Agenda and minutes

The Mayor’s Chaplain for the evening, Father Godric Timney, led Members and officers in prayer.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Blane, G Hodson, J Hodson, Ms Melling, Moon and O'Toole.

The Mayor took the opportunity of thanking Council Members and staff, friends and family for their part in making her year of office so enjoyable and wished the incoming Mayor a successful year of office.

(Note: During this item the Mayor presented the Mayor's Consort, Councillor Delaney, with his past Consort's engraved Shield.)

(See attached Procedural Note)

A.    The Mayor invited nominations for the office of Mayor for the ensuing Municipal year.

Councillor Moran moved the following Motion, which was seconded:

"That Councillor Neil Furey be elected Mayor for the ensuing Municipal Year."

A vote was taken, the Motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED:     That Councillor Neil Furey be elected as Mayor for the ensuing Municipal Year.

(Note:

1. Councillor Furey signified his acceptance of the Office and after he had been dressed in the Mayor's robes and invested in the Mayor's Chain and Badge of Office, he made the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office, following which he assumed the Chair.  The Mayor, Councillor Furey, expressed his thanks to the proposer, Councillor Moran, and seconder, Councillor Gagen, and to the Council for the honour conferred upon him in electing him as Mayor, before presenting Councillor Savage, the retiring Mayor, with her Past Mayor's engraved Shield.
2. During this item, the Mayor, Councillor Furey, presented the Mayoress, Mrs Julie Furey, with the Mayoress' Chain and Badge.)

B.    The Mayor invited nomination for the appointment of Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Moran moved the following Motion, which was seconded:

"That Councillor Noel Delaney be appointed Deputy Mayor for the ensuing Municipal Year."

A vote was taken, the Motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED:     That Councillor Delaney be appointed Deputy Mayor for the ensuing Municipal Year.

(Note:

1. Councillor Delaney signified his acceptance of Office and after he had been invested with the Deputy Mayor's Chain and Badge of Office, he made the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office and assumed the Deputy Mayor's Chair.  The Deputy Mayor then thanked the Council for the honour of allowing him to serve as Deputy Mayor.
2. During this item the Mayor presented the Deputy Mayoress, Mrs Ann Stubert, with the Deputy Mayoress' Chain and Badge.)

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Borough Solicitor in advance of the meeting.  (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of the agenda sheet).

There were no declarations of interest.

The Mayor announced the following:

1.     That an Extraordinary meeting of the Council would be held on Wednesday, 28 June 2017 at 7.30pm, the purpose of which being to seek approval to confer the title of Honorary Freeman, to Mr Carl Eaton, founder of Skem Menaces, in recognition of the eminent service he has rendered to the community and the Borough of West Lancashire.

2.     That his Chaplain for the year would be Father Michael Thompson of St Richard's Church in Skelmersdale.

3.     That Civic Sunday would be held on Sunday, 3 September 2017.

4.     That this year's fundraising would help the 42^nd Ormskirk (Skelmersdale St Paul's) Scouts, The Sewing Rooms, Skelmersdale and Evermoor HUB, Skelmersdale.

5.     That an 'Alternative Ascot Day' Charity event would be held at Lancashire Manor on the afternoon of 22 June 2017.

6.     That the Mayor's Charity Ball would be held at Lancashire Manor on 6 April 2018.

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor.

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Solicitor, as contained on pages 5 to 8 of the Book of Reports, which sought to elect the Leader of the council until the Annual Meeting in 2018, receive notification of the Leader's appointment of a Deputy Leader for the same term and Cabinet for the Municipal Year 2017/18 and to confirm the 'Proper Officer Provisions and Schemes of Delegation'.

RESOLVED:   A.   That Councillor Ian Moran be elected as the Leader of the Council for a term of office expiring on the date of the Annual Meeting in 2018.

B.   That the Member appointed by the Leader as Deputy Leader for the same term of office, and the Members appointed by the Leader as Members of the Cabinet for 2017/18, with the Portfolios identified by the Leader, be noted as follows:

·       Councillor Gagen – Deputy Leader, Leisure and Human Resources

·       Councillor Wright – Health and Community Safety

·       Councillor J Hodson – Planning

·       Councillor Patterson – Housing and Landlord Services

·       Councillor Wilkie – Street Scene

·       Councillor Wynn – Finance

·       Councillor Cooper – Communities and Older People

C.   That the ‘Proper Officer Provisions and Scheme of Delegation to Chief Officers’, insofar as they are Council functions be confirmed and insofar as they are Cabinet functions it be noted that the Leader has delegated these to the officers stated therein.

D.   That the Leader’s Scheme of Delegation to Cabinet members, as updated to reflect the Portfolios/Portfolio Holders now appointed, be noted.

The Council noted that Councillor D Westley had been appointed Leader of the Conservative Group and that Councillor Ashcroft was the Deputy Leader of the Group.

Details of the Shadow Cabinet and Spokesmen were circulated at the meeting, a copy of which is contained in the Book of Reports.

(Note: The meeting was adjourned for 20 minutes to confirm the political balance figures.)

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor.

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Solicitor, as contained on pages 9 to 10 of the Book of Reports and the Appendix circulated at the meeting, which set out the appointment of Committees etc. and their terms of reference and allocation of seats thereon to the political groups for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

RESOLVED:   A.   That, for the period ending with the next Annual Meeting of the Council, or such lesser period should the political balance or allocation to political groups change during the year requiring a review under the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Committees, Sub-Committees etc be appointed as detailed in the attached Appendix 1 circulated at the meeting and that the allocation of seats to the political groups be as indicated.

B.   That the representatives of the political groups on the Committees etc now appointed shall be as indicated on Appendix 1 circulated at the meeting and the appointment of the Independent Person and Reserve Independent Person on the Standards Committee, be as detailed in the appendix now circulated.

C.   That the terms of reference for the Committees etc now appointed be agreed as set out in the Constitution.

D.   That it be noted that the Leader has appointed Cabinet Working Groups as indicated on Appendix 1 circulated, with the terms of reference included in the Constitution.

To appoint the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Committees as indicated in the Appendix to be circulated as part of Agenda Item 8.

Consideration was given to the appointment of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Committees for the ensuing year.  Members noted that details of nominations had been incorporated in Appendix 1 circulated at the meeting.

RESOLVED:     That Chairmen and Vice-Chairman of Committees for 2017/18 be appointed as indicated in Appendix 1 circulated at the meeting.