Agenda and minutes

To elect the Mayor.

It was proposed by Councillor M Mitchell, seconded by Councillor Jackson and

Resolved:  That in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, Councillor Valerie Haynes be elected Mayor of the Borough of Blackpool for the municipal year 2014/2015.

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

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

To appoint a Deputy Mayor.

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

Resolved:  That in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, Councillor Chris Ryan be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Blackpool, for the municipal year 2014/2015.

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

Councillor Ryan 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.

The Mayor, Councillor Haynes, addressed the meeting.

Councillors Blackburn, Clapham and Green to speak, followed by Bürgermeister Herr Klaus Strehl who will congratulate the new Mayor on behalf of the people of Bottrop.

Councillors Blackburn, Williams and Green congratulated Councillor Haynes upon her election as Mayor.  Bürgermeister Klaus Strehl also offered his congratulations on behalf of the people of Bottrop.

To adopt a resolution of appreciation for the ex-Mayor (Councillor Eddie Collett).

It was proposed by Councillor Cross, seconded by Councillor Smith and

Resolved:

‘That Blackpool Council places on record its appreciation of the duties so very ably and enthusiastically undertaken by Councillor Eddie Collett, as Mayor of Blackpool.  His dedication for the town, together with his many years of service on the Council have stood him in good stead for his year as Blackpool’s civic head while continuing to hold down a full time job.

The Blackpool Mayoralty again maintained its status as a busy one this year with a variety of civic engagements. 

Eddie and Heather began the mayoral year with the Royal Garden Party in London and towards the end of the mayoral year with a visit to Blackburn Cathedral where Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip were attending the Maundy Thursday service.

Blackpool still attracts a large number of conferences and the Mayor and Mayoress attended a variety of annual gatherings such as; National Pensioners Convention, UK Bus Driver of the Year Awards, WMCIU, Royal Pigeon Racing Association, USDAW and the World Ballroom Dancing Congress to name a few.

Many Ex-Service organisations still hold their Annual Reunions in Blackpool and Eddie and Heather attended reunions of the Canal Zoners, the Royal Artillery Association, Aden Veterans, the Royal Air Force Association, Battle of Britain Commemoration and the HMS Penelope Association.

National Armed Forces Week, during June, was again a great success attracting thousands of visitors to the town and the Mayor and Mayoress attended a variety of events during the week.

During his mayoral year, Eddie took great interest in small business and enterprise with several very popular evening parlours, which serviced as an extremely good basis for those involved gathering information and networking.

Eddie as a lecturer himself fully supported during his mayoral year the schools and colleges of Blackpool by attending school productions, graduation ceremonies and exhibitions.

Eddie took great pleasure in welcoming our new citizens to the town at the many very popular Citizenship Ceremonies that were held throughout the year. 

This year, the Mayor chose Snows Heights and Liberty as his charities to benefit from the Mayor’s Charity Appeal and he raised a large amount of charitable donations at well over £22,000.

A special reference has to be made to the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress, David and Jean, for their support and contribution to this mayoral year and to Rev Michael Ward who acted as Mayor’s Chaplain and has assisted at Council Meetings and other civic events.

This resolution would not be complete without particular reference to the Mayoress, Heather, who supported Eddie at all major events throughout the year.

To Eddie and Heather, Blackpool Council places on record its sincere appreciation of their services as Mayor and Mayoress, and expresses the hope that memories of their mayoral year will stay with them forever.

The Council extends to them both, every good wish for the future.’

The ex-Mayor (Councillor Eddie Collett) to reply to the resolution of appreciation.

Councillor Collett replied to the resolution of appreciation.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 12^th March 2014 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Council held on 12th March 2014 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

To receive official announcements from the Mayor.

There were no announcements on this occasion.

To consider the attached report to appoint Committees of the Council.

The Council considered the report on the appointment of its committees for the 2014/2015 municipal year.  In doing so, it noted the application of the political balance rules and that in accordance with legislation, a political group could only be treated as being constituted when it comprised of two or more members of the Council and that a single member had no legal entitlement to places on committees, unless there was a resolution of Council, which no member voted against.  Members were aware that there were currently three casual vacancies on the Council and that as the previous holders of the vacant seats were Labour councillors, the political balance calculations reflected the appropriate reduction in the number of seats to be allocated to the Labour group in some committees. 

It was noted that the Licensing Committee was not subject to these calculations although the proposals were for the Liberal Democrat member to be appointed to that Committee and to continue to be involved in the scrutiny panels appointed by the Scrutiny Committee.

In relation to other committees (namely the Scrutiny Committee, Health Scrutiny Committee, Planning Committee, Appeals Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, Standards Committee and Chief Officers Employment Committee) it was recommended for these to be reappointed according to their current terms of reference.  It was also proposed for the Area Forums to be reappointed on the basis agreed in December 2013. 

A full schedule of committees was submitted to the Council containing the notified names of committee members, Lead Scrutiny Members/Shadow Cabinet Members and proposed Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship nominees.

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

‘1.  To appoint a ‘Scrutiny Committee’, in line with the political balance calculations set out at Appendix 11(a) to the Council report, (membership of fourteen and with a composition of nine Labour and five Conservative), with the powers and duties as set out in the Constitution.

2.  That the ‘Scrutiny Committee’ also appoints the two diocesan co-opted representatives and the two governor co-opted representatives.

3.  That the Scrutiny Committee be requested to appoint a ‘Call In’ Sub Committee, (membership of eight and with a composition of five Labour and three Conservative), to meet as and when required, with the powers and duties, as set out in the Constitution.

4.  That the Scrutiny Committee continues to set up short life scrutiny panels for review purposes, to include, where appropriate, any other non-executive member of the Council, including the Liberal Democrat member.

5.  That six ‘lead’ scrutiny members continue be appointed on the basis of four Conservative ‘lead’ members and two Labour ‘lead’ members, the lead members to be as set out in Appendix 11(b) to the Council report (these to also be standing members of the Scrutiny Committee).

6.  To also appoint the following committees, in line with the political balance calculations and adjustments at Appendix 11(a) to the Council report.  These are:

·        Health Scrutiny Committee (membership of eight and with a composition of fiveLabour and three Conservative)

·        Planning Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To consider the attached report in connection with the scheme of delegation, for which the Council has responsibility.

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

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

’That no changes are made to the scheme of delegation for which the Council has responsibility’.

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

To consider the report regarding the updating of Proper Officer designations and appointments to certain positions in the health sector relating to Lancashire and Cumbria.

It was reported that a number of organisational, legislative and personnel to Public Health England and the National Health Service had made it necessary to update functions for local authorities in Cumbria and Lancashire, in relation to proper officers with the statutory duty as consultants in communicable disease control.

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

‘1.  To confirm the Proper Officers as outlined in paragraph 5.3 of the Council report, with effect from 12 May 2014.

2.  That the Head of Democratic Services be authorised to update the Constitution accordingly.’

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

To consider the attached report in relation to the adoption of a programme of meetings for the remainder of 2014 and the calendar year 2015.

The Council considered a programme of meetings for the municipal year 2014/2015.

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

’1.  To approve the calendar of meetings for the 2014/2015 municipal year for Council and committees.

2.  To agree that the dates for the Area Forum meetings be determined by the Head of Democratic Services after consultation with the Area Forum Chairmen.’

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