Agenda and minutes

To elect the Mayor.

It was proposed by Councillor Blackburn, seconded by Councillor Benson and

Resolved:  That in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, Councillor Amy Cross be elected Mayor of the Borough of Blackpool for the municipal year 2019/2020.

The Worshipful the Mayor to make a Declaration of Acceptance of the Corporate Office of Mayor.

Councillor Cross made a Declaration of Acceptance of the Office of Mayor according to the requirements of the law and then took the Chair.

To appoint a Deputy Mayor.

It was proposed by the Mayor, Councillor Cross, seconded by Councillor Blackburn and

Resolved:  That in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, Councillor Jim Hobson be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Blackpool, for the municipal year 2019/2020.

The Deputy Mayor to make a Declaration of Acceptance of the Corporate Office of Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Jim Hobson made a Declaration of Acceptance of the Office of Deputy Mayor according to the requirements of the law.

The Worshipful the Mayor to address the meeting:

a) in relation to her forthcoming year and in respect of the service of the ex-Mayor.

At this point, the Mayor will present to the ex-Mayor, the ex-Mayor’s badge.

The Mayor, Councillor Cross, then addressed the meeting in relation to her forthcoming year and in respect of the service of the ex-Mayor, Councillor Gary Coleman.  Councillor Coleman responded to her tribute and spoke upon his mayoral year.

Note:  Following the item, Councillors Baker, Mrs Callow, Callow, Clapham, Cox, Galley, Mrs Henderson, Roberts, Robertson, D Scott, Mrs Scott, R Scott, Stansfield, Walsh, T Williams, Wing and Wilshaw joined the meeting.

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 27 February 2019 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Council held on 27 February 2019 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

The Mayor announced the two year anniversary of the terrorist attack at Manchester Arena in which Jane Tweddle and others had died.  On behalf of the Council she passed on thoughts of remembrance to the families.

To elect the Leader of the Council, to serve for a four year term office, until the Annual Council meeting in 2023, in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

Motion:  Councillor Taylor proposed (and Councillor Cain seconded):

’That Councillor Blackburn be appointed Leader of the Council, to serve for a four year term of office until the Annual Council meeting in 2023.’

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

The Council will be asked to consider the appointment of a Scrutiny Leadership Board and its Chairman.  A review of the arrangements and terms of reference of the remaining Scrutiny committees is also to be considered.

Members considered a number of proposals in relation to the Council’s overview and scrutiny arrangements following the review undertaken by North West Employers in 2018 in which a number of recommendations had been made and subsequently considered by a cross-party working group.

Motion:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded):

‘1.        To constitute a Scrutiny Leadership Board to lead the scrutiny function, comprising the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the three Scrutiny Committees, the Audit Committee Chair and a separate Chair and that the terms of reference for the Board be as set out in Appendix 10(a) to the Council report.

2.         To agree the role profile for the Chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board as set out at Appendix 10(b) and to appoint Councillor Maxine Callow as Chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board, as she has significant experience of undertaking scrutiny and has also served on the Executive.

3.         To receive a bi-annual report from the Chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board on the impact of the scrutiny function.

4.         To amend the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules to allow the Chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board to attend and speak, but not vote at any scrutiny committee or panel meeting, in accordance with the role.

5.         To note the appointments to committees are to be made in the next agenda item (agenda item 11) but to agree as a principle that the Chair positions in all three committees be filled by majority group councillors and the Vice Chair positions be filled by principal opposition councillor representatives.

6.         To agree the role profile for the co-opted members of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee at Appendix 10(c) to the report and to delegate authority to the Director of Governance and Partnerships to determine the recruitment process for two diocesan co-opted representatives and the two governor co-opted representatives.’

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

The Council will be asked to consider the appointment of its committees, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution and the Local Government Act 1972.

Members received the report on the appointment of committees for the 2019/2020 municipal year.  As part of the report, they considered the political makeup, which had changed due to the recent local elections and noted that a review of the political balance calculations was required in order to meet the requirements of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the associated regulations.

Although not subject to political balance rules, it was recommended that appointments to the Licensing Committee would be on a politically balanced basis and that the Committee would also appoint the Public Protection Sub-Committee. 

In relation to committees that had not been considered earlier in the meeting, it was recommended for those to be reappointed according to their current terms of reference. 

A full schedule of committees was submitted to the Council based upon the political balance calculations and which contained the notified names of committee members, Chair and Vice Chair nominees.

Motion:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded):

‘1.    To appoint the following Council committees, with powers and duties as set out either in the Council’s Constitution or previously agreed earlier on the agenda:

·           Scrutiny Leadership Board

·           Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee

·           Tourism, Economy and Communities Scrutiny Committee

·           Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee

·           Audit Committee

·           Appeals Committee

·           Planning Committee

·           Standards Committee

·           Chief Officers Employment Committee

·           Shareholder’s Advisory Board

2.     To agree the political balance attached at Appendix 11(a) to the Council report and appointments to the committees at Appendix 11(b). 

3.     To reappoint the Licensing Committee with the powers and duties as set out in the Constitution (membership of fifteen and a composition of eight Labour, five Conservative, one Norbreck Independent and one Blackpool Independent).

4.     To request the Licensing Committee to re-appoint the Public Protection Sub-Committee, with the powers and duties, as set out in the Constitution including the Chair and Vice-Chair.

5.     To agree that any nominations or changes to committees be reported to the Director of Governance and Partnerships by the relevant Group Leader for implementation. 

6.     To agree to the appointment of the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen for those committees as identified at Appendix 11(b) to the report based on the above recommendations.

7.     To confirm the membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board and the appointment of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board as set out in Appendix 11(b) to the report.

8.     To agree that the quorum of the Shareholder’s Advisory Board is two members.

9.     To agree that the Director of Governance and Partnerships be authorised to amend the Constitution accordingly.’

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

The purpose of the report is to agree the scheme of delegation and consider changes to the Council’s Constitution.

The Council considered whether to make any changes to the scheme of delegation for which it had responsibility.

Council also considered proposals for delegated authority to be given to the  Director of Resources to appoint an interim Deputy Statutory Finance Officer, as the current post holder was due to take a period of planned absence from work. 

Motion:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded): 

‘1.      To agree that no changes are made to the scheme of delegation for which the Council has responsibility.

2.       To agree that the Director of Resources be authorised to appoint an interim Deputy Statutory Finance Officer to cover a period of planned absence.’

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

The Council will be asked to consider for approval a programme of meetings for 2019/ 2020 and to note provisional meeting dates from May to December 2020.

The Council considered a programme of meetings for the municipal year 2019/2020.

Motion:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded):

’To approve the calendar of meetings for 2019/ 020 and the start times of meetings as attached at Appendix 13(a) to the Council report.’

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

To make arrangements for a Special meeting of Council to confer upon one recently retired Councillor (former Councillor Kath Rowson), who, in the opinion of the Council, has rendered eminment service to the Borough, the title of ‘Honorary Alderman’.

Members noted that at the meeting of the Council on 25 November 2015, the Council agreed to adopt the award of Honorary Alderman of the Borough for retiring members who had served a term of more than 15 years, in recognition of their eminent service.

Motion:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded):

’To agree to hold a special meeting of Council to confer the title of ‘Honorary Alderman’ of the Borough of Blackpool under section 249(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 to former Councillor Kath Rowson, the time and date of this to be agreed by the Mayor.’

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.