Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED upon the motion of Councillor Dr R, Williams, seconded by Councillor Smith and supported by Councillor Drake, that Councillor Cunio be elected to the Office of 788^th Mayor of Southampton and Chair of the Council for the ensuing year.

The Mayor (Councillor Cunio) then made and subscribed to the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

The Mayor announced that she would be supporting the Southampton Sunday Lunch Project and the St Mary’s Titanic Memorial Window Appeal.

RESOLVED upon the motion of Councillor Moulton, seconded by Councillor R. Williams and supported by Councillor Vinson, that Councillor Matthews be appointed the 573rd Sheriff of the City of Southampton and Vice-Chair of the Council for the ensuing year.

The Sheriff (Councillor Matthews) then made and subscribed to the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

RESOLVED upon the motion of Councillor Sollitt, seconded by Councillor Hannides and supported by Councillor Burke, that the Council places on record its appreciation for the distinguished manner in which Councillor Mizon had discharged the duties of the Mayor of the City during the period of her term of office.

RESOLVED upon the motion of the Mayor (Councillor Cunio) and seconded by the Sheriff (Councillor Matthews) that the City of Southampton Award be presented to Pamela De Grouchy, Bob Pearce and John Read.

To receive any apologies.

It was noted that no apologies had been received.

To authorise the signing of the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 17^th March 2010, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 17^th March, 2010 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Matters especially brought forward by the Mayor.

(i)  The Mayor thanked all Members for their support in electing her as Mayor. In order for the meeting to run efficiently and effectively she asked Members to keep in mind throughout the year the basic courtesies needed to be adhered to for this to happen; timeliness both in arriving at the meeting and when speaking: speaking to the point, and listening carefully to the arguments. She also asked Members to remember the courtesies they would like from members when they were speaking and to extend those to others.  She also reminded members to switch off their mobile phones and that any ring would incur an instant fine.

(ii)  The Mayor announced that the Council’s Fleet Transport Service, in partnership with Southampton Solent University, Bag It Up Limited and the support of local residents and Central Baptist Church, Polygon, had won the Local Government Chronicle Award 2010 for Community Involvement.  This was in connection with work undertaken to manage student waste over the summer in Polygon.

To elect a Leader of the Council for the ensuing year.  Following the election the Leader will announce membership of the Cabinet.

The nomination of Councillor Samuels was moved and seconded.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE IT WAS:

RESOLVED that Councillor Samuels be elected as Leader of the Council for the ensuing year.

Following his election as Leader, Councillor Samuels informed the Council of his Cabinet and their Portfolio responsibilities.

Adult Social Care and Health – Councillor White

Children’s Services and Learning – Councillor Holmes

Economic Development – Councillor Smith

Environment and Transport – Councillor Dean

Housing and Local Services – Councillor P Williams

Leisure, Culture and Heritage – Councillor Hannides

Resources and Workforce Planning – Councillor Moulton

Safeguarding Children and Youth Services – Councillor Walker

The Leader then confirmed that the contents of each of the Portfolios would be unchanged and would be incorporated into the scheme of Executive Delegation in the Constitution.

a)  APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS

The Leader to move that, subject to alterations as may from time to time be made by the Council, the necessary Committees, Sub-Committees and other bodies and external organisations be appointed by the Council with the number and allocation of seats to political groups as set out in a schedule to be tabled at the meeting.

b)  APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR

To appoint the Chair and Vice-Chair to each of the Committees and Sub-Committees appointed by the Council.

(a) APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS

To approve the following dates for meetings of the Council in the 2010/11 Municipal Year:

·  14^th July 2010

·  15^th September 2010

·  17^th November 2010

·  16^th February 2011

·  16^th March 2011

·  11^th May 2011

N.B.  Following the Council Meeting held on 17^th February 2010, at which it was agreed that one Council meeting per year would be removed, it is proposed that the January meeting should be deleted from the meeting cycle.

The Council considered the dates for meetings of the Council for the 2010/11 municipal year. It was noted that following the Council meeting held on 17^th February 2010 the January meeting had been deleted from the meeting cycle.

Amendment moved by Councillor Vinson and seconded by Councillor R. Williams:

Add:

That the schedule of dates for the meetings of the Council in the 2010/11 Municipal Year be approved as listed, with the exception that the meeting here scheduled for 11th May 2011 be rescheduled for 18^th May 2011.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT WAS DECLARED CARRIED>

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION AS AMENDED WAS DECLARED CARRIED>

RESOLVED that the following dates for meetings of the Council in the 2010/11 Municipal Year be agreed:

14^th July 2010

15^th September 2010

17^th November 2010

16^th February 2011

16^th March 2011

18^th May 2011

To receive any requests for Deputations, Presentation of Petitions or Public Questions.

