Agenda and minutes

The Mayor for 2016/17 (Councillor Lees) referred briefly to the highlights of his year of office and thanked family members, Councillors and officers who had supported him.

He presented payments of £4,824 each to representatives of the Mayor’s Charities for 2016/17, SSAFA Lancashire and NSPCC Blackpool Wyre and Fylde.

Ms Janette  Drew from  NSPCC Blackpool  Wyre and  Fylde and    Mr Frank    McKnight from SSAFA Lancashire each thanked the Mayor for 2016/17 for choosing their organisations as his charities and also thanked all  those who had contributed donations throughout the year.  They explained how the money presented to them would be spent by their respective organisations to benefit children and former servicemen and women in Wyre.

To receive any declarations of interest from any Member or Officer on any item on this agenda.

None.

The Mayor for 2016/17 (Councillor Lees) presented the HMS Sheraton Trophy to Izzy Hendry, an eleven year old pupil at St Wulstan’s and St Edmunds Catholic Primary School.  He said that Izzy was very talented at many sports including football, tag rugby, cross country running, swimming, dancing, kwik-cricket and athletics. However, what made her achievements remarkable was that she had cystic fibrosis.  Despite having to take lots of medication every day and to undergo frequent medical procedures, her determination, desire to take part, lust for life and infectious personality were truly inspirational. She was a very deserving winner of the Trophy.

Councillor Lees invited nominations for the office of Mayor for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor Bowen and seconded by Councillor S Turner and

RESOLVED, that Councillor Alice Collinson be elected to the office of Mayor of the Borough of Wyre for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

The outgoing Mayor for 2016/17 (Councillor Lees) retired from the Chair which was then taken by Councillor Collinson, who signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

As Mayor of the Borough, Cllr Collinson thanked the Council for electing her as mayor.  She said it would be an honour and a privilege to serve the Borough in that role.  She also thanked her husband, daughter and other family members for their support.

The Mayor announced that her charities for 2017/18 would be the North West Air Ambulance Service and Marie Curie Nurses.

Councillor R Duffy proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor.  She also referred to the unstinting support provided to the retiring Mayor by the retiring Deputy Mayor, Councillor Emma Anderton, and her Consort, Dan Henshaw.

RESOLVED that the thanks of the Council be tendered to Councillor Lees for the valuable services which he had rendered to the Borough during his term of office as Mayor.

The Mayor invited nominations for the appointment of Deputy Mayor for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor V Taylor and seconded by Councillor Catterall and

RESOLVED, that Councillor Julie Robinson be appointed to the office of Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Wyre for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

Councillor Robinson thanked the Council and then signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

The Chief Executive said that a number of cards had been received from well-wishers congratulating Councillor Collinson on her appointment as Mayor and he read out a few of the messages.

The Mayor (Councillor Collinson) welcomed Councillor Emma Ellison to her first Council meeting, following her election as a Member for Bourne Ward at the by election held on 4 May.

The Mayor also announced that the Chief Executive has been informed that Councillor Ruth Duffy had stood down as Leader of the Opposition and that Councillor Lorraine Beavers has been elected to that role by the Labour Group Members.  She wished Councillor Beavers well in that new role.

Report of the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive attached

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Gibson) and the Chief Executive submitted a report on appointments to Committees, Panels and Groups for the 2017/18 Council Year.

The Mayor (Councillor Collinson) said that an amended version of Appendix 1 of the report, including the nominations of the Labour Group, had been published and copies had been circulated to all Councillors.

Cllr Gibson when presenting the report referred to the position set out in paragraph 4.3 and said that, following the by-election to fill the vacant Bourne Ward seat on 4 May, he proposed that the Conservative Group’s entitlement under the political balance rules to a single additional seat overall be filled by the appointment of Cllr Ellison to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, leaving the Labour Group with three places on that Committee instead of four (as reflected in the updated version of Appendix 1).

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Murphy.

RESOLVED

Report of the Leader of the Council and Service Director Performance and Innovation attached

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Gibson) and the Service Director Performance and Innovation submitted a report on vacancies on four of the outside bodies to which the Council appointed representatives.

Cllr Gibson, when introducing the report, proposed that Cllr Orme be appointed as the Council’s representative on the Volunteer Centre, Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Henderson.

Councillor Beavers proposed that representatives be appointed to the organisations referred to in paragraphs 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5  of the report,  as follows:

-           Fielden Fleetwood Charity - Cllr M Anderton;

-           Fleetwood Neighbourhood Watch Association - Cllr Shewan

-           Wyre Council/Regenda Partnership Group - Cllr Beavers.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Fail.

RESOLVED