Agenda for Council on Thursday, 17th May, 2012, 4.30pm

Declarations of Interest by all Members present of any personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as personal and/or prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

1.1       There were no declarations of interests.

2.1             The Mayor formally moved the Mayoral report for 2011/12 be noted.

2.2             RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The current Mayor will seek nominations for the Mayor for 2012/13.

3.1             The Mayor invited nominations for the position of Mayor of Brighton & Hove for the municipal year 2012/13.

3.2             Councillor Bill Randall was proposed by Councillor J. Kitcat and seconded by Councillor Powell.

3.3             Councillors Theobald and Mitchell supported the nomination of Councillor Randall as Mayor for 2012/13.

3.4             The Mayor declared that, there being no other nominations, Councillor Bill Randall be duly elected Mayor of Brighton & Hove for the forthcoming municipal year of 2012/13. 

3.5             The motion was agreed.

3.6             The Mayor then adjourned the meeting at 4.40pm in order for Councillor Randall as the incoming Mayor to be robed and to take the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.

Councillor Randall in the Chair

3.7             Councillor Randall reconvened the meeting at 4.55pm and then made and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

3.8             The Mayor then thanked the Council for his appointment,

“Councillors – ladies – gentlemen – honoured guests and particularly my wife Heather, and my family & friends.  Thank you all for joining me today on this memorable occasion.

Firstly, I would like to thank Councillor Anne Meadows for the excellent manner in which she has carried out her role as Mayor over the past year, not least in the very even-handed way in which she has chaired council meetings, which have sometimes been extremely robust.  She has been a wonderful first citizen of our City – very ably supported by Tony as her Consort, and assisted by Councillor Geoff Wells, as her Deputy. 

It is a huge honour for me to be appointed as Mayor of this extraordinary city.  I moved here 15 years ago, my whole family moved here at the same time and three of my grandchildren were born here.  My wife, rebukes me for boring for Brighton at every opportunity, and I must confess I am fond of cataloguing the city’s virtues to anybody who will listen.  But that is because I am passionate about it.  Like others, I identify with the city’s strong sense of place and like all the councillors in this chamber I am committed to doing the very best I can for Brighton and Hove, which faces many challenges and the people who live here.

We work with an extraordinary group of people from the business community, the creative community, the community and voluntary sector, tenants and residents’ groups, the other public services and the trade unions.  Many of them are here today and I thank them all for their help and support during my year as Leader of the Council and I look forward to working with them during my year as Mayor.

And I must mention the council’s own staff whose tremendous work for our community often goes unsung.  They are doing a terrific job in taxing times and need our support.  Indeed, I had the opportunity to join the staff from Democratic Services in presenting their case to the judges of the MJ Awards to be awarded Democratic Services Team of the Year.  I will keep an eye out for the results in June.

 I would also like to thank the residents of Hanover & Elm Grove Ward for all their support and good wishes.  I will, of course, remain a committed ward councillor, alongside Liz Wakefield and Matt Follett.  I might say I can be guilty of going on too much about the wonders of Muesli Mountain, but it is a privilege to represent such a vibrant and strong-minded community.

It is, of course, only one of many strong communities in our city, and Heather and I look forward to meeting many more of them during my year as Mayor.  My charities for this year will be Allsorts, who support and empower young and vulnerable LGBT people in the city, many of whom face prejudice and insecurity.  The Martlets, whose work has touched almost every family in the city, not least mine.  Heather’s mother Peggy spent the last weeks of her life in their hospice, where she was beautifully looked after and so were the rest of the family.  The Women’s Centre, which works with and empowers vulnerable and disadvantaged women in the community.  Their work is particularly important at a time when women, in particular, are feeling the effects of the difficult times we live in. 

The charity committee, which includes councillors from all three parties, has met twice and I am greatly enthused by the way in which the three charities are already working so well together.  We will be organising fundraising events throughout the year and I look forward to support from all parties and our partners in the city for these three organisations which do so much for so many people in Brighton and Hove.

My year as Mayor will be a multi-faith year, and I am asking representatives from the city’s principle faiths t take prayers at the council meetings through the year.  The Mayor’s civic service on 27 May at the Unitarian Church in New Road, will be a multi-faith service with contributions from several faith communities.

