, Khan, Mauthoor, Shah, Smith, Trebar, Turmaine and Watling

 

Independent Democrats Group

 

Leader                           Councillor Keith Crout

Deputy Leader            Councillor Maggie Parker

Group Secretary        Councillor Keith Crout

 

Group Members        Councillors Crout and Parker

 

RESOLVED –

 

that Council notes the composition of the political groups as at 25 May 2021.

11.

Notification to Council of Members of the Cabinet and Portfolio Holders pdf icon PDF 465 KB

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.

 

Welcoming new and returning councillors, the Mayor paid tribute to his two former Portfolio Holders Karen Collett and Iain Sharpe for their service to the town following their decision to step down at the last election.

 

RESOLVED –

 

1.          that the appointments made by the Mayor be noted

 

2.          that Council agrees an increase in the members remuneration budget of £11,504.

12.

Executive Scheme of Delegation pdf icon PDF 364 KB

  • View the background to item 12.

Minutes:

Council received a report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance 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 2021-22 pdf icon PDF 369 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council received a report of the Democratic Services Officer including the programme of ordinary meetings of the Council for the municipal year 2021/22.  Groups had been consulted on the dates and given an opportunity to comment. 

 

Attention was drawn to the change of date for the next meeting of Full Council which would now take place on Monday 19 July.

 

RESOLVED –

 

that the timetable of meetings for 2021/22 be adopted.

14.

Establishment of Committees and Appointment of Chairs and Vice Chairs pdf icon PDF 415 KB

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 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 committees as set out in paragraph and 4.3.1 and Appendix 1 to the report;

 

e)          that Council appoints chairs and vice-chairs to committees listed in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 and Appendix 1 to the report.

 

Standards Committee

 

Council did not unanimously agree that Standards Committee should not be politically balanced as set out in paragraph 4.4.1 of the report.  Further discussions would take place between the Democratic Services Manager and the group leaders outside the meeting.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Chairman informed Council that there was an under subscription of one seat on Audit Committee.  Councillor Ezeifedi nominated Councillor Bell to take up the vacant seat on this politically balanced committee.

 

On being put to Council this nomination was AGREED.

 

Constitution Working Party

 

The Chairman informed Council that there had been an under subscription of one seat on the Constitution Working Party.  Since publication of the agenda, Councillor Pattinson had stated that she would like to take the vacant seat.

 

On being put to Council this nomination was AGREED.

 

Health and Wellbeing Forum

            

The Chairman informed Council that there had been an over subscription of one seat on the Health and Wellbeing Forum.  However, following publication of the agenda, Councillor Ezeifedi had withdrawn her nomination.

 

Housing Policy Advisory Group

 

The Chairman informed Council that there was an under subscription of two seats on the Housing Policy Advisory Group.  Councillor Ezeifedi was nominated by Councillor Bell, seconded by Councillor Smith.  Councillor Pattinson nominated Councillor Allen-Williamson, seconded by Councillor Williams. 

 

On being put to Council these nominations were AGREED.

 

Member Development Group

 

The Chairman informed Council that there was an under subscription of three seats on the Member Development Group.  Since publication of the agenda, Councillor Pattinson had nominated herself and Councillor Stiff, seconded by Mayor Taylor.  Councillor Turmaine nominated himself, seconded by Councillor Bell.

 

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.  Councillor Turmaine nominated himself, seconded by Councillor Bell.  Councillor Pattinson nominated Councillor Feldman, seconded by Councillor Williams.

 

On being put to Council these nominations were AGREED.

 

The Chairman moved the membership of the committees and sub committees as set out in Appendix 1, subject to the above changes.

 

On being put to Council the nominations were AGREED.

 

Chairs and Vice-Chairs

 

Appeals Panel

 

The Chairman advised that the nominated Chair and Vice Chair for the Appeals Panel had been omitted from the agenda papers.  These were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Appointment of representatives of the Council on outside organisations 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 367 KB

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 2 to these minutes;

 

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

16.

Motions submitted under Council Procedure Rule 13.0

Minutes:

No motions had been submitted.

 

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