Agenda and minutes

The Chairman / Monitoring Officer will invite nominations for the election of a Chairman for the ensuing year.  A Chairman will then be elected and sign the declaration of acceptance of office.

The outgoing Chairman thanked Councillors for their support during his Chairmanship. He invited nominations for the election of Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year. Councillor Biggadike was nominated and seconded.

DECISION:

That Councillor F Biggadike be elected as Chairman for the ensuing year.

(Councillor Biggadike thereupon took the Chair and signed the declaration of acceptance of office.)

The Chairman will invite nominations for the election of a Vice-Chairman.

The Chairman invited nominations for the appointment of a Vice Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.  Councillor P Redgate was nominated and seconded.

DECISION:

That Councillor P Redgate be appointed as Vice Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2019 (copy enclosed).

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting of South Holland District Council, held on 27 March 2019.

These minutes contained exempt content which was shown at item 19 of the agenda

AGREED:

That the minutes, including the confidential minute, be signed as a correct record.

To elect a Leader for the four year period ending at Annual Council in 2023 following the District Elections.

The Chairman  invited nominations for the election of a Leader of the Council for the four year period ending May 2023.  Councillor Porter was nominated and seconded.

DECISION:

That Lord Porter be elected Leader of the Council for the four year period ending May 2023.

(Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting and leave the room without participating in any discussion or making a statement on the item, except where a Councillor is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of dispensation.)

There were none.

The Chairman wished to thank the previous Chairman and Vice-Chairman for their service to the Council as well as retired members and those who were not successful in being re-elected. He also welcomed the newly elected members to the Council.

The Chairman announced that his Chairman’s charity was Macmillan Nurses.

Councillor Porter thanked the Council for electing him Leader of the Council. He congratulated all members for their success in the recent elections and welcomed all of the newly-elected Councillors

Additionally, the Leader made an announcement relating to the makeup of his Cabinet for the period 2019-2023. It was as follows;

·         Two members of the previous administration’s Cabinet had not stood for re-election, the remaining six had been successful in being re-elected. The Leader announced that he would not be appointing to the two vacant positions and the portfolio responsibilities of those vacant positions would be divided between the remaining Cabinet members in due course.

·         It was announced that there would now be 4 Cabinet Support Members. These were; Councillor Astill, Councillor Drury, Councillor Grocock; and Councillor McLean.

·         The Leader would continue to run a 2-deputy system, with one Deputy Leader of the Council and one Deputy Leader of the Cabinet.

There were none.

Questionto: Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health

Questionfrom: Councillor Newton

Topic: Weston Housing Development Delay

Councillor Newton asked why work had stopped at the Weston development. Councillor Lawton stated that, although she had not yet been appointed as Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health for the current term, she was aware of the answer. Tests had revealed sub-surface gas deposits at the site which had necessitated a pause in construction whilst further surveys were undertaken. More recent tests, conducted following efforts to reduce the threat posed by the gas had shown an improved picture and it was hoped that, barring any further setbacks, work would restart soon.

Questionto: Portfolio Holder for Place

Questionfrom: Councillor Booth

Topic: Bridge House, Sutton Bridge

Councillor Booth requested an update on the situation regarding Bridge House in Sutton Bridge. At a previous meeting of Full Council he had requested a similar update, but since that date the building had been boarded up. Councillor Gambba-Jones stated that although he had not yet been appointed as the Portfolio Holder for Place for the current term, he was in a position to be able to provide an answer. He stated that in his last update he had said that the owners were living overseas but were in contact and open to discussion. Since then, the Council had been provided with a contact who was living in the UK and the building was being regularly monitored, but since the last time an update was provided at Full Council, no further information had arisen.

Policy Development Panel – 5 March 2019

DECISION:

That the minutes be received

Planning Committee – 13 March 2019

DECISION:

That the minutes be received

Governance and Audit – 14 March 2019

DECISION:

That the minutes be received

Performance Monitoring Panel – 20 March 2019

DECISION:

That the minutes be received

Standards Panel – 3 April 2019

DECISION:

That the minutes be received

Planning Committee – 10 April 2019

DECISION:

That the minutes be received

Consideration was given to the Key Decision Plan

DECISION:

That the Key Decision Plan be received.

To confirm, in accordance with the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, and appointments to Committees (Report of the Executive Director – Strategy and Governance (Monitoring Officer) copy enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Monitoring Officer which sought to confirm, in accordance with the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, appointments to Committees.

The Executive Manager – Governance introduced the report stating that the Council was due to appoint to committees until the Annual Council meeting after the District Council Election in 2023.

Councillor Newton declared that, in addition to the Independent Group appointments listed in the report, she was also putting herself forward  as a member of the Governance and Audit Committee.

DECISION:

1)    That the following Committees are appointed in accordance with political group regulations:

·         Planning Committee

·         Governance and Audit

·         Joint Appointments and Disciplinary Committee

·         Joint Appointments and Disciplinary Appeals Committee

·         Policy Development Panel

·         Performance Monitoring Panel

·         Licensing Committee

·         Committee of the Licensing Authority

2)    That the following Committees be appointed without being politically balanced:

·         Standards Panel

·         Appeal Panel

·         Settlements Agreements Sub-Committee

3)    That the Council appoints for 2019-2023 the Committees and Panels as set out at Appendix A to these minutes.

4)    That, in addition to the appointments listed in the report, Councillor Newton be appointed to the Governance and Audit Committee

To consider the benefits of making appointments to outside bodies that are now due and to make such appointments as deemed appropriate for the period 2019-2023 (Report of the Executive Director – Strategy and Governance (Monitoring Officer) copy enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Monitoring Officer which presented the benefits of making appointments to outside bodies that are now due and sought to make such appointments as deemed appropriate for the period 2019-2023.

The Executive Manager – Governance introduced the report. The appointments were being made by the annual Council meeting after the District Council election in 2023. Councillor Porter announced further nominations for Outside bodies which were as follows;

·         IVO Day centre – Councillor Taylor

·         South Holland Internal Drainage Board – Councillor Coupland

·         Spalding Energy Project – Community Liaison Group – Councillor Taylor

Councillor Brewis stated that he wished to withdraw his nomination to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau – Board of Trustees. This left Councillors Astill and Beal as unchallenged nominations.

Members noted that more nominations than required had been made to Health Scrutiny for Lincolnshire. Therefore a vote was held to determine the nomination. The result of this vote was as follows;

DECISION:

1)    That, subject to 2, 3 and 4 below, appointments be made to outside bodies for the period 2019-2023 (as set out at Appendix B to these minutes)

2)    That Councillor Brewis be removed from the Citizen’s Advice – Board of Trustees, and that Councillor Astill and Councillor Beal be appointed to that outside body.

3)    That, Councillor G Scalese be appointed to the Health Scutiny for Lincolnshire Committee; and

4)    That, in addition to the nominations listed in the report, the following, additional, appointments are made;

a.    IVO Day Centre – Councillor Taylor

b.    South Holland Internal Drainage Board – Councillor Coupland

c.    Spalding Energy Project – Community Liaison Group – Councillor Taylor

To note the following reports from outside bodies:-

Health Scrutiny for Lincolnshire Committee – March 2019

Consideration was given to the report of Councillor Brewis.

DECISION:

That the report be noted

Lincolnshire County Council Flood and Drainage Management Committee update

Consideration was given to the report of Councillor Biggadike.

DECISION:

That the report be noted

To receive, from political groups, nominations for any changes to Committees and other seats and to consider any proposed changes to the Constitution.

There were none.

There were none.