Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

To confirm the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 23 March 2023 and the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 26 April 2023.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2023 and the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 26 April 2023 were confirmed.

 

(9 For, 0 Against, 19 Abstentions)

Members to declare any interest as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

Councillor Butcher declared an other registerable interest in relation to the report on Appointments to Outside Bodies and Working Groups as she is a Director of the Business Improvement District. Butcher

 

Councillor Freer declared an other registerable interest in relation to the report on Appointments to Outside Bodies and Working Groups as she is a Director of the Business Improvement District.

 

A personal interest in respect of Councillor Orson was noted as being on record for any matters which related to the Leicestershire County Council.

The Mayor made the following speech.

 

“During my year in office, I have been honoured to represent the people of the Borough at so many events and activities both in Melton and beyond. I have seen at first hand all the good work that goes on behind the scenes to make our community come together for the good of us all.

 

The fund-raising, ceremonies, businesses and community gatherings have shown me how important it is for people to work together to improve and shape the lives of those who live, work and visit the Borough and at all times, I have seen such huge community spirit across the Borough.

 

£6,200 has been raised for my nominated charities of Loros and Dove Cottage and I am grateful to all those who have contributed and supported me to reach this amazing sum which will positively impact on the lives of all those using these facilities.

 

During the year, I have attended over 120 engagements and have felt welcomed and privileged to be invited to so many events.

 

It has been difficult for me to select just a few events that have stood out but three of them have been momentous occasions for all of us:

 

Platinum Jubilee – June 2022

The concert in the park was a wonderful day with a great turnout and the sun shone for us too! A beautiful piece of music called Happy and Glorious was especially written for the event by Leigh Baker and there was a competition for the lyrics to the piece run through the Borough’s schools. The event involved local school pupils, the Melton Town Band, the Melton Church Choir and the Global Harmony Choir.

 

The Proclamation – September 2022

There was a time of enormous sadness and mourning last September with the passing of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Following this most devastating event, the Council was required to swear its allegiance and make a proclamation to the new King, King Charles III.

 

The Proclamation was held at the Council Offices and although we were still mourning our Queen, it was a ceremonial event full of hope for the future. It was a highlight of my year in office and an experience I will never forget.

 

Coronation of King Charles III

I also had the privilege of being the Mayor of the Borough for the coronation events of King Charles III just a few weeks ago. I represented the Borough at a service in St Mary’s Church alongside the Lord Lieutenant which included the unveiling of the Coronation Oak at Egerton Park and a tour of the Market Place.

 

Outgoing Members

I would like to pay tribute to the outgoing and recently retired members, some of whom are with us this evening.

 

Each and every one championed the people and needs of their ward as well as enthusiastically taking up their Council appointments.

 

They were all trusted and well-respected Councillors by colleagues and officers alike and their services to the Borough  ...  view the full minutes text for item CO4

a) To elect the Mayor for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

b) To invest the Mayor and consort.

 

(New Mayor in the Chair)

 

c) The new Mayor to give thanks for their election.

d) To receive a vote of thanks for the retiring Mayor.

e) The new Mayor to make any announcements.

(Chief Executive in the Chair)

 

Councillor Glancy proposed Councillor Hewson be elected Mayor of the Borough until the Annual Council meeting in 2024. Councillor Allnatt seconded the motion and Council

 

RESOLVED

 

that Councillor Hewson be elected Mayor of the Borough of Melton for the period until the Annual Council meeting in 2024.

 

(27 For, 0 Against, 1 Abstention)

 

Councillor Hewson signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, resumed the Chair and thanked Members for re-electing him to the position of Mayor.

a) To elect the Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

b) To invest the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Consort.

c) The Deputy Mayor to give thanks for their election.

Councillor S Atherton proposed Councillor Webster be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough until the Annual Council meeting in 2024. Councillor Graham seconded the motion and Council

 

RESOLVED

 

that Councillor Webster be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Melton for the period until the Annual Council meeting in 2024.

 

(27 For, 0 Against, 1 Abstentions)

 

Councillor Webster signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and he and his consort, Mrs Webster, were invested with the Chains of Office. Councillor Webster gave thanks for his election as Deputy Mayor.

