Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Milani.

To note the results of the recent elections and the resulting political balance of the Council.

As a result of the Borough Council elections held on 3 May 2018, two political groups had been formed: the Hillingdon Conservative Group with Councillor Puddifoot as Group Leader and the Labour Group with Councillor Curling as Group Leader.  It was moved by Councillor Puddifoot and seconded by Councillor Simmonds and:

RESOLVED:  That the results of the recent elections and the resulting political balance of the Council be noted.

To elect a Mayor of the London Borough of Hillingdon to hold office from 10 May 2018 until his or her successor becomes entitled to act as Mayor.

i)          The retiring Mayor, Councillor Melvin, to provide a summary of her year in office.

ii)         Nominations for Mayor invited by the retiring Mayor - election (if necessary).

iii)        Retiring Mayor declares the result.

The Mayor thanked her Consort, her fellow Councillors, catering staff and officers for the support they had given her throughout her memorable year as Mayor.  She provided the Council with some brief highlights of her Mayoral year and announced that she had raised over £45k for her charities.

Nominations were invited for a Mayor to hold office for the 2018/19 municipal year.  Councillor Morgan was nominated by Councillor Bianco and seconded by Councillor Flynn.  There were no further nominations. 

RESOLVED: That Councillor John Morgan be elected as Mayor for the 2018/2019 municipal year.

The Council adjourned for robing of the new Mayor at 7.48pm and reconvened at 8.02pm.

i)     The newly elected Mayor to make and sign the declaration of acceptance of office.

ii)    The Head of Democratic Services to declare the election of the Mayor to be complete.

The newly elected Mayor signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

To receive the Mayor's appointment in writing of a Councillor of the Borough to serve as Deputy Mayor for the coming year.

The Mayor informed the Council that he had appointed Councillor David Yarrow as Deputy Mayor and that his Deputy Mayoress would be Mrs Mary O’Connor.

RESOLVED: That the Deputy Mayor and the Deputy Mayoress for the year be noted.

To receive announcements from the new Mayor.

The new Mayor thanked those present for electing him.  He advised that his wife, Mrs Fiona Morgan, would be his Mayoress for the year and that Mrs Pauline Bianco would be his Escort.  The Mayor stated that his nominated charities for the year would be the Peter Pan and Wendy Ward at Hillingdon Hospital (to develop their new garden), PHAB and Grangewood School (for new IT equipment). 

i)     Vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor to be moved and seconded.

ii)    Presentation of Past Mayor's and Past Mayor's Consort's badges.

Councillor Puddifoot moved a vote of thanks to the retired Mayor, Councillor Melvin, and her Consort, Mr Andrew Melvin.  This was seconded by Councillor Curling. 

The Mayor (Councillor Morgan) presented a Past Mayor’s badge to Councillor Melvin and Past Mayor’s Consort badge to Mr Andrew Melvin.  Councillor Puddifoot advised that, as the Council had come in under budget during the previous year, he would be recommending that Cabinet contribute to the funds raised by Councillor Melvin for her charities to take the total to £90k.

RESOLVED: That the vote of thanks to the Outgoing Mayor, Councillor Melvin, be agreed.

(i) APPOINTMENT OF THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL

Nominations were invited for the position of Leader of the Council for the next four years.  Councillor Simmonds moved, and Councillor D. Mills seconded, the nomination of Councillor Puddifoot.  There were no further nominations and it was:

RESOLVED: That Councillor Puddifoot be appointed as Leader of the Council for the next four year period.

(ii)        APPOINTMENT OF CABINET

The appointment by the Leader of the Council of Councillor Simmonds as the Deputy Leader and the following Members as Cabinet members for 2018/2019 was noted:

(iii)       APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL CHAMPIONS

It was moved by Councillor Puddifoot, seconded by Councillor Simmonds, and:

RESOLVED: That the following Champions, as recommended by the Leader of the Council, be appointed:

·           Older Persons - the Leader of the Council

·           Carers - Councillor Haggar

(iv)    REVIEW OF THE COUNCIL CONSTITUTION

Councillor Puddifoot moved, and Councillor Simmonds seconded, the following recommendations:

“a)     the constitutional changes detailed in the report and Appendix A to:

i)       Article 7 - Cabinet Scheme of Delegations;

ii)      Article 6 - Policy Overview, Scrutiny and Select Committees; and

iii)    Part 4 (E) - Policy Overview, Scrutiny and Select Committee Procedure Rules,

be approved.

“b)     the Corporate Parenting Board be discontinued and its responsibilities be transferred to the Social Care, Housing and Public Health Policy Overview Committee, who may establish a Corporate Parenting Panel to provide effective oversight and improved integration of corporate parenting within the Council’s governance arrangements.

