Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED on the nomination of Councillor Wadham, seconded by Councillor Winterbottom, that Councillor PA Smith be elected Lord Mayor of the City for the ensuing Municipal Year.

The Lord Mayor was invested with his Robe and Chain of Office, made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office, took the Chair and returned thanks.

RESOLVED on the nomination of Councillor Mrs S.R. Brock, seconded by Councillor Branston, that Councillor Mitchell be appointed Deputy Lord Mayor of the City for the ensuing Municipal Year.

The Deputy Lord Mayor was invested with his Robe and Chain of Office, made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office and returned thanks.

RESOLVED that the Council record its appreciation for the able and courteous manner in which Councillor H. A. Slack and Mrs Nosworthy have discharged the duties of Lord Mayor and Lord Mayor’s Escort during the past year.

Councillor Shepherd presented, on behalf of the Council, the retiring Lord Mayor's and retiring Lord Mayor’s Escort’s Badges.

The retiring Lord Mayor returned thanks.

RESOLVED that the Council record its appreciation for the able and courteous manner in which Councillor Choules and Mrs Choules have discharged the duties of Deputy Lord Mayor and Deputy Lady Mayoress during the past year.

The retiring Deputy Lord Mayor returned thanks.

RESOLVED that Councillor Fullam be appointed Leader of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year. 

RESOLVED that the Council’s Executive be appointed as follows for the ensuing Municipal Year:-

Councillor                              Portfolio or Group 

Fullam                                    Leader, Budget and Strategic Vision

Cole                                         Business Transformation and Human Resources

Hannaford, R.M.                      Housing and Social Inclusion

Mitchell                                    Environment and Leisure

Wadham                                 Sustainable Development and Transport

Brock, Mrs S.R.                      Economy and Tourism

Mrs Henson                             Conservative

Edwards                                  Labour

Mrs Morrish                             Liberal

The Chairs and Deputy Chairs of the three Scrutiny Committees and the Planning Committee and the Chair of the Licensing Committee were contested.

In accordance with Standing Order No. 48, Councillor Mrs Henson moved and Councillor Coates seconded the suspension of Standing Order No. 39 to enable the whole Council rather than the respective Committees to vote on the election of the Chairs and Deputy Chairs of the above Committees and on the election of the Chair of the Licensing Committee. The motion was put to the vote and agreed. Nominations for these appointments were then put to the vote and agreed.

RESOLVED that the membership of the Committees etc, Chairs and Deputy Chairs, as shown at Appendix "A" to these minutes, be agreed.

Councillor Martin declared a personal and prejudicial interest as an employee of Devon County Council in the City of Exeter and left the meeting.

Councillor Boyle declared a personal interest as an employee of Devon County Council outside Exeter.

In accordance with Standing Order No. 7, Councillor Edwards submitted and Councillor Mrs Henson seconded a Motion in the following terms:-

“That the Council appoints a Local Government Review Committee. The Committee shall comprise 10 councillors, 3 from each of the three largest parties and 1 from the Liberal Party.  The Committee shall be responsible for all issues arising from the Council's policy to seek the creation of a unitary authority for a Greater Exeter in accordance with the policy determined by Council.  The Chair of the Committee shall be the Council's spokesperson on all unitary matters and lead councillor in that respect.  The Committee shall have responsibility to allocate, as it determines necessary, those Council resources (staff, finance, assets) necessary for the promotion and delivery of the Council's objective of securing unitary status for Exeter.  It shall report directly to the Council on all matters concerning local government review and be accountable to full Council.”

The Motion was put to the vote and carried. Council RESOLVED that:-

(1)        the Committee comprise:-

            Councillor Edwards (Chair)

          Councillor Mrs Henson (Deputy Chair)

            Councillor Baldwin, M.A.

            Councillor Boyle

            Councillor Coates

            Councillor Morrish, D.J.

            Councillor Shepherd

            Three vacancies.

(2)        the Liberal Democrat Group reserve its position in respect of its three representatives on the Committee.

“ This Council calls for a Sub Committee to be set up, comprising of two Members from each Scrutiny Committee, a Chair to be elected from and by that group to look at all the Council’s Standing Orders and bring to the next Council meeting any recommendations to improve or update all the Standing Orders of Council”

In accordance with Standing Order 7(8), Councillor Gale sought the Council’s approval to revise the wording of the Notice of Motion previously submitted to the Council under Standing Order 6. He amended and proposed it in the following terms:-

"This Council calls for a Working Group to be set up, comprising of seven Members to reflect the political balance of the Council, a Chair to be elected from and by that group to look at all the Council's Standing Orders and bring to the next Council meeting any recommendations to improve or update all the Standing Orders of Council."

Councillor Mrs Danks seconded the motion.

The motion was put to the vote and carried.