When I put on the Mayor’s robes for the official photographs last week, I have to confess that I had goose bumps.  We have enjoyed local democracy in our city for a long time.  The first Mayor of Brighton was elected in 1885 and in Hove in 1898.  These robes, which have been worn by a succession of Mayors, are first and foremost a symbol of that democracy.  As Winston Churchill told the House of Commons in 1947 Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.  So, while it may not be perfect, we neglect it at our peril.  I am aware of my duty as Mayor to do everything I can to nurture and promote it and I will do my very best for the city.

Thank you all again for joining me in what is a very special occasion for me and my family.  I hope you will join me after this meeting at the Royal Pavilion.”

3.9             The Mayor then called on Councillor Mac Cafferty.

3.10         Councillor Mac Cafferty thanked the Mayor and offered his congratulations on his appointment and stated that he wished to present the Mayor with a Plaque from the Mayor of Derry, which was offered as a token of friendship from the City of Derry to the City of Brighton & Hove.  He noted that Derry was due to be the City of Culture in 2013 and hoped that relations between the two cities could be strengthened over the next year.

3.11         Councillor Bowden offered his thanks on behalf of the Green Group to Ms. Heather Randall for agreeing to the borrowing of Councillor Randall as Mayor for the year and to accompanying him in his role as much as possible over the year.

The Mayor will call for a vote of thanks to the retiring mayor.

4.1             The Mayor called on Councillor Mitchell to move a vote of thanks for Councillor Meadows.

4.2             Councillor Mitchell moved a vote of thanks to Councillor Meadows as the retiring Mayor for her services during her term of office.  She stated that Councillor Meadows had been a tremendous Mayor during her term of office and a true ambassador for the city.  She stated that as mayor you had to put your personal life on hold and Councillor Meadows had certainly done that, as had her husband Tony and her two sons.

4.3             Councillor Marsh formally seconded the motion and stated that she had been privileged to have worked with her on her Charity Committee and noted that over £20k had been raised for the mayoral charities during the year.  She stated that Councillor Meadows had fully embraced her role as Mayor and the city had similarly welcomed her and she would be a hard act to follow.  However, she was personally glad to her her back as a fellow ward councillor.

4.4             The motion was supported by Councillors G. Theobald and J. Kitcat.

4.5             The Mayor put the motion to the vote.

4.6             The motion was carried.

4.7             The Mayor presented Councillor Anne Meadows and Mr. Tony Meadows with commemorative badges in recognition of their year of office.

4.8             Councillor Anne Meadows thanked the Council and stated that she had been delighted and honoured to have served the city as Mayor for the previous year.  She had enjoyed every moment and wished to thank the mayoral staff for their help and assistance and the officers for their support prior to and at the council meetings.  She had been pleased to see the increased use by many groups of the Mayor’s Parlour and was grateful for all the invitations to the varied functions that she had attended during the year.  She also wished to thank her family, the Deputy Mayor and her Chaplin for their support throughout her term of office.

The Mayor will propose the appointment of the Deputy Mayor.

5.1             The Mayor moved that the Council appoint Councillor Anne Meadows as Deputy Mayor for the forthcoming municipal year. 

5.2             The Motion was seconded by Councillor Mitchell.

5.3             The Mayor declared that, there being no other nominations, Councillor Anne Meadows be duly elected as Deputy Mayor of Brighton & Hove for the forthcoming municipal year 2012/13.

5.4             The motion was agreed.

5.5             Councillor Anne Meadows made and signed her Declaration of Acceptance of Office as Deputy Mayor and was presented with his badge of office by the Mayor.

(a)               Appointment of the Mayor’s Chaplains.

(b)               Announcement of the Mayor’s Charities.

(c)               Church Service

(d)               Any other communications.

6.1             The Mayor stated that he had noted that he already had a busy diary and was looking forward to the Jubilee celebrations, as well as welcoming the Olympic Torch to the city on the 16^th and 17^th July.  He was also pleased to announce that officers had been in discussion with the Youth Council and it was hoped that the appointment of a Youth Mayor would be made in the autumn.

6.2             The Mayor also invited councillors to join him at the civic service to be held at 10.30am in the Unitarian Church in New Road on Sunday 27^th May.

The Mayor will seek nominations for the appointment of the Leader of the Council.

7.1             The Mayor invited Councillor Deane to propose the appointment of the Leader of the Council.

7.2             Councillor Deane proposed that Councillor Jason Kitcat should be appointed as the Leader of the Council for the municipal year 2012/13.

7.3             Councillor Mac Cafferty formally seconded the proposal.

7.4             The Mayor noted that there were no other nominations and put the motion to the vote which was agreed.

7.5             RESOLVED: That Councillor Jason Kitcat be appointed as the Leader of the Council.

(a)               To approve the appointment of the Deputy Leaders of the Council;

Councillor Deane,

Councillors Kennedy and MacCafferty (job share).

