Agenda and minutes

The Chair will then take the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

(NOTE: Article 5.8 of the Constitution states that “Neither the Chair of the Council nor the Vice-Chair shall be a Member of the Strategy and Resources Committee”.)

Councillor Hunt, Chair of Council addressed Council and summarised her role over the past 12 months which had been restricted due to the Covid pandemic. She highlighted her Civic Service which had been held in February 2022 and how she had been involved in giving out volunteer awards at events arranged by the Northern Devon Voluntary Service. She had also carried out the planting of trees at care homes, schools and woodlands as part of the Queens Platinum Jubilee Green Canopy. She thanked her Vice Chair Councillor Tucker for his support and the Chair’s secretary and the Corporate and Community Services Team for their support.  She also thanked all Group Leaders and officers at the Council for their support.

Councillor Worden thanked Councillor Hunt on behalf of the Council for the work she had achieved over the past 12 months both in terms of chairing  meetings of Council and the Civic events that she had attended to represent the Council.

The Vice Chair called for nominations.

It was moved by Councillor Lofthouse and seconded by Councillor Worden “that Councillor Hunt be appointed Chair of the Council for the 2022/23 municipal year”.

RESOLVED that Councillor Hunt be appointed Chair of the Council for the 2022/23 municipal year.

Councillor Hunt took the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and gave a speech of thanks for being elected.

The Vice-Chair will then take the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

(NOTE: Article 5.8 of the Constitution states that “Neither the Chair of the Council nor the Vice-Chair shall be a Member of the Strategy and Resources Committee”.

The Chair called for nominations for the election of Vice Chair of the Council for 2022/23.

It was moved by Councillor Roome and seconded by Councillor York “that Councillor Tucker be appointed Vice Chair of the Council for the 2022/23 municipal year.”

RESOLVED that Councillor Tucker be appointed Vice Chair of the Council for the 2022/23 municipal year.

Councillor Tucker took the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and gave a speech of thanks for being elected.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Barker, Bushell, Campbell, Fowler, Knight, Patrinos and Pearson.

(NB. Members only need to re-declare any interests previously declared at Committee and Sub-Committee meetings if the item is discussed at Council).

There were no declarations of interest received.

To consider the appointment of Leader of the Council for the 2022/23 municipal year.

It was moved by Councillor D. Spear and seconded by Councillor Topham “that Councillor Worden to appointed Leader of the Council for the 2022/23 municipal year.”

RESOLVED that Councillor Worden to appointed Leader of the Council for the 2022/23 municipal year.

Councillor Worden thanked Council for re-appointing him as Leader of the Council for the next 12 months which was a privilege and an honour. He was looking forward to the next 12 months and confident that the Council would go ahead and do great things with a number of exciting projects in Barnstaple and Ilfracombe.  He made a plea to Councillors to attend meetings and training sessions that were arranged as there had been a number of important meetings held where there had been poor attendance.

To consider the appointment of Deputy Leader of the Council for the 2022/23 municipal year.

It was moved by Councillor Worden and seconded by Councillor Biederman “that Councillor Prowse be appointed Deputy Leader of the Council for the 2022/23 municipal year”.

RESOLVED that Councillor Prowse be appointed Deputy Leader of the Council for the 2022/23 municipal year.

Councillor thanked Council for his re-appointment as Deputy Leader of the Council for the next 12 months and advised that he had enjoyed the past 3 years as projects were now coming together and that he was looking forward to the final year of this Council.

Report by Chief Executive (attached).

It is RECOMMENDED:

Council considered a report by the Chief Executive (circulated previously and tabled as a supplementary document) regarding the appointment of committees for 2022/23.

“That the Council appoints Committees and Joint Committees each with the total number of voting Members and Group allocations as shown in Tables 1 and 2 for the 2022/23 municipal year with the terms of reference set out in the Council’s constitution.”

It was moved by Councillor Biederman and seconded by Councillor Roome “that the Council appoints Committees and Joint Committees each with the total number of voting Members and Group allocations as shown in Tables 1 and 2 for the 2022/23 municipal year with the terms of reference set out in the Council’s constitution.”

RESOLVED that the Council appoints Committees and Joint Committees each with the total number of voting Members and Group allocations as shown in Tables 1 and 2 for the 2022/23 municipal year with the terms of reference set out in the Council’s constitution.

“That, as required by section 16(1) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, Members be appointed to Committees and Joint Committees in accordance with the names notified to the Chief Executive by each of the Political Groups represented on the Council, to give effect to the approved allocation of seats as determined at (a) above, as set out for the time being in Table 3 circulated at the meeting.”

It was moved by Councillor Tucker and seconded by Councillor Roome “that, as required by section 16(1) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, Members be appointed to Committees and Joint Committees in accordance with the names notified to the Chief Executive by each of the Political Groups represented on the Council, to give effect to the approved allocation of seats as determined at (a) above, as set out for the time being in Table 3 circulated at the meeting.”

RESOLVED that, as required by section 16(1) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, Members be appointed to Committees and Joint Committees in accordance with the names notified to the Chief Executive by each of the Political Groups represented on the Council, to give effect to the approved allocation of seats as determined at (a) above, as set out for the time being in Table 3 circulated at the meeting.

“That the Council appoints Chairs and Vice-Chairs to the Committees and Joint Committees as set out in Table 4 circulated at the meeting for the 2022/23 municipal year.”

