Agenda and minutes

The Mayor welcomed councillors, officers and guests to the meeting. He outlined some of the highlights of his year of office which included the proclamation of the new King Charles III locally following the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and said that it had been a great honour and privilege to represent North Lincolnshire as Mayor for a second time. He emphasised that North Lincolnshire was the best place to live, work and visit and he had met many more fantastic residents of North Lincolnshire during his second term. He also thanked all those who had supported him throughout his year especially during his period of ill health, particularly the Deputy Mayor Janet Longcake for standing in at many events, his Mayoress, Joanne Brown, his chaplain Reverend Graham Lines, Councillor Julie Reed his fellow ward councillor, the Young Mayor, Mayor’s Cadet, charity organisers and officers of Mayoral Services.  Finally, he presented cheques to representatives of his charities the Fire Fighters Charity, Magic Moments and Starlight Arts, and expressed his best wishes to the newly elected mayor for 2023/24.

Following the opening remarks made by Councillor John Briggs the council proceeded to elect a Mayor for the council year 2023/24 -

Moved by Councillor J Davison and seconded by Councillor N Poole -

That Councillor Janet Longcake be elected Mayor of North Lincolnshire Council for the ensuing year.

Motion Carried

At this point in the meeting Councillor Longcake took the chair.

Councillor Longcake then expressed her thanks to the council for her election, announced her consort, her chaplain, her charities as part of her appeal fund, her Mayor’s cadet and spoke of her hopes for her year in office.

Moved by Councillor R Waltham MBE and seconded by Councillor L Foster -

That the council expresses to Councillor John Briggs its sincere thanks for carrying out the duties of Mayor of North Lincolnshire Council over the past year.

Motion Carried

The council then proceeded to the appointment of a Deputy Mayor -

Moved by Councillor J Reed and seconded by Councillor R Waltham MBE -

That Councillor John Briggs be appointed Deputy Mayor of North Lincolnshire Council for the ensuing year.

Motion Carried

At this point in the proceedings the meeting was adjourned briefly and was then reconvened for the formal business of the meeting.

Declarations of personal interests were indicated as follows –

Member                                                           Subject/Minute

Councillor M Ali                            Taxi Licence Holder with schools’ transport contract.

The Chief Executive submitted a report on the election of councillors following the local elections on 4 May 2023.

Moved by Councillor R Waltham MBE and seconded by Councillor R Hanningan -

That the report be noted.

Motion Carried

Moved by Councillor R Waltham MBE and seconded by Councillor R Hannigan -

That meetings of the council be held at the time indicated on the following dates -

          Thursday 5 October 2023 - 2.00 p.m.

          Friday 1 December 2023 - 2.00 p.m.

          Thursday 22 February 2024 - 2.00 p.m. (Budget Meeting)

          Thursday 16 May, 2024 - (Annual Meeting) 10.30am.

                                                                                                   Motion Carried

The Director: Governance and Communities submitted a report which in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 reviewed the political composition of the council following its local elections held on 4 May 2023, and the proposed allocation of seats available to appointed political groups/members on the size of committees/panels to be considered and appointed by Council.

The political balance following the 4 May 2023 elections of the council was Conservative- 27 and Labour -16. Appendix A to the report set out details how this ratio of members was shown in the allocation of members to committees/panels, depending on the total number of members on each committee/panel and in accordance with the proportionality rules and principles contained in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Appendix B set out the current range of committees 2022/23 (pre-election) for information with their total membership.

 Moved by Councillor R Waltham MBE and seconded by Councillor R Hannigan   -

That following a review of the political balance of its committees in accordance with the principles of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the proposed allocation of seats available to political groups/members on the size of committees/panels appointed as set of below, be approved.

POLITICAL BALANCE ARRANGEMENTS - 2023/24 

(Based on 27 (*63%) Conservative and 16 (*37%) Labour Political Proportionality)

Committee                    No. of    Conservative         Labour       

                                   Members

Planning Committee          8                  5                        3

Licensing Committee         12                  7                       5                      

Appeals Committee              3                2                        1                      

(Drawn from a pool of

12 members –

8 Conservative and

4 Labour)

Audit Committee                  7                  4                         3                      

Governance Scrutiny           3                 2                        1                     

Panel

Health, Integration and

Performance Scrutiny

Panel                                    3                 2                         1                     

Place Scrutiny Panel            3                   2                         1                     

Children’s

Scrutiny Panel **                  7                  6                         1

**Majority of seats on the committee/panel to be maintained by the majority political group. This panel includes 4 statutory co-opted members - two Church Representatives – voting, plus two Parent Governors Representatives – voting, in relation to Education Issues only.