(b)               To appoint the Leader of the Official Opposition;

Councillor Geoffrey Theobald.

(c)               To note the appointments to the following positions as agreed by the respective Groups represented on the Council (as detailed in the addendum papers to be circulated on the day of the meeting):

Convenor of the Green Group                            

-     Councillor Jason Kitcat;

Leader of the Conservative Group     

-     Councillor Geoffrey Theobald;

Leader of the Labour & Co-operative Group

-     Councillor Gill Mitchell.

8.1             The Mayor moved the appointments of Councillors Deane and Mac Cafferty as Deputy Leaders of the Council for the forthcoming municipal year 2012/13 be agreed.

8.2             The motion was carried.

8.3             The Mayor moved that Councillor Geoffrey Theobald be appointed as the Leader of the Official Opposition, in recognition that he was the Leader of the Conservative Group which had the largest number of members of the two minority groups represented on the council.

8.4             The motion was agreed.

8.5             The Mayor moved that for the municipal year 2012/2013 the following appointments to the positions as agreed by the various Groups represented on the Council be noted:

(i)      Convenor of the Green Group                           Councillor Jason Kitcat

(ii)     Leader of the Conservative Group                    Councillor Geoffrey Theobald

(iii)    Leader of the Labour & Co-operative Group    Councillor Gill Mitchell

8.6             The motion was carried.

9.1             The Mayor noted that the next item on the agenda concerned the review of the political balance and appointment of committees, sub-committees, forums and outside bodies.  He also noted that there was an amendment from the Conservative Group and invited Councillor G. Theobald to move the amendment.

9.2             Councillor G. Theobald moved the amendment and in so dong explained that the Conservative Group felt that the proposed allocations to the committees was not a reflection of the political balance of the council and therefore should be altered to provide a fairer split across the various committees.  He believed that the Policy & Resources Committee should have a membership of 12 which would be more appropriate.  However, the amendment sought to change the allocation of the Transport Committee to 4 Green, 4 Conservative and 2 Labour & Co-operative Members, with the Audit & Standards Committee being changed to a 4:2:2 split, in order to retain the overall number seats allocated to each Group.

9.3             Councillor Peltzer Dunn formally seconded the amendment and stated that the proposed allocations should reflect the overall position on the council and noted that the Green Group held the majority of Chairs and Deputy Chairs’ positions.  The amendment sought to reflect the allocations across the committees in a fair way and he hoped that it would be supported.

9.4             The Mayor stated that the matter had been fully discussed at the Working Group, Leaders Group and at Policy & Resources Committee and he felt that there was no need to debate it further.  He therefore noted that an amendment had been moved and put it to the vote which was lost.

9.5             The Mayor then put the recommendations as detailed in the report to the vote:

(i)           The allocation of seats as detailed in the report and in appendix 1 to the report be approved;

(ii)         For the municipal year 2012/2013 the following Committees and Sub?Committees be constituted and appointed to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of the Council and the number of Members and allocation of seats to the Party Groups (apart from co-opted Members) as detailed in appendix 1 to the report and as specified below be agreed:

(iii)       That the membership of the committees and sub-committees as detailed in appendix 2 to the report and set out below be agreed;

Policy & Resources Committee – Councillors J. Kitcat (Chair), Littman (Deputy Chair), Hamilton, Mitchell, A. Norman, Peltzer Dunn, Shanks, G. Theobald, Wakefield and West.

Adult Care & Health Committee – Councillors Jarrett (Chair), Jones (Deputy Chair), Barnett, Buckley, Marsh, Meadows, Mears, K. Norman, Powell and Turton.

Children & Young People Committee – Councillors Shanks (Chair), Buckley (Deputy Chair), Brown, Gilbey, A. Kitcat, Lepper, Pissaridou, Powell, Simson and Wealls.

Economic Development & Culture Committee – Councillors Bowden (Chair), Mac Cafferty (Deputy Chair), Brown, Fitch, Janio, A. Kitcat, Littman, Morgan, Smith and C. Theobald.

Environment & Sustainability Committee – Councillors West (Chair), Sykes (Deputy Chair), Cobb, Deane, Janio, Mitchell, Pissaridou, Summers, G. Theobald and Wakefield.

