Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any declarations of interests from Members.

Councillor L.A. Aldridge declared a personal interest on items which covered joint authority agreements where financial and policy impact as a Commissioner for Anglesey Council. 

The Chair presented her review of the year and highlighted the achievements of the Council.  Copies of her review had been circulated to all Members.  She welcomed all Members to the Annual Meeting and paid tribute to the Members who were no longer part of the Council.  She also thanked her brother who had acted as her consort, Fred Gillmore and his wife for their sterling work as Vice-Chair and Consort and also the Reverend Sally Baird who had been her chaplain. 

            In closing, she thanked the Corporate Management team and all of the Council’s employees who deliver the Council services and welcomed the new Head of Legal and Democratic Services, Gareth Owens to his first meeting of the Council.  She also thanked the Civic & Members’ Services team who had ensured that she had been at the right place at the right time and suitably briefed throughout her busy year.

That Councillor A. Minshull be elected Chair of the Council for the municipal year 2012/13.

It was proposed by Councillor D. Evans and seconded by Councillor J.B. Attridge that Councillor A. Minshull be elected Chair of the Council for the municipal year 2012/13.  Councillors Evans and Attridge spoke in support of their nomination. 

            The motion was put to the meeting and it was:

RESOLVED:

That Councillor A. Minshull be elected Chair of the Council for the municipal year 2012/13.

Councillor Minshull was invested with the Chain of Office by the retiring Chair and signed her Declaration of Acceptance of Office in the presence of the Chief Executive.

(At this point Councillor Minshull chaired the remainder of the meeting)

The Chair then presented Councillor H.J. McGuill with her retiring Chair’s Badge of Office and her Consort’s retiring Badge of Office. 

The Chair responded and thanked Members for their support in electing her as Chair for the year ahead.  She took the opportunity to pay tribute to the manner in which Councillor H.J. McGuill had carried out her role as Civic Leader with the support of her Consort.  They had both been exemplary ambassadors for the County and proposed a formal vote of thanks to Councillor McGuill for her term of office.

Councillor M.J. Peers, on behalf of the Independent Alliance Group, congratulated Councillor Minshull on her appointment and paid tribute to the out-going Chair, who he said had held the position with great professionalism and integrity and had raised an impressive amount of money for her named charities.  He also paid tribute to the out-going Vice-Chair, Councillor F. Gillmore and his consort who he said had also held the position with great professionalism during his term of office.

Councillors R.J.T. Guest, C.S. Carver and L.A. Sharps also congratulated Councillor Minshull and paid tribute to the out-going Chair and Vice-Chair on behalf of the other political groups, as did Councillor H.G. Roberts.   

The Chief Executive, on behalf of the officers, thanked the out-going Chair, Vice-Chair and their consorts and said that it had been a pleasure working with them during their term of office.

That Councillor C.A. Thomas be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Council for the municipal year 2012/13.

It was proposed by Councillor S. Jones and seconded by Councillor R.C. Bithell that Councillor C.A. Thomas be appointed Vice-Chair for the municipal year 2012/13.  Councillors Jones and Bithell spoke in support of their nomination.

The motion was put to the meeting and it was:

RESOLVED:

That Councillor C.A. Thomas be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Council for the municipal year 2012/13.

Councillor Thomas was invested with the Chain of Office by the Chair and signed her Declaration of Acceptance of Office in the presence of the Chief Executive.

Report of the Returning Officer enclosed.

That the report be noted.

The Returning Officer presented a formal report to the County Council on the results of the whole Council elections held on 3^rd May, 2012.

The 2012 combined County Council and Town and Community Councils had been managed effectively and to a high standard with many agents and candidates complementing the efficiency and professionalism in which the elections and the elections count had been conducted.  The Electoral Commission would be reviewing the performance of elections across Wales and England and would produce a national review report.  Flintshire will also complete a self-assessment to improve further our performance including ensuring access to all polling stations and count venue facilities. 

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To appoint a Leader of the Council for 2012/13

That Councillor A.P. Shotton be appointed Leader of the Council for the municipal year 2012/13.

It was proposed by Councillor L.A. Aldridge and seconded by Councillor L.A. Sharps that Councillor A.P. Shotton be appointed Leader of the Council for the municipal year 2012/13.

            Councillor Aldridge spoke in support of his proposal and said that he was confident that Councillor Shotton would provide the leadership needed for a stable Council in the best interests of the residents of Flintshire.  Councillor Sharps said that it was his pleasure to second the proposal.  He commented on the work of the previous administration and paid tribute to the previous Executive Members and their accomplishments.  He explained that through supporting Councillor Shotton the Independent Members would remain independent of group control.   

            A recorded vote was requested and the requisite number of Members stood in support of this.  On being put to the vote the proposal was carried.

For the proposal:-

Councillors: L.A. Aldridge, J.B. Attridge, G. Banks, G.H. Bateman, M. Bateman, R.C. Bithell, H. Brown, D. Butler, D.L. Cox, P.J. Curtis, R. Davies, A.G. Diskin, G. Diskin, I. Dunbar, C.A. Ellis, D. Evans, R.G. Hampson, G. Hardcastle, C. Hinds, H.T. Howorth, R. Hughes, H.D. Hutchinson, J. Johnson, C.M. Jones, K. Jones, S. Jones, C. Legg, P. Lightfoot, B. Lloyd, M. Lowe, R.P. Macfarlane, A. Minshull, W. Mullin, M.A. Reece, I.B. Roberts, L.A. Sharps, A.P. Shotton, P. Shotton, I. Smith, C.A. Thomas, S. Williams and D.E. Wisinger.

Against the proposal:-

Councillors: A. Bragg, C.S. Carver, A. Davies-Cooke, C.J. Dolphin, R. Dolphin, B. Dunn, J.E. Falshaw, V. Gay, R.J.T. Guest, A.M. Halford, H.T. Isherwood, R.B. Jones, D.I. Mackie, N.M. Matthews, H.J. McGuill, M.J. Peers, N. Phillips, H.G. Roberts, N.R. Steele-Mortimer, W.O. Thomas, D.T. Williams, A. Woolley and M.G. Wright

RESOLVED:

That Councillor A.P. Shotton be appointed Leader of the Council for the municipal year 2012/13.

Councillor Shotton thanked Members for their support and said that it was an honour to be appointed Leader of the Council for the next 12 months.  He said that he was committed to protecting and improving key public services through cross party working and outlined improvements which he would like to see such as greater numbers of apprenticeships through working with the private sector to create employment opportunities for the people of Flintshire including young people.

To receive and note the Leader of the Council’s choice of Deputy Leader and other Councillors to serve on the Executive

That the choice of Councillors to serve on the Cabinet and their portfolios detailed below be noted.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor A.P. Shotton, in accordance with the Constitution referred to his choice of Councillors who would serve on the Cabinet. 

RESOLVED:

That the choice of Councillors to serve on the Cabinet and their portfolios detailed below be noted.

(A)              Appointment of Committees

That the County Council confirm the appointment of the Committees as outlined in section 2.01 of the report with the following amendments:-

·        That the Democratic Services Committee be added to the list of standing Committees; and

·        That the function of the Overview & Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee be carried out by the Constitution Committee.

(B)             Determination of the size of Committees

That the County Council confirm the size of the Committees as outlined in section 3.01 of the report with the addition that the Democratic Services Committee has 21 seats.

(C)             Terms of Reference of Committees

(a)               That the revised terms of reference for the Audit Committee, as set out in the report, be agreed;

(b)               That delegated authority be given to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to devise the precise wording of the terms of reference for the Audit Committee, and Democratic Services Committee in light of the statutory guidance due to be issues by the Welsh Government;

(c)               That delegated authority be given to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to revise the terms of reference for the Constitution Committee;  

(d)               That the terms of reference for the Constitution Committee be amended to enable the Committee to examine and consider the creation of an amendment of byelaws for Flintshire; and

(e)               That the existing terms of reference for all other Committees be confirmed.

(D)             Political Balance – Annual Review

(a)               That the County Council confirm the allocation of seats as outlined in Option 1 of the report and the Committees as follows:-

·              A = Lifelong Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·              B = Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·              C = Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·              D = Social and Health Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·              E = Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·              F = Community Profile and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee

(b)               That Councillor H.G. Roberts be appointed to the Planning Committee; and

(c)               That Councillor H.D. Hutchinson be appointed to the remaining Committees granted to non-aligned Members.

