Agenda and minutes

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, prayers were led by the Reverend Canon Mervyn Roberts

To elect the Mayor for the ensuing Council year (2015/2016).

The Mayor invited nominations for the election of Mayor for the Council year 2015/2016.

It was proposed by Councillor Michael Goodridge and seconded by Councillor Carole King that Councillor Mike Band be elected Mayor for the ensuing year. 

There being no other nominations, it was

RESOLVED  that Councillor Mike Band be elected Mayor for the year 2015/2016.

Having been invested with the Mayoral Robes and Chain of Office, Councillor Mike Band made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office and took the Chair.

The Mayor congratulated Cllr Liz Wheatley on her mayoral year and commented that his predecessors had set the bar high.  He said that he was very proud to be part of a team of councillors and officers who ensured that Waverley was a well-run Borough.  The Mayor advised the Council that he wanted to focus his mayoral year on being an ambassador for Waverley and making sure people understand what the Council does.

The Mayor to report apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Mike Hodge, Peter Isherwood and Ross Welland.

To appoint the Deputy Mayor for the ensuing Council year.

The Mayor invited nominations for the appointment of Deputy Mayor for the year 2015/2016.

It was proposed by Councillor David Munro and seconded by Councillor Denis Leigh that Councillor Chris Storey be appointed Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year.  There being no other nominations, it was

RESOLVED  that Councillor Chris Storey be appointed Deputy Mayor for the year 2015/2016.

Councillor Chris Storey made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office and thanked those who had spoken in support of his appointment.  He said that he was looking forward to the year ahead and working with the Mayor to assist him in his mayoral year. 

Cllr Pat Frost proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor, Cllr Liz Wheatley.  She said that Cllr Wheatley had set an excellent example, having completed some 400 engagements with energy and enthusiasm, including her recent parachute jump.  Cllr Maurice Byham commented that the Borough had benefited from Cllr Wheatley’s attendance at numerous engagements and recognised that she had offered great support to the armed forces. 

Cllr Liz Wheatley thanked Cllrs Frost and Byham for their kind words. She thanked the Council for the privilege of being Waverley’s Mayor which had given her the opportunity to have some amazing experiences and meet wonderful people from all walks of life.  She summarised the numerous events that she had attended with her husband Mike and informed the Council that almost £10,000 had been raised over the year towards her mayoral charity, Citizens’ Advice Waverley.  She wished the Mayor, Cllr Band, every success and happiness for their forthcoming mayoral year.

To confirm the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 14 April 2015 (herewith).

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 14 April 2015 were confirmed and signed.

The Mayor announced that his chaplain for his mayoral year would be the Reverend Sally Davis and she would be leading his Civic Service at 3pm on 4 July 2015 at Christchurch in Shamley Green.  Following the service there would be tea at the vicarage.

The Mayor announced that he would be supporting the following charities throughout his mayoral year:

·        Dan’s Fund for Burns

·        Surrey Hills Trust Fund.

He informed the Council that he would be organising a number of events to include a Christmas Ball at Charterhouse and a sponsored walk, more details of which would follow in due course.  The Mayor had already represented Waverley at an event to celebrate the signing of the Magna Carta.

To elect the Leader of the Council for the Term of the Council 2015-2019.

The Mayor called for nominations for Leader of the Council for the period 2015-2019.  It was proposed by Councillor Stefan Reynolds and seconded by Councillor Simon Thornton that Councillor Robert Knowles be elected Leader of the Council.  There being no other nominations, it was

RESOLVED  that Councillor Robert Knowles be elected Leader of the Council for the period 2015-2019.

The Leader of the Council appoints the Deputy Leader and members of the Executive for the forthcoming Council year.  The Executive comprises of the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council and up to eight other members of the majority political group.  The allocation of portfolios for 2015/16 as notified by the Leader will follow.  In accordance with the constitution, the Leader will appoint the Deputy Leader of the Council for the duration of the Leader’s term of office until May 2019.

Recommendation

The Council is invited to note the appointment of the Members of the Executive for 2015/16, as attached, and the appointment of the Deputy Leader of the Council for the duration of the Leader’s term of office.

The Leader of the Council announced the members of the Executive for 2015/2016 and their portfolio holder responsibilities, along with the appointment of Cllr Julia Potts as Deputy Leader of the Council for the duration of the Leader’s term of office, as follows:-

To appoint to Committees for the forthcoming Council year, details of which are To Follow.

Recommendation

It is recommended that

1.         the principal Committees and the Area Planning Committees, together with the Surrey County Council Local Committee, Standards Panel, Appeals Panel and Emergency Advisory Group for the year 2015/2016, be constituted as indicated in Annexe 1 – To Follow; and

2.         [Licensing and Regulatory Committee members only] the Licensing (General Purposes) and Licensing Act Sub-Committees be constituted as indicated in Annexe 2 – To Follow.

The Leader of the Council moved the adoption of the recommendations in Annexe 1 relating to the appointments to Committees for the forthcoming Council year.  The Leader confirmed that the Terms of Reference for Committees remained unchanged and clarified that the number of seats on Western Area Planning Committee that the Conservative Group was entitled to should be amended from 12 to be 10.  The Council then

RESOLVED  that

1.            the principal Committees and the Area Planning Committees, together with the Surrey County Council Local Committee, Standards Panel, Appeals Panel and Emergency Advisory Group for the year 2015/2016 be constituted as set out in Annexe 1 to these minutes; and

2.            the Licensing (General Purposes) and Licensing Act Sub-Committees be constituted as indicated in Annexe 2 to the report [NB. this decision was taken by members of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee only].

To agree appointments to the following roles at Waverley Borough Council:-

Historic Environment Champion

Design Champion

Community Covenant Champion

[NB. The Community Covenant Champion for Waverley will be put forward as the Waverley nomination to the Surrey Leaders’ Group appointment to the  Surrey Civilian Military Partnership Board].

The Council agreed to appoint the following councillors for the period 2015-2017:-

Historic Environment Champion – Cllr Nick Holder

Design Champion – Cllr David Else

Community Covenant Champion – Cllr Maurice Byham

Each year the Surrey Leaders’ Group invites Districts/Boroughs to submit nominations for members to represent their authority on a number of outside bodies.  The Surrey Leaders’ Group has invited Waverley to make nominations to the following vacancies and the Council will be advised of any councillors who have expressed an interest in being put forward as a nomination for Waverley:-

The Council agreed to nominate the following Councillors to represent Waverley on a number of Surrey Leaders’ Group outside bodies:-

Surrey Pension Fund Board                                 Cllr Andrew Bolton

Active Surrey Sports Partnership Board              Cllr David Round

Surrey Civilian Military Partnership Board          Cllr Maurice Byham