Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Steve Allsopp, Paul Baker, John Ballman, Ray Ballman, Mike Bawden, Ian Dobie, Anthony Peake and Martin Wiltshire. 

            The Mayor (Councillor Steve Wakefield) called upon the Councillors to elect a qualified person to be Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year, 2009/10.

            Councillor Colin Lovell moved and Councillor Fionuala seconded and the Council unanimously agreed that Councillor David Wren be Mayor of the Borough for the ensuing Municipal Year. (Councillors Roderick Bluh, Derique Montaut, and Stan Pajak offered their support and congratulations to the Mayor.)

            Councillor David Wren made and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

(The Worshipful the Mayor (Councillor David Wren) in the Chair.)

The Mayor (Councillor David Wren) thanked the Council for his election to the post of Mayor of the Borough.

            Councillor Nick Martin moved and Councillor Peter Greenhalgh seconded and the Council agreed that Councillor Steve Wakefield be thanked for his year of service as Mayor of the Borough. (Councillors Junab Ali, Roderick Bluh, Mary Martin, Des Moffatt, Stan Pajak and Kevin Small, also thanked the retiring Mayor.)

            Councillor Steve Wakefield thanked Members and Officers for their support over the preceding year in assisting him with carrying out his duties and informed Members of the highlights of his Mayoral Year and charities he had supported.

            The Mayor called upon the Councillors to elect a qualified person to be Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year, 2009/10.

            Councillor David Renard moved and Councillor Roderick Bluh seconded and the Council agreed that Councillor Rex Barnett be Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the ensuing Municipal Year. (Councillors Derique Montaut and Stan Pajak offered their congratulations to the Deputy Mayor on behalf of their respective parties.)

            The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Rex Barnett) thanked Council for his election to the post of Deputy Mayor of the Borough.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting held on 30^th April 2009.

            Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 30^th April 2009, be confirmed and signed.

See explanatory note below.

            There were no public questions.

To receive any communications or letters which the Mayor or Chief Executive may have to bring before the Council.

The Chief Executive reported that correspondence had been received from Michael Wills M.P., and Kitty Ussher M.P., regarding the Council’s Tenant Garden maintenance Scheme.

There are no Minutes for Confirmation.

            There were no Minutes for Confirmation.

Questions (if any) of which notice has been given by Councillors in accordance with Standing Order 15.

            The Director of law and Democratic Services reported that Standing Order 15 Questions had been received from Councillor David Glaholm.  The questions and answers submitted by the appropriate Cabinet member are attached as Appendix 1 to the minutes.

            Councillor David Glaholm expressed disappointment at the response received regarding his question on the “Salary Swap” Scheme.  Councillor Mark Edwards offered to meet Councillor Glaholm to discuss this issue in more detail.

 Councillor Roderick Bluhmoved and Councillor Fionuala Foley seconded:

            (1) That Swindon Council’s Constitution for the Municipal Year 2009/10 be adopted.

            (2) That the Director of Law and Democratic Services be authorised, in consultation with members of the Corporate Governance Working Party where appropriate, to vary the wording of the Constitution and its associated documentation to reflect legislative and procedural changes should this prove necessary for the efficient discharge of Council business during the course of the Municipal Year.”

            The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor Vera Tomlinson moved and Councillor Eric Shaw seconded:

That Councillor Roderick Bluh be Leader of the Council and that Councillor Fionuala Foley be Deputy Leader of the Council for the Municipal Year, 2009/10.

The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor Roderick Bluh moved and Councillor Fionuala Foley seconded:

That, in addition to the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillors Mark Edwards, Peter Greenhalgh, Colin Lovell, Brian Mattock, Garry Perkins, David Renard, Keith Williams and Philip Young be members of the Cabinet for the Municipal Year, 2009/10.”

            The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

             Councillor Roderick Bluh moved and Councillor Fionuala Foley seconded:

That the number of Members to serve on Swindon Borough Council’s Committees for the Municipal Year 2009/10, be as follows:

Appeals Committee – 16 Members

Appointments Committee – 16 Members

Audit Committee – 7 Members

Footpaths and Rights of Way Committee – 5 Members

Joint Commissioning Committee (Adults) – 3 Members

Licensing Committee – 15 Members

Planning Committee – 16 Members

Special Committee – 7 Members

Scrutiny Committee – 10 Members

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 10 Members

Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 11 Members

Economic, Environmental and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 11 Members

Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 11 Members

Standards Committee – 5 Members

            The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

 Councillor Roderick Bluh moved and Councillor Fionuala Foley seconded:

(1) That having carried out a review under Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 the Council continues to apply the political balance provisions under the Act.

(2) That Committees and other relevant Council Bodies be reminded of their duty to carry out a review under Section 15 of the Local Government Housing Act 1989, as appropriate, and recommends that having carried out that review they continue to apply the political balance provisions.

(3) That the Council’s waiving of the political balance arrangements on the Great Western Joint Ambulance Trust Overview and Scrutiny Committee be confirmed.

(4) That Councillors be appointed to serve on the Council’s Committees for the Municipal Year 2009/10, as set out in Appendix 2 to the Minutes.

(5) That Chairs and Vice-Chairs be appointed to the Council’s Committees for the Municipal Year 2009/10, as set out in Appendix 3 to the Minutes.

(6) That the nominations for Councillors serving on Cabinet Advisory Bodies for the Municipal Year 2009/10, as set out in Appendix 4 to the Minutes, be noted.

(7) That the appointments of representatives to serve on Other and Outside Bodies for the Municipal Year 2009/10, be as set out in Appendix 5 to the Minutes.

Councillor Roderick Bluh moved and Councillor Fionuala Foley seconded:

(1) That the Timetable of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2009/10, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report of the Director of Law and Democratic Services be approved for formal adoption by Annual Council.

(2) That the Director of Law and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to vary the dates for meetings of the Council, the Cabinet, Committees and Other Swindon Borough Council bodies should this prove necessary for the efficient discharge of Council business.

            The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.