Agenda and minutes

The Mayor welcomed all those in attendance to the meeting, particularly the new Members, Councillors Michelle Aldridge, Vickie Cummins, Cynthia Dereli, Susan Evans and Kath Lockie.

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

The Mayor presented Father Michael with a token of appreciationed for his support during his Mayoral year in office.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Ian Davis and David O'Toole.

The Mayor paid tribute to those Members who were no longer Councillors following the elections held on 3 May 2018, Malcolm Barron, John Davis, Gareth Dowling, Dave McKay and Ruth Melling, and thanked them for their service to the Council.  He advised that the election results were available on the Council's website.

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 this agenda sheet.)

There were no declarations of interest received.

(See attached Procedural Note.)

A.

The Mayor announced:

A.          That his Chaplain for the year will be Father Godric Timney of St Anne's Church in Ormskirk

B.          That Civic Sunday will be held on Sunday, 9 September 2018 at 2pm at St Anne's Church in Ormskirk

C.          That fund raising activities for his year in office would be in aid of Twinkle House and St Anne's Scouts and Guides in Ormskirk and he sought the support of Members at the various fund raising events to be held throughout the year.

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 2019, receive notification of the Leader's appointment of a Deputy Leader for the same term and Cabinet for the Municipal Year 2018/19 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 2019.

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 2018/19, with the Portfolios identified by the Leader, be noted as follows:

·         Councillor Moran – Leader, Economic Regeneration

·         Councillor Gagen – Deputy Leader, Leisure and Human Resources

·         Councillor Wright – Health and Community Safety

·         Councillor J Hodson – Planning

·         Councillor Forshaw – Housing and Landlord Services

·         Councillor Wilkie – Street Scene

·         Councillor Yates – Resources and Transformation

·         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 David Westley had been appointed Leader of the Conservative Group and that Councillor Iain Ashcroft was the Deputy Leader of the Group and members were advised that details of the Shadow Cabinet and Spokesmen would be circulated after the meeting.

The Council also noted that Councillor Adrian Owens had been appointed Leader of the Our West Lancs (OWL) Group and that Councillor Ian Davis was Deputy Leader of the Group.

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, 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 2018/19.

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 Appendix 1 to the report and that the allocation of seats to the political groups be as indicated.

B.   That the representatives of the Labour Group and the Our West Lancs Group on the Committees etc now appointed shall be as indicated in Appendix 1 to the report and the appointment of the Independent Person and Reserve Independent Person on the Standards Committee, be as detailed in that Appendix.

C.   That the representatives of the Conservative Group on the Committees etc be notified to the Borough Solicitor, by the Leader of the Group following the meeting.

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

E.   That it be noted that the Leader has appointed Cabinet Working Groups as indicated in Appendix 1, 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 to the report considered at agenda item 8.

RESOLVED:   That Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Committees for 2018/19 be appointed as indicated in Appendix 1 to the report at agenda item 8.