Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Allen, Ash, Benton, Goldspink, J A Fox, J R Fox and Hiller.

The Retiring Mayor requested nominations for the election of Mayor for 2011 / 2012.

Councillor Thacker was nominated and seconded.

There being no other nominations, Councillor Thacker was duly elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2011 / 2012.

The Mayor made and signed her Declaration of Office.  The retiring Mayor, Councillor Sharp invested the Mayor with her Chain of Office and the retiring Mayoress Mrs Doris Marchant invested the Mayor’s Consort, Councillor Ray Dobbs, with his Chain of Office.

The Mayor requested nominations for the election of Deputy Mayor for 2011 / 2012.

Councillor Serluca was nominated and seconded.

There being no other nominations, Councillor Serluca was duly elected Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2011 / 2012.

The Deputy Mayor made and signed her Declaration of Office.  The Mayor invested the Deputy Mayor with her Chain of Office and the Mayor’s Consort invested the Deputy Mayoress, Mrs Rose Fasulo, with her Chain of Office.

Councillor Swift proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor, Councillor Sharp. He commended Councillor Sharp for the hard work and commitment shown to the role of Mayor over the previous municipal year. He also paid tribute to the retiring Mayoress and to the retiring Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor’s Consort.  This vote of thanks was seconded and endorsed by Councillor Cereste who commented that Councillor Sharp was a well known and liked Councillor across the city and the time and effort he had put into the role had been tremendous.

Each Group Leader in turn was invited to comment on Councillor Swift’s proposal and all endorsed the vote of thanks to Councillor Sharp.

Following comments from Group Leaders, the Mayor sought agreement to the vote of thanks and all Members agreed.

In responding to the vote of thanks, Councillor Sharp expressed his gratitude at the support expressed by Councillor Swift and the Group Leaders and paid tribute to the   paid tribute to the retiring Mayoress, the Deputy Mayor and the Deputy Mayors Consort for their support over the last year.  Councillor Sharp also expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Mayors Office staff for their help and support throughout his term of office.

The Mayor invited Councillor Sharp to receive his Badge of Office in recognition of his service to the city.  Upon receiving his Badge of Office, Councillor Sharp presented the retiring Mayoress and the retiring Deputy Mayor with their Badges of Office and the retiring Deputy Mayors Consort with a gift.

A special award was presented by Councillor Sharp to Mr Brian Rudgley for his outstanding contribution to the community.

The Mayor thanked all Members for their support in electing her as Mayor and expressed her thanks to Councillor Sharp for his hard work and dedication over the previous municipal year. The Mayor confirmed her chosen charities for her term of office as Help for Heroes and Find a Cure for Alex in Peterborough.

The Mayor stated that the meeting would be adjourned for ten minutes whilst the order papers for the second part of the meeting were circulated.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held 13 April 2011 were agreed and signed as an accurate record subject to the following amendment:

·         Page 4, 7(ii) Notices of Motion (iii) Requests that all Councillors consider making a donation from their annual CLF allocation towards the running costs of the hydrotherapy pool.

To receive and note the results of the elections held on Thursday 5 May, 2011

The results of the City Council and Parish elections, together with the National Referendum results were noted subject to the word ‘elected’ being added next to Councillors Matthew Dalton, Hiller and Swift respectively in the document.

To receive and note the membership of the political groups and their group officers.

The membership of Political Groups and their Officers for the Municipal Year 2011 / 2012 were noted. 

Councillor Sharp addressed the meeting and requested that those members of the Peterborough Independent Forum Group identified as ‘Independent’ should now be identified as ‘Peterborough Independents’.

To deal the following items of business:

A: Election of Leader, Appointment of Executive and Leader’s Scheme of Delegation:

1.        To elect of the Leader of the Council;

2.       To note the appointment of the Cabinet and the Leader’s Scheme of Delegation to Cabinet Members;

B: Committee Structures, Delegations and Allocations:

3.       To agree the Council’s Committee structure;

4.       To agree the terms of reference of committees and the Council’s Scheme of Delegations;

5.       To agree the allocation of seats to political groups;

C: Appointments and Consequential Changes to Constitution

6.       To appoint the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the Council’s Committees and Committee Memberships for 2011 / 2012 and make further appointments as identified in the report;  and

7.       To delegate the consequential updating of the Constitution to the Monitoring Officer.

Councillor Cereste was nominated and seconded as Leader of the Council.  There being no other nominations, Councillor Cereste was duly elected as Leader of the Council for a period of four years.

The Mayor directed Members’ attention to their additional papers contained within their files, including a revised Programme of Meetings for 2011 / 2012.

Councillor Cereste addressed the meeting and presented his Scheme of Delegations advising that he would be taking responsibility for a portfolio focusing on strategic growth, planning, economic development and business engagement. The whole of economic development and business agenda would rest with the Leader’s portfolio and Councillor Goodwin was named as his Cabinet Advisor. Tourism had also been included within the Leader’s portfolio and this aspect would be progressed with the assistance of the Cabinet Advisor.

Councillor Cereste further named his Cabinet Members and their responsibilities and highlighted the administration’s priorities for the Municipal Year ahead.

It was noted that two of the Cabinet Member’s titles were different to those contained within the papers, these being, Councillor Walsh ‘Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion and Safety’ and Councillor Fitzgerald ‘Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care.

Councillor Cereste expressed his gratitude to the two Members no longer in the Cabinet and gave personal thanks for all their hard work and dedication over the past year.

          Councillors Sharp, Khan and Sandford responded to the Leader’s speech.

          Councillor Sharp stated that his Group would continue to monitor the work of the Cabinet and would continue to challenge as required. Councillor Sharp further commented that the Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) which had been allocated to the Chairs of Neighbourhood Committees would have been better suited given to local people and the SRA removed.

          Councillor Khan stated that he firstly wished to welcome the new additions to the Labour Group. He also welcomed the new Cabinet Members and paid tribute to ex Councillor Yvonne Lowndes for her tremendous efforts undertaken with regards to the implementation of Neighbourhood Committees. Councillor Khan further stated that he hoped Councillor Peach would follow suit and continue to make the Neighbourhood Committees a success.

          Councillor Sandford stated that he was disappointed at the lack of policies outlined by the Leader in his speech and he commented that although one of the smallest unitary authorities in the country the Council had the maximum number of Cabinet Members and a Cabinet Advisor. Councillor Sandford further commented that opposition Members had not been able to effectively scrutinise the Scheme of Delegations as it had only been circulated at the meeting.

          Councillor Sandford further addressed the meeting and congratulated Councillor Cereste for becoming Leader of the Council, but wished for Councillor Cereste to note that more investment in basic services was needed and less investment in grand schemes.

          In response, Councillor Cereste stated that priorities included education, growth and employment in the city. There was the new university due to be built and £135m was going to be spent on education over the next 5 years with new  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.