To appoint the Leader of the Council

RESOLVED:  

That Councillor RJ Phillips be appointed Leader of the Council until the annual meeting in May 2009.

Councillors Lloyd-Hayes and Dawes requested that the record formally noted their objection to this resolution.

Councillor Phillips advised Council that he had appointed Councillor JP French as Deputy Leader of the Council, a position which would have an extended role in supporting the development of joint working and partnerships agenda.  He confirmed the names of his other cabinet members, which would remain as in 2007/08 with the addition of Councillor PD Price who had been appointed as Cabinet Portfolio for Educational Improvement and ICT.  He confirmed that any changes to the titles and remit of scrutiny committees would follow the formal procedure as laid down in the constitution.

The Leader thanked Councillors for their continued support and stated that he was passionate about the County’s future whilst acknowledging its rich heritage and past.  He thanked staff for their delivery of the strategies, policies and services on behalf of the Council.  Those Members who were standing down from various positions were thanked for undertaking their roles with due diligence.

Council was advised that a review would be undertaken of both the constitutional and civic processes and there would be a priority for improving service delivery by working with PCT and others to improve services within the County, by improving from the inside out.  It was recognised that there were challenging infrastructure issues for both the County’s market towns and City.  It would be important for the Council to lobby to retain the centre of population of business, a key element of which would be the Edgar Street Grid.  It was stated that had the ESG been in establishment, it was possible that Chadds would not have closed.

The opening of the Rotherwas Access Road would be the first new road in the City since 1968 (Greyfriars Bridge) and there had not been any building in the county’s infrastructure in the subsequent 40 years.  As Leader, Councillor Phillips vowed to deliver new infrastructure in the next four years to provide foundations for the future of Herefordshire.  The county must have a living economy whilst also cherishing the natural environment, and continue to provide residents with a good standard of living and quality of life. 

8The Leader advised Council that he would champion the rural services and the way of life – he stated that the Government did not fully understand the rural agenda and that he would lobby on behalf of the rural agenda and inform Government of the realities of servicing our communities.  An example of such a reality was given as the impact to the Council budget as a consequence of the increase in fuel prices, which to date had been an additional cost of £200, 000.  The Leader stated that it would be important to forge links with similar Councils of a rural nature to collectively challenge and lobby appropriately.  Additionally, the Leader stated that it would be essential to develop strong sub regional agendas within both West and East Midlands regions.