(E)              Appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Standing Committees

(a)               That the County Council suspend Council Procedure Rule 1.1 for the meeting;

(b)               That the following Members be appointed Chair of the Standing Committees as indicated below:-

·        Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chairman – Councillor R.G. Hampson

·        Lifelong Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chairman – Councillor I.B. Roberts

·        Social and Health Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chair – Councillor C.A. Ellis

·        Licensing Committee

Chairman – Councillor L.A. Sharps

·        Planning and Development Control Committee

Chairman – Councillor D.E. Wisinger

·        Constitution Committee

Chairman – Councillor R.J.T. Guest

·        Democratic Services Committee

Chairman – Councillor R.J.T. Guest

(c)               That the Chair of the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee be allocated to the Liberal Democrat Group;

(d)               That the Chair of the Community Profile and Partnerships Committee be allocated to the Independent Alliance Group;

(e)               That the Chair of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee be allocated to the Conservative Group;

(f)                 That the Chair of the Audit  ...  view the full decision text for item 8.

The Council considered the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services which dealt with matters that required decision at the Annual Meeting of the County Council in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 1.1 (vii) – (xiii).  Those matters were set out in separate sections of the report.

(A)       Appointment of Committees

            The Head of Legal and Democratic Services explained that the Council’s Procedure Rulesrequired the Annual Meeting to appoint at least one Overview and Scrutiny Committee, a Standards Committee, a Licensing Committee and such other Committees as the Council considered appropriate to deal with matters which were neither reserved to the Council nor were Executive functions. 

            Councillor A.P. Shotton, Leader of the Council proposed that the County Council confirm the appointment of the Committees as outlined in section 2.01 of the report with the following amendments:-

• That the Democratic Services Committee be added to the list of standing Committees; and
• That the function of the Overview & Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee be carried out by the Constitution Committee.

Councillor A. Woolley raised concern on the small number of Licensing Committee meetings which had been held during the 2011/12 municipal year and proposed an amendment that the function of the Licensing Committee be combined with the function of the Standards Committee.  This was seconded by Councillor H.G. Roberts and when put to the vote was lost.

RESOLVED:

That the County Council confirm the appointment of the Committees as outlined in section 2.01 of the report with the following amendments:-

• That the Democratic Services Committee be added to the list of standing Committees; and
• That the function of the Overview & Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee be carried out by the Constitution Committee.

(B)       Determination of the size of Committees

            The Head of Legal and Democratic Services reported that the Annual Meeting must decide upon the size of each of the Committees it had appointed.  The Constitution made provision for the size of the Committees which were detailed in the report.  He suggested that the newly appointed Democratic Services Committee be the same size and have the same membership as the Constitution Committee.

RESOLVED: 

That the County Council confirm the size of the Committees as outlined in section 3.01 of the report with the addition that the Democratic Services Committee has 21 seats.

(C)       Terms of Reference of Committees

            The Head of Legal and Democratic Services reported that the Annual Meeting was required to decide the Terms of Reference of the Committees that it had appointed.  The suggested Terms of Reference of the Committees were set out in Section A of Part 3 of the Constitution.

            At recent meetings of the Audit and Constitution Committee, two minor changes to the Audit Committee’s terms of reference had been recommended, as shown in Appendix A of the report.  Further amendments to the Audit Committee’s terms of reference were required as part of the Local Government Measure and it was recommended that the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be given delegated authority to make the necessary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Report of Chief Executive enclosed

(a)               That the Council appoint a Joint Committee with the six other authorities within the North Wales Police area which will allocate the seats on the North Wales Police Authority;

(b)               That Councillors: G.D. Diskin and N.R. Steele-Mortimer be appointed to the Joint Committee;

(c)               That the Council note that the Councillors appointed to the North Wales Police Authority, if at all possible, also be the representatives on the Police and Crime Panel, with the Chief Executive bringing back a further report if fresh representatives were required;

(d)               That the Council appoint one Member to the Regional Safer Communities Board, delegated to Chief Executive or Cabinet; and

(e)               That any consequential amendments to the Constitution be made by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

The Chief Executive introduced a report to establish a Joint Committee with the upper North Wales Councils to select two representatives to serve on a Joint Committee that would appoint the Police Authority.  The report also provided Members with an update on the transition to the new Police and Crime Panel and the Safer Communities Regional Board. 

            Councillor A.P. Shotton proposed that the Council support the recommendations as outlined within the report and that Councillor G.D. Diskin be appointed to the Joint Committee.  Councillor M.J. Peers proposed that Councillor A. Woolley be appointed to the Joint Committee and Councillor C.S. Carver proposed that Councillor N.R. Steele-Mortimer be appointed.

