To elect the Chairperson of the Council.

Councillor Bob Matthews proposed and Councillor Terry James seconded the nomination of Councillor Sebastian Bowen as Chairperson of the Council.

(Councillor Sebastian Bowen declared a schedule 1 interest and left the meeting for the vote)

RESOLVED: That Councillor Sebastian Bowen is elected Chairperson of the Council for the forthcoming municipal year.

Councillor Sebastian Bowen made the statutory declaration of acceptance of office.

(Councillor Sebastian Bowen as the Chairman)

To appoint the Vice-Chairperson of the Council.

Councillor Johnathan Lester proposed and Councillor John Harrington seconded the nomination of Councillor Kema Guthrie as Vice Chairperson of the Council.

(Councillor Kema Guthrie left the meeting for the vote)

RESOLVED: That Councillor Kema Guthrie is appointed Vice Chairperson of the Council for the forthcoming municipal year.

Councillor Kema Guthrie made the statutory declaration of acceptance of office.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor John Stone.

To receive declarations of interest in respect of Schedule 1, Schedule 2 or Other Interests from members in respect of items on the Agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the minutes of the ordinary meeting of Council on 17 July 2020 and the extraordinary meeting of Council on 4 August 2020.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meetings held on 17 July and 4 August be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the Chairman’s and Chief Executive’s announcements.

Council noted the Chairman’s and Chief Executive’s announcements as printed in the agenda papers.

To elect the Leader of the Council.

Councillor Ellie Chowns proposed and Councillor Alan Seldon seconded the nomination of Councillor David Hitchiner.

(Councillor David Hitchiner declared a schedule 1 interest and left the meeting for the vote)

RESOLVED: That Councillor David Hitchiner is elected Leader of the Council for the forthcoming municipal year.

To make appointments to the committees of the Council and outside bodies in line with the rules of political proportionality.

Council considered the report attached to the agenda relating to appointments to committees of the council and outside bodies in line with the rules of political proportionality.

Recommendation (a)

Councillor Gemma Davies proposed and Councillor Carole Gandy seconded recommendation (a) which was carried.

RESOLVED: That the list of ordinary committees listed at paragraph 9 are confirmed with their terms of reference as set out in the council’s constitution

Recommendation (b)

Councillor Nigel Shaw proposed and Councillor Jonathan Lester seconded recommendation (b) which was carried.

RESOLVED: That the number of seats on each committee as set out at paragraph 9, and the allocation of those seats to political groups as set out at appendix 1 is approved.

Recommendation (c)

Councillor Jonathan Lester proposed and Councillor Alan Seldon seconded recommendation (c) which was carried.

RESOLVED: That the allocation of seats on outside bodies to political groups as set out at appendix 2 is approved.

Recommendation (d)

Councillor Carole Gandy proposed and Councillor Nigel Shaw seconded recommendation (d) which was carried unanimously by Council.

RESOLVED: That the appointment of five co-opted members of children and young people scrutiny committee are approved as follows:

                             i.        one representative as nominated by the diocese of Hereford

                            ii.        one representative as nominated by the archdiocese of Cardiff

                          iii.        one parent governor as elected from the primary school sector

                          iv.        one parent governor as elected by the secondary school sector

                            v.        one parent governor as elected by the special school sector;

Recommendation (e)

Councillor Jonathan Lester proposed and Councillor Ellie Chowns seconded recommendation (e).

Councillor Jim Kenyon initially voted against the recommendation and explained that his vote was an objection to the lack of committee seats allocated to not aligned members of the Council. Councillor Kenyon agreed to change his vote against to an abstention to allow a nem con vote to be achieved. The recommendation was carried with no votes against.

RESOLVED: That the suspension of the rules of proportionality in respect of the standards panel, the River Lugg Internal Drainage Board, and the Wye Valley AONB Joint Advisory Committee is approved;

Recommendation (f) 

Council moved to recommendation (f) and the appointment of chairpersons and vice chairpersons to council committees. 

The consideration of each appointment was as follows:

Chairperson of the Adults and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Paul Rone proposed and Councillor William Wilding seconded the nomination of Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst as Chairperson of the Adults and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee.

There were no other nominations.

(Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst left the meeting for the vote)

Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst was appointed.

Vice Chairperson of the Adults and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Felicity Norman proposed and Councillor Jennie Hewitt seconded the nomination of Councillor Jenny Bartlett as Vice Chairperson of the Adults and wellbeing Scrutiny Committee.

There were no other nominations.

(Councillor Jenny Bartlett left the meeting for the vote)

Councillor Jenny Bartlett was appointed.

Chairperson of the Audit and Governance Committee

Councillor Jonathan Lester proposed and Councillor Barry Durkin seconded the nomination of Councillor Nigel Shaw as Chairperson of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To ratify changes to the constitution relating to the inclusion of COVID-19 interim standing orders.

Council considered a report by the Solicitor to the Council which recommended the ratification of changes to the constitution that were introduced to facilitate the hosting of virtual meetings at the Council during the coronavirus pandemic. The report was introduced by the Solicitor to the Council.

The recommendation in the report was proposed by Councillor Liz Harvey and seconded by Councillor Nigel Shaw.

The recommendation was agreed by Council.

Resolved: that the COVID-19 interim standing orders contained in appendix A are approved.