Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

No apologies for absence were received for this meeting.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

No declarations of interest were received for this meeting.

Councillors are asked to nominate and elect the Chair of the Council until the next Annual Council.

Nigel Hedges took the Chair for this item.

The following nomination was received:

• Councillor Lesley Dedman – proposed by Councillor Andy Martin and seconded by Councillor Michael Tarling.

The proposer and seconder outlined the reasons for the nomination and the nominee’s ability to fulfil the role. There were no other nominations.

RESOLVED that Councillor Dedman was elected Chairman of the Council until the next Annual Council meeting in 2024.

Councillor Dedman thanked Councillors for electing her and for showing their confidence in her.

Councillor Dedman signed and made the declaration of acceptance of office.

“I Councillor Lesley Dedman having been elected to the office of Chairman of BCP Council declare that I take the office upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability”.

Councillor Dedman thanked the outgoing Chairman Nigel Hedges for everything that he had done during his time as Chairman. Nigel Hedges then addressed the Council and expressed his thanks to those who had supported him in his role.

Councillors are asked to nominate and elect the Vice-Chair of the Council until the next Annual Council.

Councillor Dedman too the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.

The following nomination was received:

• Councillor Simon Bull – proposed by Councillor Chris Rigby and seconded by Councillor Lisa Northover.

The proposer and seconder outlined the reasons for the nomination and the nominee’s ability to fulfil the role. There were no other nominations.

RESOLVED that Councillor Bull was elected Vice-Chair of the Council until the next Annual Council meeting in 2024.

Councillor Bull signed and made the declaration of acceptance of office.

“I Councillor Simon Bull having been elected to the office of Chairman of BCP Council declare that I take the office upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability”.

Councillors are asked to elect the Leader of the Council in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

The following nomination was received:

Councillor Vikki Slade – proposed by Councillor Kieron Wilson and seconded by Councillor Paul Hilliard.

The propser and seconder outlined the reasons for the nomination and the nominee’s ability to fulfil the role. There were no other nominations.

RESOLVED that Councillor Vikki Slade be elected Leader of the Council in accordance with the Constitution.

Councillor Slade outlined the objectives of the administration and confirmed the membership of the Cabinet as follows:

• Leader and responsibility for Partnerships and Dynamic Places – Councillor Vikki Slade
• Deputy Leader and responsibility for Connected Communities – Councillor Millie Earl
• Finance – Councillor Michael Cox
• Transformation – Councillor Jeff Hanna
• Climate response, Environment and Energy – Councillor Andy Hadley
• Customer Experience, Comms and Culture – Councillor Andy Martin
• Homes and Regulatory Services – Councillor Kieron Wilson
• Brighter Futures and everything related to Children – Councillor Richard Burton

·       Health and Wellbeing – Councillor David Brown

The Council is asked to consider and approve the review of the political balance of the Council, the allocation of seats on Committees to each political group, the appointment of Councillors on Committees and appointments to outside bodies.

At the time of publication, all notifications to form political groups had not been received by the Proper Officer following the elections on 4 May 2023. As a consequence, the detailed calculations relating to the above will be included in Appendix A to the report and will be circulated to Councillors as soon as practicably possible.

The Leader of the Council presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

In relation to this Council were requested to refer to the revised appendix which had been circulated to each Member.

Councillors were asked to consider and approve the:

• political balance and the proposed allocation of seats on Committees to each political group
• nominations for Councillors to serve on the Committees within the Council’s decision making structure

The Leader of the Council advised that in order to achieve the required political balance changes had been proposed to:

·       reduce the Planning Committee membership to 14 councillors by removing the seat allocated to Poole Engage;

·       reduce Licensing Committee membership to 14 councillors by removing the seat allocated to unaligned councillors; and

• increasing the membership of the Investigation and Disciplinary Committee to 8 members adding a seat to Poole Engage Group (Councillor Butt) and for Councillor Bartlett as an unaligned Councillor.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)         the revised political balance of the Council, as set out in Appendix A, Table 1 be approved;

(b)         the allocation of seats to each political group as set out in Appendix A, Table 2 be approved;

(c)         the appointment of Councillors to Committees and Boards, taking into account the membership, as detailed in Appendix A, Table 3, and any nominations submitted by political groups, be approved;

(d)         the allocation of seats to each political group to the outside bodies as detailed in Appendix A, Table 4, be approved and the Group Leaders advise the proper officer of their representatives;

(e)         Subject to (d) above the Council is requested to approve the appointment of unaligned members to the relevant outside bodies.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

This report seeks Council’s approval of the Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2023-24 Municipal Year.

The Leader of the Council presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Members were requested to approve the Scheme of Members’ Allowances for the 2023-24 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)         The schedule of Members’ Allowances, as set out in Appendix 1 to this report, be approved with effect from 23 May 2023;

(b)         the allowances as set out in the schedule be increased in accordance with the Employees’ National Pay Award when determined and back-dated to 23 May 2023;

(c)      that the Monitoring Officer be delegated authority to engage the Independent Remuneration Panel to undertake a review of the Scheme of Members’ Allowances when changes to the governance arrangements are known.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

The deadline for questions to be submitted to the Monitoring Officer is 15 May 2023.

The Chairman of the Council advised that there had been no questions from Councillors submitted on this occasion, but a request had been made by the Leader of the Council to address members.

The Leader of the Council addressed members advising of the recent passing of Stu Best an Officer of BCP Council. The Leader informed that Stu had recently passed away from Motor Neurone disease.

In addition, the Leader advised that since the formation of BCP Council 26 Officers had died in service, and that the Chief Executive would be looking at the formation of a permanent memorial plaque within the grounds of BCP Council.

Members stood in silent tribute to remember Stu Best and other officers who had passed away during service.

To note any urgent decisions taken by the Chief Executive in accordance with the Constitution.

The Chief Executive, in accordance with the Constitution, advised Members of the following urgent decisions taken:

• Increase in budget for construction of Throop Nature Park (Hicks Farm) SANG;
• Acceptance of Safer Roads Fund (SRF), round 3 funding; and
• Acceptance of Active Travel Fund Tranche 4 (ATF4) funding.