            Following discussion, Councillor A. Woolley withdrew his name.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Council appoint a Joint Committee with the six other authorities within the North Wales Police area which will allocate the seats on the North Wales Police Authority;

(b)       That Councillors: G.D. Diskin and N.R. Steele-Mortimer be appointed to the Joint Committee;

(c)        That the Council note that the Councillors appointment to the North Wales Police Authority, if at all possible, also be the representatives on the Police and Crime Panel, with the Chief Executive bringing back a further report if new representatives were required;

(d)       That the Council appoint one Member to the Regional Safer Communities Board delegated to the Chief Executive or Cabinet; and

(e)       That any consequential amendments to the Constitution be made by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

To appoint Members in accordance with the allocation of seats as set out in the attached correspondence from the WLGA.

(a)               That the following Members be appointed to represent Flintshire County Council on the WLGA Council:-

·        Councillors: A.P. Shotton, J.B. Attridge, R.C. Bithell and L.A. Sharps

(b)               That Councillor A.P. Shotton represent Flintshire County Council on the WLGA Co-ordinating Committee; and

(c)               That Flintshire County Council representatives prefer the method of one person one vote.

Councillor A.P. Shotton proposed that the following Members be appointed to represent Flintshire County Council on the WLGA Council:-

• Councillors: A.P. Shotton, J.B. Attridge, R.C. Bithell and L.A. Sharps.

He also proposed that he represent Flintshire County Council on the WLGA Co-ordinating Committee and that Flintshire County Council representatives opt for the method of one person one vote.  The proposals were seconded by Councillor J.B. Attridge. 

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the following Members be appointed to represent Flintshire County Council on the WLGA Council:-

• Councillors: A.P. Shotton, J.B. Attridge, R.C. Bithell and L.A. Sharps.

(b)       That Councillor A.P. Shotton represent Flintshire County Council on the WLGA Co-ordinating Committee; and

(c)        That Flintshire County Council representatives opt for the method of one person one vote.

(a)               That the schedule of Member remuneration shown in Appendix A of the report be approved; and

(b)               That the following posts be eligible for senior salaries/special responsibility allowances at the amounts shown in the report:-

·        Leader of the Council

·        Deputy Leader of the Council

·        Cabinet Members x 6

·        Chairman of the Planning and Development Control Committee

·        Chair of the Audit Committee

·        Chairman of the Licensing Committee

·        Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees x 6

·        Chair of the Clwyd Pension Fund Panel

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services presented a report to seek Council’s approval of the schedule of Member remuneration.

            At the Council meeting held on 31 January, 2012 it had been decided that the appropriate mileage rate for travel by car should remain at 40p per mile, that this should not be payable for constituency mileage and that the maximum reimbursement for London hotel expenditure should be £150 per night.  These decisions had been incorporated into the schedule of Member remuneration attached at Appendix A of the report.

            One of the issues outstanding was to determine the posts that would be eligible for senior salaries.  The number of such posts had been limited to a maximum of 18 excluding the civic allowances paid to the Council’s Chair and Vice-Chair.  The posts eligible for senior salaries were shown in Appendix 2 of the schedule of Member remuneration.

            Councillor A.P. Shotton proposed that the schedule of Member remuneration be approved and that the following posts be eligible for senior salaries at the amounts shown in the report:-

• Leader of the Council
• Deputy Leader of the Council
• Cabinet Members x 6
• Chairman of the Planning and Development Control Committee
• Chair of the Audit Committee
• Chairman of the Licensing Committee
• Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees x 6
• Chair of the Clwyd Pension Fund Panel

The proposal was seconded by Councillor J.B. Attridge.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the schedule of Member remuneration shown in Appendix A of the report be approved; and

(b)       That the following posts be eligible for senior salaries/special responsibility allowances at the amounts shown in the report :-

• Leader of the Council
• Deputy Leader of the Council
• Cabinet Members x 6
• Chair of the Planning and Development Control Committee
• Chair of the Audit Committee
• Chair of the Licensing Committee
• Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees x 6
• Chair of the Clwyd Pension Fund Panel

The meeting commenced at 11.00 a.m. and ended at 1.17 p.m.

There were four members of the press and ten members of the public present.