“c)     authority be delegated to the Head of Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to update the Constitution, amend the Council’s timetable of meetings and make any other necessary decisions required to transition to and give effect to the new overview and scrutiny arrangements as set out in Appendix A of the report.”

Councillor Curling moved an amendment to delete recommendation b) which was seconded by Councillor Eginton.  Following debate (Councillor Sweeting), the amended motion was put to a recorded vote:

Those voting for: Councillors Allen, Birah, Bliss, Curling, Dhillon, Dhot, Duncan, Eginton, Farley, Lakhmana, Mathers, Money, Morse, Nelson, Oswell, Prince, Sansarpuri, Singh and Sweeting.

Those voting against: The Mayor (Councillor Morgan), the Deputy Mayor (Councillor Yarrow), Councillors Ahmad-Wallana, Arnold, Barnes, Bianco, Bridges, Brightman, Burrows, Chamdal, Chapman, Choubedar, Cooper, Corthorne, Denys, Deville, Edwards, Flynn, Fyfe, Goddard, Graham, Haggar, Hensley, Higgins, Hurhangee, Jackson, Kauffman, Lavery, Lewis, Makwana, Markham, Melvin, D Mills, R Mills, O’Brien, Palmer, Puddifoot, Radia, Riley, Rodrigues, Seaman-Digby, Simmonds, Stead and Tuckwell.

Those abstaining: None.

The amended motion was lost.

The original motion was put to the vote and it was:

RESOLVED: That

a)        the constitutional changes detailed in the report and Appendix A to:

iv)   Article 7 - Cabinet Scheme of Delegations;

v)     Article 6 - Policy Overview, Scrutiny and Select Committees; and

vi)   Part 4 (E) - Policy Overview, Scrutiny and Select Committee Procedure Rules,

be approved.

b)        the Corporate Parenting Board be discontinued and its responsibilities be transferred to the Social Care, Housing and Public Health Policy Overview Committee, who may establish a Corporate Parenting Panel to provide effective oversight and improved integration of corporate parenting within the Council’s governance arrangements.

c)        authority be delegated to the Head of Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to update the Constitution, amend the Council’s timetable of meetings and make any other necessary decisions required to transition to and give effect to the new overview and scrutiny arrangements as set out in Appendix A of the report.

To determine the number and size of Council committees and allocate Members to serve on those committees based on the political balance of the Council where required

It was moved by Councillor O'Brien, seconded by Councillor Denys, and:

ReSOLVED: That the appointment of Committees, Sub-Committees and their memberships as set out in Minute Annex A, be approved.

(Report to follow) To consider appointments to outside organisations.

Councillor O’Brien advised that the list of appointments to Outside Organisations was nearing completion and that the final list would be circulated once the Whips had confirmed the final appointments.

It was moved by Councillor O'Brien, seconded by Councillor Denys and:

ReSOLVED:  That finalising the appointment of Council representatives on outside bodies be delegated to the Head of Democratic Services in consultation with the Whips.

To receive the annual report.

The Council received a report of the work covered by the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committees in 2017/18.  It was moved by Councillor Seaman-Digby, seconded by Councillor Riley, and:

RESOLVED:  That the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committees’ Annual Report 2017/2018 be endorsed.

In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, to receive, without comment, a statement from the Leader of the Council.

The Leader noted that, at the previous week’s election, residents had voted for a Conservative Administration to represent them over the next four years.  The London Borough of Hillingdon was a well managed and financially stable organisation that focussed on what was best for local people.  In the two weeks leading up to the election, John McDonnell MP had stated that he wanted Labour to win the local election with a significant majority.  The result had given the Conservatives an increased majority. 

Councillor Puddifoot was aware that all Members wanted to make a difference and that this would be achieved through strong financial management and political leadership.  He noted that he had a first class Deputy Leader in Councillor Simmonds and a highly competent Cabinet.

The Leader advised that the London Borough of Hillingdon had a remarkable record of achievement with Council Tax continuing to be frozen, record investment in road maintenance, all libraries being rebuilt or refurbished at a time when other councils were closing theirs and record cash balances.  As he approached his nineteenth year as Leader of the Council, Councillor Puddifoot recognised that it was important for the Council to make a difference for its residents by working together as a team to produce outstanding results.  Councillor Puddifoot thanked the opposition for the part that they had played in the Council’s achievements. 

Councillor Puddifoot acknowledged that the Administration had been measured on its past performance and he expected that these achievements would extend into the future by continuing to put Hillingdon residents first.