Agenda and minutes

To elect the Mayor.

It was proposed by Councillor Taylor, seconded by Councillor L Williams and

Resolved:  That in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, Councillor Kathryn Benson be elected Mayor of the Borough of Blackpool for the municipal year 2022/2023.

Note:  The meeting adjourned briefly to allow the mayoral investiture to take place.

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

Councillor Benson 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 Benson, seconded by Councillor L Williams and

Resolved:  That in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, Councillor Peter Hunter be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Blackpool, for the municipal year 2022/2023.

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

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

·         The Mayor and group leaders / representatives will have the opportunity to thank the Ex-Mayor for her service.

·         The Mayor will present a bouquet and past Mayor’s medal to Councillor Amy Cross.

·         The Ex-Mayor will have an opportunity to thank the Mayor.

The Mayor paid thanks to Councillor Amy Cross and in doing acknowledged her service of three years including hosting virtual Council meetings during the pandemic, the range of events she had attended and funds raised for Empowerment as the mayoral charity.  Thanks were also given to the deputy Mayors, Councillors Burdess and Hobson, and to the consort John Sillis.  Political group leaders and other councillors also expressed their thanks to the

ex-Mayor for her service.

Following presentation of the past mayor’s medal, Councillor Cross spoke in reply and thanked those who had supported her during her mayoral years.

The Worshipful the Mayor to address the meeting in relation to her forthcoming year.

The Mayor, Councillor Benson, addressed the meeting in relation to her forthcoming year.  Speeches of congratulations were then made by the political group leaders along with a letter of congratulations from Oberbuergermeister Tischler on behalf of the people of Bottrop, the Council’s twin town in Germany.

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 meetings held on 8 March and 5 May 2022 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 8 March 2022 and special Council meeting on 5 May 2022 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

Members noted that the Council had received the Northern Housing Awards Local Authority of the Year Award 2022.

The Council noted the sad news of the death of former Mayoress, Nancy Callow, daughter of Councillor Mrs Callow and the late Peter Callow, former councillor.

The Mayor then moved the following resolution of condolence:

‘The Council sends its deepest sympathy to Councillor Mrs Callow and the family and friends of former Mayoress Nancy Callow for their loss and places on record its recognition of her service as a former Mayoress’.

Motion carried:  The motion on being submitted to the Council was carried unanimously.

A minute’s silence was then held.

The Council will be asked to consider the re-appointment of a Lead Member for Scrutiny.

Members considered the report on the role of Scrutiny Lead Member and chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board and proposals to re-appoint Councillor Mrs Callow to the position. 

Motion:  Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylorseconded):

‘To agree to re-appoint Councillor Maxine Callow as chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board, as she is the current incumbent, has significant experience of undertaking scrutiny and has also served on the Executive’.

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.

The Council considered a report on the appointment of committees for the 2022/2023 municipal year which had been proposed in accordance with the Council’s Constitution and Local Government Act 1972 and the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and associated regulations.

Members considered the recommendations for committees to be reappointed according to their current terms of reference. 

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. 

Motion:  Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylor seconded):

‘1.        To appoint the following Council committees, with powers and duties as set out in the Council’s Constitution:

·           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

2.     To appoint a Scrutiny Leadership Board, with the powers set out in the Council’s constitution and for the Board to continue to have an adjusted political balance membership of three Labour, four Conservative (to be made up of the Chairs, Vice Chairs of the three Scrutiny Committees and the Chair of the Audit Committee) and also to add the non-aligned Independent Member as Chair of the Committee in line with the recommendation of agenda item 10.

3.     To agree the political balance attached at Appendix 11(a) to the report and appointments to the above committees at Appendix 11(b) and to delegate authority to the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee to confirm appointments to co-opted positions throughout the year.

4.     To reappoint the Licensing Committee with the powers and duties as set out in the Constitution (equating to a membership of 13 and a composition of seven Labour, five Conservative and one Blackpool Independent).

5.     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 appointment of the Chair and Vice-Chair.

6.     To agree that any membership changes to committees or sub-committees during the course of the municipal year be reported to the Director of Governance and Partnerships by the relevant Group Leader for implementation. 

7.     To agree to the memberships of the committees of the Council and their Chairs and Vice Chairs as set out in Appendix 11(b) to the report and that delegated authority is given to the committees themselves to determine changes to Chairs and Vice Chairs, in line with the principles set out in this report should the need arise for change during the municipal year.

8.     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.

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

Amendment:  Councillor T Williams then proposed (and Councillor Clapham seconded) the following amendment with regard to recommendation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The Council will be asked to consider its scheme of delegation.

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

Motion:  Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylor seconded): 

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

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

The Council will be asked to consider a programme of meetings for 2022/2023 and to note provisional meeting dates from May to July 2023.

The Council considered the programme of meetings for the municipal year 2022/2023 and noted provisional meeting dates for May to July 2023.

Motion:  Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylor seconded):

’1.      To approve the calendar of meetings for 2022/23 as attached at Appendix 13(a) to the Council report.

2.       To agree that meetings commence at 6pm as usual (set out at the end of the calendar of meetings at Appendix 13(a) to the report)’.

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

To consider for approval a revised Code of Conduct for Members as recommended by the Standards Committee.

The Council considered a recommendation from the Standards Committee from its meeting on 19 April 2022 in relation to a revised Code of Conduct for members.  Members noted that the Code incorporated elements from a model produced by the Local Government Association following a consultation exercise in relation to recommendations from the Committee on Standards in Public Life. 

The Code had also been informed by workshops with the Council’s independent persons of both Fylde and Blackpool Council along with Standards Committee members.

Motion:  Councillor Benson proposed (and Councillor Clapham seconded):

’1.       To approve the revised Code of Conduct for Members as set out at Appendix 14(a) to the report and for inclusion in the Council’s Constitution.

2.        To note that training on the revised Code of Conduct will be arranged for all members’.

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

The Council to consider awarding the Blackpool Medal to Mrs Elaine Smith MBE.

Members gave consideration to the proposals for the award of the Blackpool Medal to Mrs Elaine Smith MBE in relation to her service to the town and involvement in many Blackpool organisations. 

Motion:  Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor T Williams seconded):

‘To agree in principle that Mrs Elaine Smith MBE be awarded the Blackpool Medal in recognition of her eminent service to the Borough and to request that the Director of Governance and Partnerships to organise a Special Meeting of Council, for the formal approval and award of this medal’.

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