Housing Committee – Councillors Wakefield (Chair), Powell (Deputy Chair), Barnett, Davey, Duncan, Farrow, Fitch, Jarrett, Mears and Peltzer Dunn.

Transport Committee – Councillors Davey (Chair), Follett (Deputy Chair), Cox, Janio, Mitchell, Phillips, Robins, Summers, G. Theobald and West.

Audit & Standards Committee – (8 Councillors and 6 Independent Members) Councillors Hamilton (Chair – Audit), Duncan, Lepper, Follett, A. Norman, Smith, Sykes and Wealls.

Dr Wilkinson (Chair - Standards), Mr J Bustard, Mr P Cecil, Mr G Rhodes, Mr P Rose and 1 vacancy.

Licensing & Licensing (2003) Committee – Councillors Duncan (Chair), Deane (Deputy Chair), Buckley, Cobb, Gilbey, Hawtree, Hyde, Jones, Lepper, Marsh, Pidgeon, Rufus, Simson, C Theobald, and Turton.

Planning Committee – Councillors Hawtree (Chair), Summers (Deputy Chair), Carden, Cobb, Davey, Gilbey, Hamilton, Hyde, Jones, Mac Cafferty, C Theobald and Wells.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – Councillors Morgan (Chair), Cox (Deputy Chair), Brown, Buckley, Farrow, Follett, Hawtree, Marsh, K. Norman and Phillips.

Health & Well Being Overview & Scrutiny Committee – Councillors Rufus (Chair), C Theobald (Deputy Chair), Bowden, Cox, Marsh, Robins, Sykes and Wealls.

Licensing 2003 Sub-Committee (3 from the parent committee with designated reps) – Councillors Duncan (Chair), Simson and Lepper.

Corporate Parenting Sub-Committee – Councillors Shanks (Chair), Rufus (Deputy Chair), Bennett, Gilbey and Hyde.

Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee – (3 from a pool of Members with designated reps) Councillors Powell, Cox and Marsh.

Housing Management Consultative Sub-Committee – Councillors Wakefield (Chair), Duncan, Farrow, Peltzer Dunn, Pidgeon, Randall, Robins, Summers and Wells.

Community Safety Forum – Councillors Duncan (Chair), Barnett, Bowden, Carden, MacCafferty, Meadows, Morgan, Pidgeon, Shanks and Simson.

Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board – Councillors Jarrett (Chair), Bennett, Duncan, Meadows, K. Norman, Shanks and Tuton.

(iv)    That in having regard to (iii) above, those Members listed as Chair and Deputy Chair of the respective Committees, Sub-Committees and Forums as detailed in appendix 2 to the report be agreed;

(iv)    (a) That with regard to (iii) above and subject to (b) and (c) below, all Members of the Council be appointed as Substitute Members of each Committee of the Council in accordance with Standing Orders.

         (b) That no Member may act as a Substitute Member of the Planning Committee or the Personnel Committee unless he/she has received the appropriate training to enable them to serve on the respective Committee.

         (c)  There are restrictions on membership of the Overview & Scrutiny Committees as set out in the Overview & Scrutiny Procedure rules.

(v)         That in having regard to (ii) above, an Urgency Sub-Committee for each Committee be approved in accordance with Procedure Rule 22; 

(vi)       That the appointments of representatives to the list of Outside Bodies as detailed in appendix 3 to the report and specified below be agreed:

7.2       The motion was carried.

The Mayor will move a closure motion under Procedure Rule 17 to terminate the meeting 4 hours after the beginning of the meeting (excluding any breaks/adjournments).

Note:

1.            The Mayor will put the motion to the vote and if it is carried will then:-

(a)         Call on the Member who had moved the item under discussion to give their right of reply, before then putting the matter to the vote, taking into account the need to put any amendments that have been moved to the vote first;

(b)         Each remaining item on the agenda that has not been dealt with will then be taken in the order they appear on the agenda and put to the vote without debate.

The Member responsible for moving each item will be given the opportunity by the Mayor to withdraw the item or to have it voted on.  If there are any amendments that have been submitted, these will be taken and voted on first in the order that they were received.

(c)         Following completion of the outstanding items, the Mayor will then close the meeting.

2.            If the motion moved by the Mayor is not carried the meeting will continue in the normal way, with each item being moved and debated and voted on.

3.            Any Member will still have the opportunity to move a closure motion should they so wish.  If such a motion is moved and seconded, then the same procedure as outlined above will be followed.

         Once all the remaining items have been dealt with the Mayor will close the meeting.

10.1    The Mayor thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting.