Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

To receive the Mayor’s opening remarks and report on the Mayoral year.

To give notice of Urgent Business accepted by the Mayor for consideration at this meeting, if any.

The Mayor commented that she had had an incredible year representing the people of Redditch across Worcestershire and beyond and had attended nearly 200 events accompanied by her husband and family.  She had met people from Redditch who worked tirelessly for others and highlighted some of her special moments which included brass bands, youth music, the Older Tones (a group of over 80 year olds) and events such as Morton Stanley Festival and the Arrow Valley events, also the Freedom for the 37^th Signals and the commemoration of WW1.

The Mayor gave her thanks to her husband, John and her family, to the Scouts and Guides and their leaders for their support, together with her Chaplin for the year, Paul Lowlor and Steve Lovett.  The Mayor also thanked her deputy, Councillor Pattie Hill for standing in for her when needed.  Special thanks were also given for the support provided by the Civic Team.

a)    Award for outstanding Service to the Community

The Mayor’s Annual Award for outstanding contribution to the community, which had been instituted in 2010, was this year awarded to two people.  The first recipient was Ms Judith Scott in recognition for her work in the community and in particular over 50 years’ service to the scouting movement.  The second recipient of the award was Mr Nitin Sodah for his outstanding contribution to health care within the community and the development and support of multi faith events such as the recent Faith Walk.

b)    Mayoral Charities

The Mayor informed the Council that a total of £7,019.06 had been raised throughout the year for her charities, Redditch Mental Health Action Group and Friends of Redditch Dementia.  Representatives of each of these were presented with a cheque for £3,000.  The Mayor explained that she would like the remainder of the money raised to go to the Charlotte and Craig Saving Hearts Foundation to continue the work to put defibrillators in schools, clubs and other public places and presented the cheque to Robert and Maggie Underwood.

To elect the Mayor for the Municipal Year 2015-16.

Once the new Mayor has been elected, s/he will make the declaration of acceptance of office, receive the chain of office and take the Mayor’s seat at the front of the Chamber.

Councillor Pattie Hill was elected Mayor of the Borough for the forthcoming year, following which she made the statutory declaration of Acceptance of Office and was then invested with the Chain of Office by the outgoing Mayor, Councillor Pat Witherspoon.  Councillor Hill thanked the outgoing Mayor and, on behalf of the Council, expressed gratitude for the work she had carried out as an ambassador for the town.

Councillor Hill informed the Council that she was privileged to be taking on the role of Mayor and that last year, the 50^th anniversary of Redditch becoming a new town, had enabled her to meet many previously unknown people who had helped shape the town. She had chosen three charities to support, these being Redditch First Responders, who work on behalf of West Midlands Ambulance Service; Redditch Cat Rescue, who had helped within her ward to ensure the safety and wellbeing of animals; and Touchstones who provided a brighter future for all children and young people by helping them to cope with the loss of someone close.

The Mayor was pleased to be able to announce that the Sea Cadets would be supporting her during her mayoral year and presented cadets badges to Lance Corporal Charlie Schroeder and Leading Cadet Chris Adams.

The new Mayor announced that she had asked the Reverend Paul Lawlor of St Stephens Church to be her Chaplin for the coming year.  In respect of forthcoming events, the Mayor highlighted a trip to Auxerre commencing the next day and a variety of mayoral engagements.

RESOLVED that

1)         Councillor Pattie Hill be, and hereby is, elected

Mayor of the Borough of Redditch to serve until the next

Annual Meeting of the Council; and

2)         the Council formally express, and record, its gratitude to

Councillor Pat Witherspoon for her excellent service to the

town over the last 12 months as Mayor.

Councillor Pattie Hill, Mayor, in the Chair

To elect the Deputy Mayopr for the Municipal Year 2015-16.

When the new Deputy Mayor has been elected, s/he will make the declaration of acceptance of office and receive the badge of office.

Councillor Joe Baker was elected Deputy Mayor of the borough of Redditch for the forthcoming year, following which he made the statutory declaration of Acceptance of Office and was then invested with the Deputy Mayor’s Badge of Office by the Mayor, Councillor Pattie Hill.

RESOLVED that

Councillor Joe Baker be, and hereby is, appointed Deputy

Mayor of the Borough of Redditch to serve until the next

Annual Meeting of the Council.

To consider Announcements under Procedure Rule 10:

a)         the new Mayor’s Announcements, including the Mayor’s charity/ies.

b)         Leader’s Announcements

c)         Chief Executive’s Announcements.

(Oral report)

a)    Mayor

The Mayor had no further announcements.

b)    Leader

The Leader’s Announcements were as follows:

·         The Leader gave his thanks to the outgoing Mayor for the worked carried out during her year of office, together with congratulations to the new Mayor and her Deputy.

·         Following the recent elections, the new and re-elected Councillors were welcomed to the Council and congratulated on their success.

·         The Leader had attended a number of events including the Redditch Faith walk which took place across 3 venues and was attended by 200 people. 

·         The Leader had also attended the Alex Rally, the Leaders Board of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, where funding from the business rates pool to fund 3 skills co-ordinators had been discussed.  It was the Leader’s intention that this be used to facilitate the Council’s ambition for an engineering academy to be based in the Borough.

·         The staff awards ceremony, the VE 70^th Anniversary exhibition and the Cycle Race had also been attended by the Leader, together with a meeting with Friends of Gruchet-le-Valasse.

·         The Leader also provided Members of the Council with the Bandstand programme for the summer and explained that whilst there were a reduced number of events, each event would now last 4 hours and cover a particular theme.

Councillor Juliet Brunner also took the opportunity to thank the outgoing Mayor and new Mayor together with welcoming the new Councillors to the Chamber.

c)    Chief Executive

The Chief Executive had no announcements.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 30^th March 2015.

RESOLVED that

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 30^th March 2015 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To note the Returning Officer’s report which sets out details of the outcome of the recent local elections.

The report of the Returning Officer in respect of the recent elections was received by the Council.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

The Leader of the Council decides how the Executive powers of the Council will be carried out.  Currently, Executive decisions are taken by the Executive Committee.  The Leader also allocates portfolios and will announce changes to the portfolio arrangements.

The Leader announced his appointments as set out below:

The Executive Committee

Leader of the Council by office, Councillor Bill Hartnett and Deputy Leader by office, Councillor Greg Chance and Councillors John Fisher, Mark Shurmer, Yvonne Smith, Debbie Taylor and Pat Witherspoon.

With Councillors Juliet Brunner and Brandon Clayton sitting without portfolios.

Portfolio Holders

Community Leadership & Partnership inc. Vol. Sector and Health services – Cllr Bill Hartnett

Local Environment – aligned to Keep My Place Safe and Looking Good – Cllr Debbie Taylor

Licensing impacts *, Better Environment, Cleansing & Waste Management, Regulatory Services, Climate Change, Landscape including trees, woodland and grounds maintenance and bereavement services.

Corporate Management – aligned to Help me to be financially independent (including education & skills) & Enabling – Cllr John Fisher

Internal systems, support services: Administration, Audit, Finance, Human Resources, IT, Conduct of Council, Committee business, Local Democracy and Licensing process*, Revenues and Benefits.

Planning, Regeneration, Economic Development and Transport – aligned to Help me run a successful business – Cllr Greg Chance

Planning & Land use, Economic Development, Public Transport

Community Safety and Regulatory Services – aligned to Help me to live my life independently (including health & activity) – Cllr Yvonne Smith

Children, Youth, Children’s Centres, Community Safety, Crime & Disorder, Safer Communities, Corporate Parenting and Emergency Planning

Housing – aligned to Help me find somewhere to live in my locality – Cllr Mark Shurmer

Housing Services

Leisure and Tourism – aligned to Provide good things for me to see, do & visit – Cllr Pat Witherspoon

Culture & Recreation including management of facilities including sports centre, theatres and community centres, parks and open spaces strategy including allotments, playing pitches and play areas, Sports, Arts & Physical Activity Development ; Community Training, Education, Learning & Skills.

RESOLVED that

The appointment by the Leader of Members to the Executive Committee as detailed in the preamble above be noted.

To consider a report outlining the proposed political balance of the Council’s committees and constitution of Panels etc.

The Council is also asked to appoint Chairs and Vice-Chairs to each of the Committees.

The Council considered the report setting out the proposed political balance of the Council’s Committees and lists of nominations to Committees, Sub-Committees and other bodies.

RESOLVED that

a)            the Political balance of the Committees of the Council be agreed as set out in the report;

b)        the arrangement where the seats on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee are not allocated in accordance with the political balance requirements be continued;

c)         the arrangement where the seats on the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel are not allocated in accordance with the political balance requirements be continued;

d)        appointments by political group leaders to the places on each Committee etc. as attached at Appendix 1 to these minutes, be noted;

e)         the Council appoints the non-aligned Councillor to the Overview and Scrutiny and Crime and Disorder  Committees;

f)          the Council appoints Chairs and Vice-Chairs to the Committees and other bodies as set out in Appendix 1; and

g)        appointments to Working Groups and other bodies listed in the appendix be agreed.

To agree appointments to outside bodies as set out in the enclosed list.

RESOLVED that

Appointments by political group leaders to the places on each of the Outside Bodies as detailed in Appendix 2 attached to these Minutes be noted.

To consider any additional items exceptionally agreed by the Mayor as Urgent Business in accordance with the powers vested in her by virtue of Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

(This power should be exercised only in cases where there are genuinely special circumstances which require consideration of an item which has not previously been published on the Order of Business for the meeting.)

There were no additional items of urgent business.

To note any decisions taken in accordance with the Council’s Urgency Procedure Rules (Part 6, Paragraph 5, and/or Part 7, Paragraph 15 of the Constitution) as specified.

(None to date).

There were no urgent decisions to note.