Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman from amongst the Councillors of the District.

Councillor Worlock was proposed by the current Chairman and seconded by Councillor Neighbour as Chairman of the Council.

DECISION

That Councillor Worlock be elected Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2022/23.

Cllr Worlock thanked Mr Ambler for his work as Chairman during 2021/22, and presented him with his past Chairman’s badge.

Mr Ambler in response thanked Members, Officers and staff for their support during his tenure.

To elect a Vice Chairman from amongst the Councillors of the District.

Councillor Wildsmith was proposed by Councillor Neighbour and seconded by Councillor Crampton as Vice Chairman of the Council.

Voting by a show of hands was not unanimous.  A recorded vote was undertaken, which showed that all Members voted in favour of Mr Wildsmith’s appointment.

DECISION

That Councillor Wildsmith be elected Vice Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2022/23.

To confirm the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 28 April 2022.

The Minutes of the meeting of 28 April 2022 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

A matter arising, under Minute 87 was raised. This related to an apology from Councillor Kinnell to Councillors Forster and Butcher, as required by the recent Appeals Panel hearing, and which had been deferred to this meeting.

Councillor Kinnell read out her apology statement. Councillor Forster felt this was not a valid apology. He highlighted that an apology is the act of declaring one’s regret, or remorse for having wronged another. In order to count as valid, an apology must meet a number of conditions. There must be an acknowledgment the incident occurred and was inappropriate; a recognition of responsibility for the act; the expression of an attitude of regret and a feeling of remorse; and the declaration of an intention to refrain from similar acts in the future.

In his opinion the words offered by Councillor Kinnell did not meet these criteria and therefore it was not accepted by him as an appropriate apology.

To receive any apologies for absence from Members*.

*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they will be absent.

Apologies were received from Councillor Crisp.

To declare disposable pecuniary, and any other interests*.

*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they may have an interest to declare.

No declarations were made.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and/or Joint Chief Executives.

The Chairman welcomed all members to the municipal year, particularly those Councillors new to Hart.

JOINT CHIEF EXECUTIVES’ ANNOUNCEMENTS

Forthcoming training for all Councillors:

Thursday 8 June 11am-1pm – workshop on UK Shared Prosperity Fund.  This will be open for Parish representatives and external agencies also. 

The Overview and Scrutiny meeting on 14 June will be a single item agenda meeting on Cyber Security and will be open for all Councillors.

The Leader of the Council to confirm the composition of Cabinet.

The Leader confirmed membership of Cabinet and their Portfolios:

Councillor Neighbour          Leader - Strategic Direction and Partnerships

Councillor Radley               Deputy Leader - Finance

Councillor Oliver                Environment

Councillor Cockarill            Place

Councillor Collins               Regulatory

Councillor Clarke               Digital and Communications

Councillor Bailey                Community

Councillor Quarterman       Commercialisation and Corporate Services

To receive nominations of Members to serve on each Committee.

† Committee size adjusted to take proportionality implications into consideration

Notes:

* No Members of the Cabinet may be Members of the Audit Committee.

** It is Council practice that membership of the Planning Committee will comprise the maximum of one representative from each Ward, provided this is consistent with the rules on political balance.

*** No Members of the Cabinet may be Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

1. To confirm membership of the Standards Committee for the municipal year 2022/23

i. Six District Councillors (as above)

ii. One Lay Person (replacement for Peter Kern)

iii. Three Parish Members to be appointed by Hart District Association of Parish and Town Councils.

2. Standards Committee will elect its own Chairman at its first meeting.

The number of places for the Conservatives was incorrect and would be amended to read 15.

The nominations for Membership for each Committee, with regards to the rules of political proportionality, were confirmed:

Committee   Seats            Con              Lib Dem       CCH             Ind    

Audit             7                   Southern       Blewett         Axam            Smith

                                         Hale              Engström      Davies

Licensing      11                 Forster          Crisp             Butler           Smith

                                         Coburn          Harward        Collins

                                         Farmer          Lamb            Delaney

                                                              Wildsmith

O&S             11                 Dorn             Engström      Davies

                                         Farmer          Wildsmith      Butler

                                         Coburn          Woods          Axam

                                         Butcher                             Smith (Ind)

Crime &
Disorder        3                   Butcher         Wildsmith      Butler

5 Councils     2                                       Wildsmith      Axam

Planning        11                 Forster          Blewett         Radley                                                             Southern          Wildsmith      Makepeace-Browne

                                         Worlock        Cockarill        Oliver

                                         Kennett         Quarterman

Staffing         9                   Farmer          Bailey           Butler

                                         Worlock        Wildsmith          Makepeace-Browne

                                         Crampton      Neighbour     Radley

Standards     6                   Dorn             Bailey           Makepeace-Browne

                                         Kennett         Neighbour     Clarke

It was noted that an advert for a replacement lay person for Peter Kern would be published and an update given in due course.

Appeals        6                   Hale              Engström      Collins

Panel                                 Kennett         Harward        Butler

DECISION:

That the membership of the Committees be agreed as above.

The Chairman of the Council will take nominations for Chairman of each Committee.

*Note:

i.              A Councillor may not be Chairman of any committee of the Council, for more than three consecutive years without the consent of the Council.

ii.            The Committees will subsequently elect their respective Vice-Chairman at their first meeting.

Members of the Committees established under Minute No 8 above elected their Chairmen for the 2022/2023 municipal year.

DECISION

That the Committee Chairmen be agreed:

Committee                        Chairman

Audit                                 Axam

Licensing                           Wildsmith*

Planning                            Quarterman            

Overview & Scrutiny          Dorn

Staffing                              Makepeace-Browne

*Council consented to waive Standing Order 28.8 to agree the election of Councillor Wildsmith as Chairman of Licensing Committee.  This was done by way of a recorded vote:

For:  Axam; Bailey; Blewett; Butcher;  Butler; Clarke; Coburn; Cockarill; Collins; Crampton; Davies; Delaney; Engström; Farmer; Hale; Harward; Kennett; Kinnell; Lamb; Makepeace-Browne; Neighbour; Oliver; Quarterman; Radley; Smith; Wildsmith; Woods; Worlock; Wright

Against:  Dorn; Forster; Southern

The Chairman of the 2021/22 Overview and Scrutiny Committee to present their Annual Report and to make recommendations for future work programmes.

The Chairman of the 2021/22 Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Worlock, presented the Committee’s Annual Report, highlighting some key areas.

The Committee had dealt with a number of new initiatives during the year, and had reintroduced outside speakers which had proven hugely informative.

Councillor Worlock met monthly with the Leader of the Council and had monthly briefings with officers and staff. In particular, she thanked Emma Foy for her work and support of the Committee. 

She thanked Committee members for their work and welcomed Councillor Dorn as Chairman for 2022/23.