To elect the Leader for the duration of the term (2023-2027).

Councillor Freer proposed Councillor Graham be elected Leader of the Council until the Annual Council meeting in 2027. Councillor Evans seconded the motion.

 

Councillor Glancy proposed Councillor Allnatt be elected Leader of the Council until the Annual Council meeting in 2027. Councillor Cox seconded the motion.

 

Both candidates made short speeches in favour of their candidacies with Councillor Graham speaking first and Cllr Allnatt speaking after, and Council

 

RESOLVED

 

that Councillor Allnatt be elected Leader of the Council for the period until the Annual Council Meeting in 2027.

 

(Graham 11, Allnatt 13, Abstentions 4)

The Council is requested to note the appointment of the Deputy Leader, as may be announced by the Leader.

 

The Council is requested to note the appointment of members of the Cabinet, as may be announced by the Leader.

 

The Council is requested to note the Cabinet Portfolios, as may be announced by the Leader.

 

The Council is requested to note the Leader’s Scheme of Delegation (to follow).

 

The Leader is to provide an update on the proposed policies of the Council for the forthcoming year.

Councillor Allnatt thanked Council for electing him Leader of the Council. He stated that he would operate a Cabinet of five Members. This includes himself as Leader and Councillor Glancy as Deputy Leader. Councillors Butcher, Cox and Cumbers will also join the Cabinet.

 

It was noted that the Leader’s Scheme of Delegation including a breakdown of the Portfolios will follow the meeting. Councillor Allnatt then made the following speech.

 

“I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who have gone before and have endeavoured to serve our community, something which I do respect.

 

All Members will start with me with a clean slate. This is not a meritocracy, this is a democracy and every Member who comes to the table comes because they've been elected and have something to say. From me you will get complete patience, perseverance and wherever possible an accommodation for what your opinion happens to be at that time but the election is over and it's been said before and I will repeat it again the public expects us to get on with the job we must all earn that trust and for my part I'm clear that their mandate is for change and for all of us to work together for the common good.

 

I am honoured and grateful that councillors have put their trust in me to lead this task. Our efforts must be for the whole Borough as well as for the town of Melton, so I do look forward to working with Parish councils who are at the heart of our broader community.

 

On policy we have already agreed a slimmer Cabinet this will [involve] more focus and better involvement by all Members before decisions are made. To this end, and I think broadly speaking I agree with Councillor Graham on this, what's important is to analyse the problems properly, prepare thoroughly and implement in an orderly manner and that must of course include an eye on the cost of everything and where we go in the long term.

 

To ensure this happens we believe it is time to review the strong cabinet system and implement a return to either a full committee system or at least a hybrid one under a no overall control. This is a rather pragmatic approach anyway but we believe in a Local Authority of this size is actually rather better than trying to ape some of the larger authorities.

 

Our policies will be firmly rooted in providing our core services to our communities in a timely, effective and efficient manner. Now I recognise outside of those core facilities there are other things which prey on our minds that some of them are very aspirational and some stretch the capital program to its limits and new members and old members who attended briefings in since the election will be fully aware by now that local government here, and throughout the country, is on a knife edge for the reasons which have been relayed including Covid,  ...  view the full minutes text for item CO8

To receive a report to consider:

 

a) The appointment of the Scrutiny Committee and Standing Committees of the Council for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

 

b) Approval of the terms of reference and number of voting places on the Scrutiny Committee and Standing Committees of the Council for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

 

c) Approval of the political balance calculation.

 

d) Approval of the allocation of committee seats to political groups, non-aligned Members and membership of each committee for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

 

e) Election of Chairs and Vice Chairs of Committees for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

 

 

(Prior to the consideration of this report, a revised Appendix A was circulated to Members.)

 

The Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced the report the political balance and allocation of seats to political groups. Councillor Allnatt moved the recommendations 2.1-2.7 of the report and Councillor Glancy seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED

 

Council

 

(1)  APPOINTED the Scrutiny Committee and Standing Committees as set out in paragraph 5.3 for the Municipal Year 2023/24;

 

(2)  AGREED the terms of reference and number of voting places on the Scrutiny Committee and Standing Committees as detailed at paragraphs 5.2 – 5.5 for the Municipal Year 2023/24;

 

(3)  APPROVED the political balance calculation at paragraphs 5.6 – 5.9;

 

(4)  APPROVED the allocation of seats on the Committees as set out in paragraph 5.10 and Working Groups as set out in paragraph 5.16.

 

(5)  RECEIVED nominations and make appointments to Committees and Working Groups as notified by the Group Leaders and set out in Appendix A;

 

(6)  AUTHORISED the Monitoring Officer to give effect to the wishes of the group in relation to adjustments to committee appointments where properly notified in accordance with Regulation 13 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990;

 

(7)  APPOINTED non-aligned members to their allocation of seats on Committees and Working Groups as set out in Appendix A;

 

(Unanimous)

 

Election of the Audit and Standards Committee Chair

Councillor Glancy proposed Councillor Higgins be elected Chair of the Audit and Standards Committee until the Annual Council meeting in 2024. Councillor Allnatt seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED

 

that Councillor Higgins be elected Chair of the Audit and Standards Committee for the period until the Annual Council meeting in 2024.

 

(For 16, Against 0, Abstentions 12)

 

Election of the Audit and Standards Committee Vice Chair

Councillor Glancy proposed Councillor Mason be elected Vice Chair of the Audit and Standards Committee until the Annual Council meeting in 2024. Councillor Allnatt seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED

 

that Councillor Mason be elected Vice Chair of the Audit and Standards Committee for the period until the Annual Council meeting in 2024.

 

(For 15, Against 0, Abstentions 13)

 

Election of the Employment Committee Chair

Councillor Glancy proposed Councillor Allnatt be elected Chair of the Employment Committee until the Annual Council meeting in 2024. Councillor Brown seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED

 

that Councillor Allnatt be elected Chair of the Employment Committee for the period until the Annual Council meeting in 2024.

 

(For 15, Against 0, Abstentions 13)

 

Election of the Employment Committee Vice Chair

Councillor Allnatt proposed Councillor Glancy be elected Vice Chair of the Employment Committee until the Annual Council meeting in 2024. Councillor Higgins seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED

 

that Councillor Glancy be elected Vice Chair of the Employment Committee for the period until the Annual Council meeting in 2024.

 

(For 16, Against 0, Abstentions 12)

 

Election of the Licensing Committee Chair

Councillor Glancy proposed Councillor Carter be elected Chair of the Licensing Committee until the Annual Council meeting in 2024. Councillor Allnatt seconded the motion.

 

Councillor Graham proposed Councillor S Atherton be elected  ...  view the full minutes text for item CO9

The Council is to receive a report to agree the Scheme of Delegation and confirm the Council’s Constitution.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced a report on the Scheme of Delegation and the Constitution. Councillor Allnatt moved the recommendations of the report and Councillor Glancy seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED

 

Council

 

(1)  APPROVED the Officer Scheme of Delegation.

 

(2)  CONFIRMED the Constitution.

 

(Unanimous)

The Council is to receive a report on the proposed Calendar of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced the report on the Programme of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2023/24. Councillor Allnatt moved the recommendations of the report and Councillor Glancy seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED

 

Council

 

APPROVED the Programme of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

 

(Unanimous)

The Council is to receive a report which asks Members to consider nominations for representatives to serve on outside bodies and working groups.

 

 

The Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced the report on appointments to outside bodies and working groups. Councillor Allnatt moved the recommendations of the report and Councillor Glancy seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED

 

Council

 

(1)  NOTED the appointments in Column A of Appendix A (designated according to the role/portfolio holder/ward member).

 

(2)  APPOINTED representatives to serve on the outside bodies and working groups listed at Appendix A (other than those in Column A).

 

(3)  AGREED the proposed allocation of seats on the Constitution Review Working Group and the Climate Change Emergency Working Group as indicated in Appendix A.

 

(Unanimously)