Agenda and decisions

The Mayor then welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Lin Martin-Haugh, Liz Harrington and Wendy Kerby.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the attached Minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 24 February 2022 and 9 March 2022.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Council meetings held on 24 February 2022 and 9 March 2022 be approved as correct records and signed by the Mayor.

To elect the Mayor for the Municipal Year 2022/23.

The Mayor gave a speech thanking the Council for wonderful year in office.

The Mayor presented Long Service Awards to Councillors Liz Harrington (30 years’ service) and Sharon Taylor OBE, CC (25 years’ service).

The Mayor then presented an award to Simon Tabert (former and recently retired Chief Inspector and Stevenage Local Area Police Commander, Hertfordshire Constabulary) in recognition of his contribution to improving community safety across the town, together with a bunch of flowers to his partner, Julie Bailey.  Simon thanked the Council for the award.

The Mayor asked for nominations for the Office of Mayor for 2022/23.

Councillor Sharon Taylor, OBE, CC nominated Councillor Margaret Notley for the Office of Mayor.

The nomination was seconded by Councillor Phil Bibby CC.

There being no other nominations, a vote was taken and it was RESOLVED that Councillor Margaret Notley be elected as Mayor for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

Councillor Margaret Notley then made the statutory declaration of office.

The Mayor announced that Mrs Cathy Bibby would be the Mayoress for 2022/23.

The Mayor thanked the Council for her election, and gave an inaugural speech, including the announcement that her chosen charities for the year would be the Anne Robson Trust, the Stevenage District Scouts and the Stevenage & Grange Rotary Clubs.

To elect the Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2022/23.

The Mayor asked for nominations for the Office of Deputy Mayor for 2022/23.

Councillor Lloyd Briscoe nominated Councillor Myla Arceno.  The nomination was seconded by Councillor Teresa Callaghan.

There being no other nominations, a vote was taken and it was RESOLVED that Councillor Myla Arceno be appointed Deputy Mayor for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

Councillor Myla Arceno then made the statutory declaration of office.  The Deputy Mayor announced that her son, John Arceno, would be her Deputy Consort for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

To appoint a Youth Mayor for 2022/23, as nominated by the Stevenage Youth Council.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that Paige Abrey be elected as Youth Mayor for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

To advise of the results of the Borough Council Elections in Bandley Hill, Bedwell, Chells, Longmeadow, Manor, Martins Wood, Old Town, Pin Green, Roebuck, St. Nicholas, Shephall, Symonds Green and Woodfield Wards held on 5 May 2022, together with the percentage turnouts.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that the results of the Stevenage Borough Council Elections 2022 be noted.

To note the appointment of the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition for the Municipal Year 2022/23.

The Chief Executive advised that the Leader of the Opposition would be Councillor Phil Bibby CC and that Councillor Graham Lawrence CC would be his deputy.

To note the appointment of the Leaders and Deputy Leaders of the Political Groups on the Council for the Municipal Year 2022/23.

The Chief Executive advised the Council that Councillors Sharon Taylor OBE CC, Phil Bibby CC and Robin Parker CC had been appointed as Leaders of the Labour and Co-operative, Conservative and Liberal Democrat Groups respectively.  It was noted that Councillors Richard Henry, Graham Lawrence CC and Andy McGuinness would be Deputy Leaders of the Labour and Co-operative, Conservative and Liberal Democrat Groups respectively.

To consider various issues concerning the Council’s political management structure and the Constitution for 2022/23.

REPORT TO FOLLOW

Council considered various matters relating to the Member level decision making structure of the Council and the Council’s constitution for the forthcoming Municipal Year.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED:

1.          That the Terms of Reference, as detailed in the appendices to the report; and the size and political composition for the following bodies that form the non-Executive Member level decision making structure of the Council be approved subject to the rules of proportionality where appropriate for 100 Committee places where applicable (relevant Committees are identified thus*) -

