There were no apologies for absence at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest at this meeting.

Report of Director of Legal & Democratic Services (to follow)

The Council considered two reports of the Director of Legal & Democratic Services:

(a) Setting out the appointments to the Cabinet and Cabinet Committee and several suggested changes to the Constitution;

(b) Proposed changes to the Constitution, primarily to ensure that Council meetings operate in a more efficient way.

Resolved:

1. That it be noted that, following the Local Elections on 3^rd May 2018, the make-up of the Council is as follows:

·         Conservative Group – 29

·         Labour Group – 11

·         Independent Group – 8

·         Liberal Democrat Group – 2

·         Unaligned Independent (Councillor Aylen) – 1

2. That the changes to the titles and responsibilities of portfolios which have been confirmed by the Leader of the Council as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be noted and that these changes be reflected in an amendment to Part 3 Schedule 1(a) of the Constitution.

3. That the appointments to the Cabinet (and substitutes) made by the Leader of the Council (including the arrangements for the Deputy Leader) as set out in List A, be noted.

4. That the appointments to the Cabinet Committee (and substitutes) made by the Leader of the Council as set out in List B, be noted.

5. That the following minor changes to the Constitution, be approved:

(a) The quorum of the Cabinet be reduced from 5 to 3 Members;

(b) To reduce the size of Working Parties, Forums and Panels (listed in Part 3, Schedule 2 of the Constitution) which currently have a membership of 9 to 8 Members, while retaining the convention that political proportionality shall apply;

(c) That minor amendments be made to the Terms of Reference of the Health & Wellbeing Board as set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report and that Schedule 2 of Part 3 of the Constitution be amended accordingly.

(d) That minor amendments be made to the Terms of Reference of the Place Scrutiny Committee and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 15(d)(iii) as set out in Appendix 3 to the report and that Schedule 2 of Part 3 of the Constitution be amended accordingly.

(e) That a minor amendment be made to paragraph 5.1(b)(iii) of the Terms of Reference of the People Scrutiny Committee in Part 3, Schedule 2, with the deletion of the following text – ‘through election amongst voluntary organisations in the Town)’;

(f) That the requirement that the Council nominee(s) to four specific outside bodies shall submit summary reports to the Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee be deleted and that Article 4.02(3)(e) in Part 2 of the Constitution be amended accordingly.

(g) That amendments be made to Contracts Procedure Rules as set out in Appendix 4 to the report and that Part 4g be amended accordingly.

6. That the Council’s Constitution, including the Scheme of Delegation in Part 3, Schedule 3, be approved.

7. That the changes to the Constitution set out in Section 4 of the report titled ‘Speeding Up Council Meetings’ be approved.

8. That authority be delegated to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To follow

Resolved: 

That the Members set out in List C, as circulated at the meeting, be appointed as members and substitutes of Regulatory and Scrutiny Committees, Licensing Sub-Committee C, Standards Committee and Audit Committee for the Municipal Year 2018/19.

To follow

Resolved:

That the Members set out in List C be appointed as Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Regulatory and Scrutiny Committees, Licensing Sub Committee C, Standards Committee and Audit Committee for the Municipal Year 2018/19.

To follow

Resolved:

That the Members set out in List D, as circulated at the meeting, be appointed as members and substitutes of Working Parties, Panels, Forums, etc for the Municipal Year 2018/19.

To follow

That the Members set out in List D be appointed as Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Working Parties, Panels, Forums, etc for the Municipal Year 2018/19.

To follow

The Worshipful the Mayor advised Members that there had been more nominations than there were positions on the Essex Outward Bound Association, Homeless Action Resource Project, South Essex Homes Board and the Southend-on-Sea Arts Council.  A vote on each position was taken in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.

Resolved:

That the Members indicated in List E, as circulated at the meeting, be appointed to the outside bodies for the Municipal Year 2018/19 with the exception of the bodies listed in (a) – (b) below, to which the following Members be appointed:

(a) Essex Outward Bound Association – Councillor D Nelson;

(b) Homeless Action Resource Project – Councillor J Garston

(c) South Essex Homes Board – Councillors Mr Davidson, D McGlone and R Woodley;

(d) Southend-on-Sea Arts Council – Councillors D Burzotta, M Davidson and J McMahon.

Calendar to follow

Resolved:

That the revised calendar of meetings for the Municipal Year 2018/19, be approved.