It was noted that no requests to present deputations, petitions or public questions had been received.

Report of the Leader of the Council, attached.

The report of the Leader of the Council was submitted, setting out the details of the business undertaken by the Executive (copy of report circulated with agenda and appended to signed minutes).

The Leader and the Cabinet made statements and responded to Questions.

The following question was then submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1:-

1 Question from Councillor Payne to Councillor P. Williams.

Could the Cabinet Member inform the Council what he has done with the petition - signed by around 200 people - calling for urgent action at the Kingsclere Close and Somborne House flats in Weston (where part of the building collapsed) since he received it on 27 April 2010?

Answer

The immediate priority has been to deal with the incident, so officers have concentrated on removing the debris safely which has now been achieved.  The scaffolding has been removed and most of the fencing and the local housing office has now reopened.

Officers have kept residents informed by face to face visits and letters both before and after removal of the debris on 22^nd April and 6^th May.

I received a petition from Mrs. Warren.  There have been discussions about this.  We would like to roll out the programme in the future, this is dependent on public finances and we wait to see what support is available for ambitions to regenerate our housing estates in the future.

No motions have been received for this meeting.

It was noted that no motions had been received.

To consider any question of which notice has been given under Council Procedure Rule 11.2.

It was noted that no questions to the Chairs of Committees or the Mayor had been received.

Report of the Solicitor to the Council, seeking approval for changes to the City Council’s Constitution, attached.

RESOLVED:

(i)  that the changes to the Constitution as set out in the report be approved;

(ii)  that the Petition Scheme set out in Appendix 8 to the report be approved and that delegated authority be granted to the Solicitor to the Council to amend the Scheme;

(iii)  that the Solicitor to the Council be authorised to finalise the arrangements as approved by Full Council and make any further consequential or minor changes arising from the decision(s) of Full Council; and

(iv)  that the City Council’s Constitution be approved, as amended, including the Officer Scheme of Delegation for the municipal year 2010/11.

Report of the Solicitor of the Council seeking authorisation to consult in respect of the two potential governance models, together with the options for changing the Council’s electoral cycle, attached.

The report of the Solicitor to the Council was submitted seeking authorisation to consult in respect of the two potential governance models, together with the options for changing the Council’s electoral cycle (copy of report circulated with agenda and appended to signed minutes).

Amendment moved by Councillor Samuels and seconded by Councillor Smith

Delete:

(ii)  ……..’set out in paragraphs 8-17 be approved;’

Replace with:

(ii)  ……..’be delegated to the Solicitor to the Council following consultation with the Leader of the Council.’

AMENDED RECOMMENDATION (ii) TO READ:

(ii)  That the consultation process be delegated to the Solicitor to the Council following consultation with the Leader of the Council.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT WAS DECLARED CARRIED

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION AS AMENDED WAS DECLARED CARRIED

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the Solicitor to the Council be authorised to consult in respect of the two potential governance models together with the options for changing the Council’s electoral cycle;

(ii)  That the consultation process be delegated to the Solicitor to the Council following consultation with the Leader of the Council.

(iii)  That a further report be submitted to the September Council meeting to determine the results of any consultations in respect of changes to the Council’s Executive governance arrangements;

(iv)  That a Special meeting of the Council be convened before the September 2010 meeting in order for Council to consider the results of the consultation and determine proposals for any change in its electoral governance arrangements;

(v)  That the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act Working Group be re-established and that each of the political groups be asked to nominate two representatives to serve as members of the Group; and

(vi)  That the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act Working Group be requested to consider the results of the consultation and make recommendations on the options which should be approved by Council in September.

Verbal report from the Returning Officer.

RESOLVED that the report of the Solicitor to the Council concerning the results of the Parliamentary and City Council Elections 2010 be received and noted (copy of report circulated at the meeting and appended to signed minutes.)

Report of the Chair of Standards and Governance Committee, attached.

RESOLVED that the report of the Chair of Standards and Governance Committee giving an overview of the work of the Committee be received and noted (copy of report circulated with agenda and appended to signed minutes).

RESOLVED that the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy) summarising the use of the call-in procedure over the last three months be received and noted (copy of report circulated with agenda and appended to signed minutes).

a)  OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY:  SUMMARY OF CALL-IN ACTIVITY

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy), summarising the use of the Call-In procedure over the last three months, attached.

b)  OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY ANNUAL REPORT 2009/10

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy), detailing the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee Annual Report 2009/10 in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, attached.

RESOLVED that the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy) detailing the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee Annual Report 2009/10 in accordance with the Council’s Constitution be received and noted (copy of the report circulated with the agenda and appended to signed minutes.)