·        Overview and Scrutiny Committee* (Appendix A) – 14 Members (9 Labour & Co-operative Group, 3 Conservative Group,  2 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Community Select Committee* (Appendix B) – 10 Members (6 Labour & Co-operative Group, 3 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Environment and Economy Select Committee* (Appendix C) – 11 Members (7 Labour & Co-operative Group, 2 Conservative Group, 2 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Planning & Development Committee* (Appendix D) – 14 Members (9 Labour & Co-operative Group, 3 Conservative Group, 2 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Licensing Committee (Appendix E) – 14 Members (8 Labour & Co-operative Group, 4 Conservative Group, 2 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        General Purposes Committee* (Appendix F) – 14 Members (8 Labour & Co-operative Group,  4 Conservative Group, 2 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Appointments Committee* (Appendix G) -  8 Members (5 Labour & Co-operative Group, 2 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Standards Committee* (Appendix H) – 8 Members (5 Labour & Co-operative Group, 2 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Audit Committee* (Appendix I) – 10 Members (6 Labour & Co-operative Group, 2 Conservative Group, 2 Liberal Democrat Group) + 1 Co-opted non-elected member

·        Statement of Accounts Committee* (Appendix J) – 8 Members (5 Labour & Co-operative Group, 2 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Joint Consultative Committee* (Appendix K) – 3 Members (2 Labour & Co-operative Group, 1 Conservative Group)

* Indicates where those bodies covered by the rules of proportionality for the purposes of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups), Regulations 1990 – total Committee places being 100

2.     That the membership of the Executive and the individual Portfolios, as set out in the lilac paper circulated at the meeting, be noted.

3.     That the various Executive bodies appointed by the Leader, detailed in Paragraph 4.3 of the report and the relevant Terms of Reference for each body set out in Appendix L to the report, be noted.

4.     That the dates for Council meetings for the Municipal Year 2022/23, as shown at Paragraph 4.6 of the report, be approved, and that the calendar of formal meetings shown at Appendix M to the report, be noted.

5.     That the substantive amendments to Standing Orders arising as a consequence of the motion approved by Council on 9 March 2022, as set out in Paragraphs 4.10 of the report, be noted and approved.

6.     That the inclusion of a substitution scheme (as Standing Order 28), as set out in Paragraph 4.11 and in Appendix N to the report, be noted and approved.

7.     That the following minor and consequential amendments to  ...  view the full decision text for item 9.

A.         To appoint Members to the Standing Committees of Stevenage Borough Council for the Municipal Year 2021/22; and

B.         To appoint to the positions of Chair and Vice-Chair for each of those Committees.

REPORT TO FOLLOW

Details of the individuals nominated to serve on each Committee, together with the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of those Committees, where stated, had been circulated prior to the meeting.

Councillor Sharon Taylor OBE CC moved the appointment of Committees and their Chairs and Vice-Chairs, seconded by Councillor Richard Henry.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the membership of Committees, together with the Chairs and Vice-Chairs, where detailed, are appointed for 2022/23 Municipal Year as follows:

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
14 Members (9-3-2)
Councillors –   L Martin-Haugh (Chair), P Bibby, CC (Vice-Chair), R Broom, J Brown, M Creasey, M Downing, B. Facey, W Kerby, A McGuinness, S Mead, R Parker CC, C Parris, L Rossati and A Wells.

COMMUNITY SELECT COMMITTEE

10 Members (6-3-1):

Councillors – S Mead (Chair), A Farquharson (Vice-Chair), S Booth, A Brown, J Brown, N Chowdhury, J Duncan, L Harrington, W Kerby and A Wells.

ENVIRONMENT & ECONOMY SELECT COMMITTEE
11 Members (7-2-2):

Councillors – R Broom (Chair), A Mitchell, CC (Vice-Chair), J Ashley-Wren, S Booth, A Brown, J Brown, M Creasey, M Downing, B Facey, C Parris and L Rossati.

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

        14 Members (9-3-2)

Councillors – M Downing (Chair), J Ashley-Wren, S Barr, A Brown, T Callaghan, M Creasey, C Howells, G Lawrence CC, Mrs J Lloyd, M McKay, A Mitchell CC, C Parris, G Snell and A Wells.

LICENSING COMMITTEE

14 Members (8-4-2)

Councillors – M McKay (Chair), L Rossati (Vice-Chair), M Arceno, R Broom, N Chowdhury, J Duncan, B Facey, L Harrington, C Howells, G Lawrence CC, A McGuinness, L Martin-Haugh, C Parris and G Snell.

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

14 Members (8-4-2)

Councillors – M McKay (Chair), L Rossati (Vice-Chair), M Arceno, R Broom, N Chowdhury, J Duncan, B Facey, L Harrington, C Howells, G Lawrence CC, A McGuinness, L Martin-Haugh, C Parris and G Snell.

APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE

8 Members (5-2-1)

Councillors – S Taylor OBE, CC (Chair), S Barr, P Bibby, CC, R Henry, G Lawrence CC, R Parker CC, S Speller and J Thomas.

STANDARDS COMMITTEE

8 Members (5-2-1)

Councillors – Mrs J Lloyd (Chair), M Arceno, P Bibby CC, G Lawrence CC, L Martin-Haugh, S Speller, S Taylor OBC, CC andT Wren.

        Independent Person who must be consulted on alleged breaches to the Code of Conduct – Dr. Robert Cawley

AUDIT COMMITTEE

10 Members (6-2-2) + 1 Independent Co-opted Member (G Gibbs)

Councillors – T Callaghan (Chair), M Arceno, S Booth, A Farquharson, J Gardner, J Hollywell, G Lawrence CC, M McKay, L Rossati and T Wren.

STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

8 Members (5-2-1)

Councillors – Mrs J Lloyd (Chair), P Bibby CC, L Briscoe, S Mead, A Mitchell CC, G Snell, S Taylor OBE, CC and J Thomas.

JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

3 Members (2-1-0)

Councillors – Mrs J Lloyd (Employer Side Chair), P Bibby CC and R Broom.

To appoint Council representatives onto various outside bodies for the Municipal Year 2022/23.

SCHEDULE TO FOLLOW

Council considered a list of individuals nominated to serve on Outside Bodies which had been circulated before the meeting.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that the following individuals are appointed to represent the Council on the various bodies detailed below for one year, unless otherwise stated:

COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF RURAL ENGLAND: THE HERTFORDSHIRE SOCIETY - Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change

EAST OF ENGLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION - The Leader of the Council

EAST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL PLANNING   - Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change

HERTS WASTE MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP - Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change

HERTFORDSHIRE GROWTH BOARD – The Leader of the Council

HERTFORDSHIRE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND POLICY GROUP - Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change

HERTFORDSHIRE LOCAL AUTHORITIES LEADERS GROUP - The Leader of the Council

HERTFORDSHIRE LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP – The Leader of the Council

HERTFORDSHIRE CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP - Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION- The Leader of the Council

RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY GROUP (COMMUNITY SAFETY) - Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Equalities, Health and Older People

SOSTEVENAGE PARTNERSHIP - The Leader of the Council and Deputy Leader

STEVENAGE  DEVELOPMENT BOARD - The Leader of the Council and Deputy Leader

AGE CONCERN STEVENAGE – Jeannette Thomas

BEDWELL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION - Liz Harrington

CHELLS MANOR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION - Andy McGuinness

CROSSROADS CARE – Sandra Barr

DOUGLAS DRIVE SENIOR CITIZENS ASSOCIATION – Maureen Mckay

HOME-START STEVENAGE – Rob Broom

KADOMA LINK ASSOCIATION - Graham Snell and John Gardner

LIVING ROOM PROJECT - Jackie Hollywell

OLD STEVENAGE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – Lou Rossati

OVAL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION - Lloyd Briscoe

PIN GREEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION - Jeannette Thomas

SHEPHALL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – Simon Speller

ST NICHOLAS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION - Sandra Barr

STEVENAGE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU - Michael Downing

STEVENAGE COMMUNITY TRUST – Teresa Callaghan and Maureen McKay

STEVENAGE CREDIT UNION LIMITED – Sharon Taylor

SPRUSE – Lin Martin-Haugh

STEVENAGE HAVEN - Rob Broom

STEVENAGE/AUTUN/INGELHEIM ASSOCIATION - Richard Henry and Simon Speller

STEVENAGE WORLD FORUM FOR ETHNIC COMMUNITIES - John Gardner

SYMONDS GREEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – Jackie Hollywell

TIMEBRIDGE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – Julie Ashley-Wren

TURN THE TIDE – Nazmin Chowdhury

EAST OF ENGLAND LGA IMPROVEMENT AND EFFICIENCY PANEL - Richard Henry

HCC HEALTH SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - Maureen McKay

LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFORMATION UNIT – Jim Brown

LUTON AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE - John Gardner

To consider an officer report concerning the appointment of the Monitoring Officer.

The Council considered a report seeking approval to the appointment of a Monitoring Officer, in accordance with Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that Mr John Oakley be appointed as the Council’s Monitoring Officer, with effect from 1 June 2022.