Agenda and minutes

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

None.

The Mayor for 2018/19 (Mrs M Anderton) referred briefly to the highlights of her year of office as Mayor and thanked family members, Councillors and officers who had supported her.

She presented payments of £3,750 each to representatives of the Mayor’s Charities for 2018/19, Trinity Hospice, Fleetwood RNLI and Fleetwood Museum Trust.

Representatives of each of the charities thanked the Mayor for 2018/19 for choosing their organisations as her 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 people in Wyre.

The Mayor for 2018/19 (Mrs M Anderton) presented the HMS Sheraton Trophy to Katie Ramsbottom, for her support for family members, Trinity Hospice and the wider local community during and after her Father’s terminal illness and for her own outstanding sporting achievements.

The Mayor for 2018/19 (Mrs M Anderton) invited nominations for the office of Mayor for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor Ingham, seconded by Councillor Berry and

agreed (unanimously), that Councillor Ann Turner be elected to the office of Mayor of the Borough of Wyre for the Municipal Year 2019/20.

The outgoing Mayor for 2018/19 (Mrs M Anderton) retired from the Chair which was then taken by Councillor Turner, who signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

Councillor A Turner 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 said that the Mayor’s Charities for 2019/20 would be the Air Ambulance service and the local branch of the RSPCA.

Miss E Anderton made a brief speech thanking the retiring Mayor. Councillor Smith then formally proposed and Councillor Henderson seconded a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor.

Agreed (unanimously) that the thanks of the Council be tendered to Mrs Marge Anderton for the valuable services which she had rendered to the Borough during her term of office as Mayor.

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

The Mayor invited nominations for the appointment of Deputy Mayor for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor Catterall, seconded by Councillor Berry and

agreed (unanimously), that Councillor Barry Birch be appointed to the office of Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Wyre for the Municipal Year 2019/20.

Councillor B Birch thanked the Council and signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

To elect a Leader of the Council in accordance with Article 9 of the Constitution for the period until the Annual meeting after the Council elections to be held in May 2023.

Cllr Bowen proposed, Cllr Berry seconded and it was agreed (by 34 votes to 0 with 13 abstentions) that Cllr David Henderson be elected as Leader of the Council, in accordance with Article 9 of the Constitution, for the period until the Annual Meeting after the Council elections to be held in May 2023.

Report of the prospective Leader of the Council (Cllr Henderson) and the Chief Executive.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Henderson) and the Chief Executive submitted a report informing the Council of the membership of the Cabinet, the allocation of responsibilities and the appointment of a Deputy Leader.

Agreed (by 34 votes to 1 with, 12 abstentions):

1.    That the appointment by the Leader of the Council of the following Members to the Cabinet, with the responsibilities listed below, be noted:

-       Cllr A Vincent - Resources Portfolio Holder;

-       Cllr Berry - Neighbourhood Services and Community Safety Portfolio Holder;

-       Cllr Bridge – Street Scene, Parks and Open Spaces Portfolio Holder;

-       Cllr Bowen - Leisure, Health and Community Engagement Portfolio Holder;

-       Cllr Michael Vincent - Planning and Economic Development Portfolio   Holder;

2.    That the designation of Councillor A Vincent as Deputy Leader of the Council be noted.

3.    That the appointment of Councillor Kay as Lead Member for Children and Young People and Councillor Collinson as Lead Member for Older People be noted.

Report of the prospective Leader of the Council (Cllr Henderson) and the Chief Executive.

The Leader of the Council (Cllr Henderson) and the Chief Executive submitted a report on appointments to committees, panels and groups for the 2019/20 Council Year.

Councillor Henderson, when introducing the report, referred to an updated version of Appendices 1 and 2 of the report setting out the full list of nominations for committee places received from each of the party groups, copies of which had been circulated to Members.

Councillor Henderson responded to comments made by Councillors Fail, Beavers and Michael Vincent about the way in which it was proposed that places on the four committees with fourteen members be allocated.

Agreed (by 37 votes to 0, with 10 abstentions):

1.    That Committees be established and that Members be appointed to them, in accordance with the statutory political balance rules described in the report, as set out in Appendix 1 of these minutes.

2.    That other Panels and Groups also be established and that Members be appointed to them, as set out in Appendix 2 of these minutes.

3.    That the Lancashire Police and Crime Panel be reappointed as a Joint Committee of all 15 Councils in the Lancashire Police Force area and that Councillor Berry be nominated as Wyre’s representative on it.

Report of the prospective Leader of the Council (Cllr Henderson) and the Chief Executive.

The Leader of the Council (Cllr Henderson) and the Chief Executive submitted a report on appointments to outside bodies for the period until the next elections in May 2023.

Councillor Henderson, when introducing the report, referred to an updated version of the Appendix 1 of the report setting out a full list of nominations received from each of the party groups.

AGREED that the nominees listed in column D of Appendix 3 to theses minutes be appointed as the Council’s representative on the organisations listed in column A of Appendix 3, for the period until the next elections in May 2023.