Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies were received from Councillors S Bartlett, N Hedges and T O’Neil.

Councillors are required to comply with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 regarding disclosable pecuniary interests. Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made on this occasion.

Councillors are asked to elect the Chairman of the Council until the next Annual Meeting.

Nominations were received for the following Councillors:

Councillor David Flagg

Councillor Ann Stribley

The nominees outlined why they should be elected Chairman. A secret ballot was undertaken in accordance with the Constitution.  The Chief Executive reported on the outcome of the ballot as follows:

Councillor David Flagg – 41

Councillor Ann Stribley – 32

RESOLVED that Councillor David Flagg be elected as Chairman of the Council until the next Annual Council Meeting.

Councillors are asked to elect the Vice Chairman of the Council until the next Annual Meeting.

Nominations were received for the following Councillors:

Councillor Ann Stribley 

Councillor George Farquhar

The nominees outlined why they should be elected as Vice-Chairman. A secret ballot was undertaken in accordance with the Constitution.  The Chief Executive reported on the outcome of the ballot as follows:

Councillor Ann Stribley – 33

Councillor George Farquhar – 40

RESOLVED that Councillor George Farquhar be elected as Vice-Chairman of the Council until the next Annual Council Meeting.

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

Nominations were received for the following Councillors:

Councillor Vikki Slade

Councillor Bob Lawton

The nominees outlined why they should be elected as Leader of the Council. A secret ballot was undertaken in accordance with the Constitution.  The Chief Executive reported on the outcome of the ballot as follows:

Councillor Vikki Slade – 40

Councillor Bob Lawton – 32

Abstention - 1

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

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

Leader – Councillor Vikki Slade

Regeneration and Culture – Councillor Mark Howell

Strategic Planning – Councillor Margaret Phipps

Housing – Councillor Kieron Wilson

Environment and Climate Change – Councillor Dr Felicity Rice

Finance – Councillor David Brown

Adults and Health – Councillor Lesley Dedman

Children’s and Families – Councillor Sandra Moore

Transport and Infrastructure – Councillor Andy Hadley

Tourism, Leisure and Communities – Councillor Lewis Allison

The meeting was then adjourned from 8.12 pm until 8.25 pm during the adjournment the report for the following item was circulated.

See report circulated at 6.

The Council considered a report which had been circulated at the meeting and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘A’ to these minutes in the Minute Book.

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.

·         nominations for Councillors to serve on the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority and the Dorset Police and Crime Panel.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)     the political balance as set out in the report be approved;

(b)     the allocation of seats to Political Groups on Committees as set in the report be approved;

(c)     Group Leaders be authorised to submit their nominations to fill the seats on Committees to the Monitoring Officer within the next 48 hours;

(d)     the following non-aligned Councillors be appointed to the Committees as detailed below:-

Planning Committee – Councillor Stephen Bartlett

Licensing Committee – Councillor Diane Butler

Audit and Governance Committee – Councillor Stephen Bartlett

(e)     the allocation of seats to Political Groups on the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority and the Dorset Police and Crime Panel as detailed in the report be approved and Group Leaders be authorised to submit their nominations to fill seats on these bodies to the Monitoring Officer within the next 48 hours.

See report circulated at 7.

The Council considered a report which had previously been circulated and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘B’ to these minutes in the Minute Book.

The meeting was advised that the Council was required by the Localism Act 2011 to appoint Independent Persons who have a statutory role in providing advice and input to considerations of complaints made about Councillors.

Councillors were advised of the outcome of the external recruitment process undertaken by officers and the recommendations to appoint three independent persons.

RESOLVED that the following be appointed to serve as Independent Persons for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in accordance with the provisions of the Localism Act 2011.

·         Ian Sibley

·         Paul Cashmore

·         Jonathan Storey