It was moved by Councillor Lofthouse and seconded by Councillor Tucker “that the Council appoints Chairs and Vice-Chairs to the Committees and Joint Committees as set out in Table 4 circulated at the meeting for the 2022/23 municipal year.”

RESOLVED that the Council appoints Chairs and Vice-Chairs to the Committees and Joint Committees as set out in Table 4 circulated at the meeting for the 2022/23 municipal year.

“That the Council appoints Members to the Local Government Association and South West Regional Chamber for the period 2022/23 as set out in Table 5 circulated at the meeting and that these appointments be approved duties.”

It was moved by Councillor Roome and seconded by Councillor Lofthouse “that the Council appoints Members to the Local Government Association and South West Regional Chamber for the period 2022/23 as set out in Table 5 circulated at the meeting and that these appointments be approved duties.”

RESOLVED that the Council appoints Members to the Local Government Association and South West Regional Chamber for the period 2022/23 as set out in Table 5 circulated at the meeting and that these appointments be approved duties.

“That alternative arrangements be made for the appointment of Members to the Appointments Committee in accordance with the powers set out in 3 Section 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the provisions of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 and that the alternative arrangements provide that the membership of the Appointments Committee be not politically balanced”.

It was moved by Councillor Biederman and seconded by Councillor Jenkins “that alternative arrangements be made for the appointment of Members to the Appointments Committee in accordance with the powers set out in 3 Section 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the provisions of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 and that the alternative arrangements provide that the membership of the Appointments Committee be not politically balanced and that the Group Leaders be appointed to the Committee.”

RESOLVED that alternative arrangements be made for the appointment of Members to the Appointments Committee in accordance with the powers set out in 3 Section 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the provisions of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 and that the alternative arrangements provide that the membership of the Appointments Committee be not politically balanced and that the Group Leaders be appointed to the Committee.

“That alternative arrangements be made for the appointment of Members to the Joint Planning Policy Committee in accordance with the powers set out in 3 Section 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the provisions of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 and that the alternative arrangements provide that the membership of the Joint Planning Policy Committee be not politically balanced”.

It was moved by Councillor Roome and seconded by Councillor Tucker “that alternative arrangements be made for the appointment of Members to the Joint Planning Policy Committee in accordance with the powers set out in 3 Section 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the provisions of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 and that the alternative arrangements provide that the membership of the Joint Planning Policy Committee be not politically balanced and that Councillors Chesters, Lofthouse, Prowse, D. Spear, Tucker, Worden and Yabsley be appointed to the Committee.”

RESOLVED that alternative arrangements be made for the appointment of Members to the Joint Planning Policy Committee in accordance with the powers set out in 3 Section 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the provisions of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 and that the alternative arrangements provide that the membership of the Joint Planning Policy Committee be not politically balanced and that Councillors Chesters, Lofthouse, Prowse, D. Spear, Tucker, Worden and Yabsley be appointed to the Committee.

Report by the Chief Executive (attached).

Council considered a report by the Chief Executive (circulated previously) regarding the Scheme of Members Allowances for 2022/23.

The Chief Executive outlined the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel which had been a light touch review and recommended that the basic allowance should be uprated annually in line with the pay award for staff. The Panel had also been requested to consider and make a recommendation regarding the introduction of a Parental Leave Policy for Councillors. The proposed policy was detailed in Appendix D of the report and had been based on the Devon County Council policy. The Scheme of Members Allowances as detailed in Appendix B already included the 1.75% pay award uplift which had recently been awarded for 2021/22, however it did not include the uplift for the 2022/23 pay award as this had not yet been determined.  The next fundamental review would take place in the Autumn of 2022 to come into effect for 2023/24.

It was moved by Councillor Tucker and seconded by Councillor Lofthouse “that the recommendations in the report be adopted”.

RESOLVED that:

(a)   the Scheme of Members Allowances for 2022/23 as shown in Appendix B and C of the report be adopted;

(b)   following the approval of the 2022/23 pay award which will take place during 2022/23 between the Employers and Unions that the allowances agreed in paragraph (a) above be uplifted by the same agreed percentage and backdated to 1 April 2022; and

(c)   the Councillors Maternity, Paternity, Shared Parental and Adoption Leave Policy as shown in Appendix D be adopted.

To consider appointing one Member to North Devon Against Domestic Abuse for the life of Council, following the resignation of Councillor Orange in June 2021.

It was moved by Councillor Walker and seconded by Councillor Roome “that Councillor Cann be appointed to the North Devon Against Domestic Abuse for the life of Council”.

RESOLVED that Councillor Cann be appointed to the North Devon Against Domestic Abuse for the life of Council.

It is RECOMMENDED that the Scheme of Delegations (as amended) for the discharge of functions for the year 2022/23 as set out in Part 3 of the Constitution be DEFERRED for review by Governance Committee on 14 June 2022 before returning for ratification by full Council.

It was moved by Councillor Worden and seconded by Councillor Tucker  “that the Scheme of Delegations (as amended) for the discharge of functions for the year 2022/23 as set out in Part 3 of the Constitution be DEFERRED for review by Governance Committee on 14 June 2022 before returning for ratification by full Council.”

RESOLVED that the Scheme of Delegations (as amended) for the discharge of functions for the year 2022/23 as set out in Part 3 of the Constitution be DEFERRED for review by Governance Committee on 14 June 2022 before returning for ratification by full Council.