To elect the Chairperson of the Council.

(The retiring Chairman as Chairperson of the Council)

Councillor Carol Gandy proposed and Councillor John Stone seconded the nomination of Councillor Roger Phillips as Chairperson of the Council.

Councillor Louis Stark proposed and Councillor Terry James seconded the nomination of Councillor Ed O’Driscoll as Chairperson of the Council.

Councillor Ellie Chowns proposed and Councillor Helen Heathfield seconded the nomination of Councillor Stef Simmons as Chairperson of the Council.

A vote was taken and Councillor Phillips was elected Chairperson of the Council.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Roger Phillips is elected Chairperson of the Council for the forthcoming municipal year.

Councillor Phillips made the statutory declaration of acceptance of office.

(Councillor Phillips assumed the Chair of the meeting as the Chairperson of the Council)

To appoint the Vice-Chairperson of the Council.

Councillor Ellie Chowns proposed and Councillor Toni Fagan seconded the nomination of Councillor Stef Simmons as Vice Chairperson of the Council.

Council voted and agreed the appointment of Councillor Stef Simmons as the Vice Chairperson of the Council.

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

Councillor Stef Simmons made the statutory declaration of acceptance of office.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Peter Jinman.

To receive declarations of interest in respect of items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2023.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting 3 March 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the Chairperson and Chief Executive’s announcements.

Council noted the announcements as printed in the agenda papers.

To elect the Leader of the Council.

Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst proposed and Councillor Barry Durkin seconded the nomination of Councillor Jonathan Lester as Leader of the Council.

Councillor Pauline Crockett proposed and Councillor Ellie Chowns seconded the nomination of Councillor David Hitchiner as Leader of the Council.

Council voted on the nominations and Councillor Jonathan Lester was elected as the Leader of the Council.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Jonathan Lester is elected Leader of the Council for the forthcoming municipal year.

(There was an adjournment at 11:10 a.m.; the meeting reconvened at 12:14 p.m.)

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

Council considered a report by the director of governance and law relating to appointments to committees of the Council and outside bodies in line with the rules of political proportionality, as published in the supplement of 18 May 2023. The Chairman outlined a correction to the supplement published on 18 May to include in appendix 2 the proposed appointment of Councillor Jim Kenyon to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee under recommendation (b) and to include in appendix 3 the proposed appointment of Councillor Jim Kenyon to the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority under recommendation (c). Council also noted the publication of a supplement on 19 May 2023 containing an updated appendix 4, with details of all proposed Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons to council committees and an updated appendix 5 with details of the number of seats on the scrutiny management board and the allocation of seats to political groups.

Recommendation (a)

Councillor Roger Phillips proposed and Councillor Ellie Chowns seconded recommendation (a) which was carried.

RESOLVED: That the list of ordinary committees listed at paragraph 10 are confirmed with their terms of reference as set out in the council’s constitution.

Recommendation (b)

Councillor Roger Phillips proposed and Councillor David Hitchiner seconded recommendation (b) – as updated by the supplement published on 18 May 2023 and the correction above – which was carried.

RESOLVED: That the number of seats on each committee as set out at paragraph 10, and the allocation of those seats to political groups as set out in the supplement is approved.

Recommendation (c)

Councillor Roger Phillips proposed and Councillor Clare Davies seconded recommendation (c) – as updated by the supplement published on 18 May 2023 and the correction above – which was carried.

RESOLVED: That the allocation of seats on outside bodies to political groups as set out in the supplement is approved.

Recommendation (d)

Councillor Roger Phillips proposed and Councillor Ellie Chowns seconded recommendation (d) which was carried.

RESOLVED: That the appointment of five co-opted members of children and young people scrutiny committee is 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 Roger Phillips proposed and Councillor David Hitchiner seconded recommendation (e), 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 Drainage Board, and the Wye Valley AONB Joint Advisory Committee is approved.

Recommendation (f)

Councillor Roger Phillips proposed and Councillor Dave Boulter seconded the appointment of chairpersons and vice chairpersons recommended in appendix 4 in the supplement of 19 May, which was carried. 

RESOLVED: That the appointment of committee chairpersons and vice chairpersons is approved as follows:

To approve the appointment of independent persons.

Council considered a report by the director of governance and law relating to the appointment of independent persons. Councillor Roger Phillips proposed and Councillor Jonathan Lester seconded the recommendations in the report which were put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED –

That: a) The Council appoint Jake Bharier, Claire Jenkins, Michelle Morgan and James Cooke as independent persons for a four year term of office.