Standards Committee           7                   4                        3                     

Appointment and

Employment Committee        5                   3                        2                     

Total Seats                           58                 37                      21                    

Proportionality                                         *63.7%                 *36.2%              

                                                                                                   Motion Carried

That the following appointments below be noted -

Moved by Councillor R Hannigan and seconded by Councillor N Poole

 –

That Councillor R Waltham MBE be elected Leader of the Council for a four-year term.

                                                                                                  Motion Carried

Moved by Councillor R Waltham MBE and seconded by Councillor R Hannigan -

(a)   That the number, names below and portfolios of Cabinet Members (see appendix 1 of the Working Papers) be noted, and (b) that Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Committees/Panels/Board as listed below be appointed -  

Councillor                          Cabinet Member Portfolio, Chair or Vice -Chair

Councillor A Davison         Vice Chair - Governance Scrutiny Panel

Councillor J Davison          Cabinet Member for Safer, Stronger Communities (Ashby, Bottesford, Scunthorpe)    

Councillor T Foster            Vice Chair – Audit Committee  

                                         Chair – Children’s Scrutiny Panel              

Councillor R Hannigan       Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adults, Health Families and Communities

                                         Vice Chair – Appointment and Employment Committee

Councillor J Kennedy         Chair – Place Scrutiny Panel

Councillor J Lee                 Chair – Governance Scrutiny Panel

Councillor E Marper           Cabinet Member for Investment, Outcomes and Governance       

Councillor T Mitchell          Cabinet Member for Connectivity                                                                                                                                                         

Councillor O’Sullivan           Vice Chair – Health, Integration and Performance

                                            Scrutiny Panel

Councillor N Poole             Cabinet Member for Environment Operations

                                         Chair – Standards Committee

Councillor J Reed              Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Communities

Councillor D Rose              Cabinet Member for Environment and Strategy

Councillor D Robinson       Chair – Health, Integration and Performance Scrutiny Panel

Councillor C Ross              Vice Chair – Planning Committee

Councillor C Sherwood      Cabinet Member for Safer, Stronger Communities (Rural)

Councillor N Sherwood      Chair – Planning Committee

Councillor S Swift               Vice Chair - Place Scrutiny Panel

Councillor K Vickers           Chair – Licensing Committee

                                         Chair – Audit Committee

Councillor P Vickers           Vice Chair – Licensing Committee

Councillor R Waltham MBE Leader and Cabinet Member for Place Shaping, Steel

                                           and Heavy Industry,

                                           Chair – Health and Wellbeing Board

                                           Chair – Appointment and Employment Committee

Councillor L Yeadon           Vice Chair – Children’s Scrutiny Panel                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                              Motion Carried                                                                                                                      

Having regard to the report of the Director: Governance and Communities entitled ‘Local Government and Housing Act 1989 - Political Balance of the Council’ (minute 2913 refers) it was -

Moved by Councillor R Waltham MBE and seconded by Councillor R Hannigan-

(a)That in accordance with the requirements of Item 8(a) on this agenda, minute 2913 refers – the Committees/Panels/Board as named below be appointed until the date of the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2024 or such earlier date as may be determined from time to time by the Council, and the number of members and appointments be as shown, and (b) that the number of members be appointed to key outside bodies (names to be notified) as listed below until the date of the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2024 or such earlier date as may be determined from time to time by the council-

PLANNING COMMITTEE (8 Members)

    LICENSING COMMITTEE (12 Members)

    STANDARDS COMMITTEE (7 Members)

APPEALS COMMITTEE (3 Members, two Conservative and one Labour)

Membership of appeals committees to deal with individual cases to be appointed as required from eligible members as set out below -

AUDIT COMMITTEE (7 Members)

CHILDREN’S SCRUTINY PANEL (7 Members)

Note:  The majority of seats on the panel to be maintained by the majority political group. This panel includes four statutory co-opted members, two Church Representatives -voting, plus two Parent Governor Representatives – voting, in relation education issues only. 

GOVERNANCE SCRUTINY PANEL (3 Members)

HEALTH, INTEGRATION AND PERFORMANCE SCRUTINY PANEL (3 Members)

PLACES SCRUTINY PANEL (3 Members)

APPOINTMENT AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE (5 Members)

HEALTH AND WELLBEING BOARD

Moved by Councillor R Waltham MBE and seconded by Councillor R Hannigan -

(a)  That lead members be appointed to champion the following :-

Motion Carried

The Director: Governance and Communities submitted a proposed timetable of meetings for 2023/2024.

Moved by Councillor Waltham MBE and seconded by Councillor Hannigan -

(a) That the timetable of meetings for 2023/2024 attached as Appendix 2 to the Working Papers be approved and adopted, and (b) that a fixed timetable of meetings be set by Scrutiny Panels at their first meetings.

Motion Carried