Agenda and minutes

None.

To receive any declarations of interest.

None.

Up to a total of fifteen minutes can be allowed, each speaker being allocated  maximum of five minutes, for members of the public to present a petition, ask a question or comment on any matter on the Agenda or within the remit of the Council in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

Francis Lankester spoke in respect of item 21 (Notice of Motion). In summary, he did not support the principle of Joint Leaders and he spoke in support of appointing a Leader and Deputy Leader.

To consider the following Notice of Motion submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8:

Changes to the Constitution and Appointments of Members

Proposed by: Councillor Denham

The Council considered the following Notice of Motion, which had been submitted by Councillor Denham in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8:

Changes to the Constitution and Appointments of Members

Following the elections on 4 May, the Council remains in a position of no overall control but the political composition of the Council has changed.

This Motion proposes certain amendments to the Constitution and consequential appointments of Members to reflect power-sharing arrangements which are considered appropriate to the resulting political composition of the Council.

The Group Leaders Protocol stipulates that it should be reviewed every time that the political balance of the Council changes.

This Motion also proposes the cessation of the Income Management Sub-Committee with immediate effect. This is proposed as a measure to reduce the administrative burden of the committee meeting cycle on councillors and officers.

Amendments

The amendments proposed to the Articles (Part 2), Group Leaders Protocol (Part 15)  and Responsibility for Functions (Part 3) are set out in the Appendices to this Motion. In summary the purpose of the amendments is:

(1)  To reinstate the principle, removed from the Constitution last May, that the Council should have a Leader and Deputy Leader, even in cases of no overall control. Accordingly, to remove the principle of Joint Leaders;

(2)  To ensure that, when there is no overall control, the Leader of the Council is appointed by Council from the largest Political Group;

(3)  To ensure that the Deputy Leader of the Council is appointed on a basis of a vote of Council, irrespective of whether there is political control or no overall control;

(4)  To delete references to the Income Management Sub-Committee in the Constitution’s Part 3 - Responsibility for Functions. Because it is a sub-committee of Policy and Resources Committee, there is no need to re-state its functions anywhere else in the Constitution.

Therefore, Council agrees that, with immediate effect:

1.   The Articles, Part 2 of the Constitution, be amended in the terms set out in Appendix 1, so as to remove the references to Joint Leaders and instead insert new references to the process for appointment of the Leader and Deputy Leader even in cases of no overall control;

2.   The Group Leaders Protocol, Part 15 of the Constitution, be amended in the terms set out in Appendix 2, to reflect the new political balance of the Council;

3.   The Responsibility for Functions, Part 3, be amended to remove all references to the Income Management Sub-Committee and its functions;

4.   The Monitoring Officer is instructed to make any consequential amendments to the Constitution to give effect to these decisions;

5.   The Council now proceed to make the requisite Member appointments in accordance with these new arrangements.

The proposer, Councillor Denham, spoke in support of the Motion. The Motion was seconded by Councillor Riaz, who also spoke. Members of the Council proceeded to debate the Motion.

In accordance with the rules set out in the Constitution, Councillor Bisset proposed the following amendment:

Delete items 1 and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Consideration of the appointment of Leader(s) had been deferred at the Annual Council meeting. The Council proceeded to consider nominations for the appointment of two Joint Leaders, one from each of the two largest political groups, in accordance with the Constitution.

It was proposed by Councillor Riaz and seconded by Councillor Udall that Councillor Denham be nominated.

It was proposed by Councillor Laurenson and seconded by Councillor Piotrowski that Councillor Bisset be nominated.

There were no further nominations.

Upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED: That the Council agree that Councillors Denham and Bisset be elected as Joint Leaders of the Council.

The Mayor then proposed that the meeting be adjourned in accordance with the rules of debate for Council meetings as set out in the Constitution. The Council reconvened after an adjournment of 15 minutes.

Consideration of this item had been deferred at the Annual Council meeting.

The Council received the report of the Monitoring Officer seeking Council’s approval of the allocation of seats between the political groups for the Municipal Year 2023/24. The Monitoring Officer clarified that the Income Management Sub-Committee would be included in the calculations, with a membership of 5. The allocation of seats was Labour 2, Green 2, Conservative 1.

It was proposed by Councillor Bisset and seconded by Councillor Piotrowski and on being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED: That the Council agree the allocation of seats between political groups for the Municipal Year 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 1 of the minutes.

Consideration of this item had been deferred at the Annual Council meeting.

The Council received details of nominations from Group Leaders for the appointment of Members to Policy Committees, Regulatory Committees, Joint Committees and Other Bodies. The Council considered the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs to those Committees.

RESOLVED: That the Council approve the appointment of Members to Policy Committees, Regulatory Committees, Joint Committees and Other Bodies and the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs as set out in Appendix 2 of the minutes.

APPENDIX 2 - WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL – APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES 2023/24

Policy Committees

Regulatory Committees