Agenda and minutes

The Lord Mayor read out the following response received from Kensington Palace to a letter to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge extending congratulations on the safe arrival of Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte.

“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have asked me to write and thank you very much for the leter which you so kindly sent on the occasion of the birth of their daughter, Princess Charlotte.

Their Royal Highnesses are so grateful for the kind messages they have received; it is a very special time for them as a family.

The Duke and Duchess would have me send their warmest thanks and best wishes to all of the Council and citizens of Coventry.”

It was moved by Councillor Taylor and seconded by Councillor Kershaw that Councillor Michael Hammon be elected as Chair of the Council (being the Lord Mayor of the City) for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Michael Hammon be elected as Chair of the Council for the 2015/16 municipal year, having made the declaration of office prescribed by the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and having been invested with the Lord Mayor's Chain of Office and Robe.

The Lord Mayor, Councillor Hammon, addressed the City Council

A vote of thanks for the retiring Lord Mayor, Councillor Hazel Noonan, was moved by Councillor Bailey and seconded by Councillor Townshend.

Councillor Noonan responded to the vote of thanks.

RESOLVED:

(1)   That the warmest thanks of the Council were due and were thereby given to Councillor Hazel Noonan for the zeal and impartiality with which he has discharged the arduous duties of the office of Lord Mayor during the year 2015/15 and to Christopher as Lord Mayor’s consort.

(2)   That a copy of this resolution, under the common seal, be presented to Councillor Hazel Noonan.

The Lord Mayor, on behalf of the City Council, presented to Councillor Noonan and Christopher, Lord Mayor and consort during 2014/15, medallions inscribed with their names

It was moved by Councillor Duggins and seconded by Councillor Bigham that Councillor Lindsley Harvard be elected as Vice Chair of the Council (being the Deputy Lord Mayor of the City) for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Lindsley Harvard be elected Vice Chair of the Council for the 2015/16 municipal year, having made the declaration of office prescribed by the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and having been invested with the Deputy Lord Mayor's Badge and Robe.

The Lord Mayor invested Ms Shirley Bush with the Badge of Office of the Deputy Lady Mayoress.

The City Council received a report of the Leader, Councillor Ann Lucas, which confirmed the composition of the Cabinet and the allocation of executive portfolios/functions within the Cabinet (detailed below):

*Councillor Ruane is designated as the Lead Member for Children’s Services as required by Section 19 of the Children’s Act 2004

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2015

The minutes of the meeting of the City Council held on 17 March were signed as a true record.

The return of Councillors elected for the following wards of the City on 7 May 2015 was reported:

There were no declarations of interest.

The Council considered and approved the following documents which were tabled at the meeting:

(i)   Details of Licensing and Regulatory Committee, Planning Committee, Health and Wellbeing Board, Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee, Scrutiny Boards, Audit and Procurement Committee, an Ethics Committee and such other Committees as the Council considers appropriate to deal with matters which are neither reserved to the Council nor are executive functions as set out in the Constitution.  This also includes the appointment of the Chair and Deputy Chair of those bodies.

(ii)   The size and terms of reference for those Boards and Committees (as set out in the Constitution).

(iii)   The allocation of seats to political groups in accordance with the political  balance rules.

(iv)  The nominations of Councillors to serve on each Scrutiny Board, Committee and Cabinet Advisory Panel.

 (v)   The nominations and appointments to outside bodies.

(vi)   The programme of ordinary meetings of the Council, Cabinet, Scrutiny Boards, Committees and Advisory Panels for 2015/16 including the date and time of the next Annual Meeting. 

RESOLVED that the City Council approve the allocation of seats, appointments and programme of meetings as appended to these minutes. 

Report of the Executive Director of Resources

The City Council considered a report of the Executive Director of Resources which detailed changes to the governance arrangements of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority and sought approval to the establishment of the Centro Members Joint Committee.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

(1)  Notes the changes to the terms of reference of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority and endorses the changes to the governance arrangements as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

(2)   Approves the reduction in membership of the Transport Delivery Committee of the Integrated Transport Authority as per the amended Scheme of Delegation and the change in name to set out in the Authority’s amended terms of reference.

(3)  Authorises the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services to agree and enter into such documents as are necessary to give effect to these decisions

Report of the Executive Director of Resources

The City Council considered a report of the Executive Director of Resources which set out proposed changes to the terms of reference of the West Midlands Joint Committee which were needed now that the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) was operational.

The main changes to the Joint Committee’s Constitution were:

·  To remove responsibilities for the shadow ITA, now that the formal West Midlands ITA is up and running; and

·  To include reference to the role of the WMJC in confirming the appointment of the 5 additional members of the ITA’s Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee to achieve the balanced appointment. 

Each local authority member of the Joint Committee must agree the changes before they can be implemented.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

(1)  Approve the changes to the Terms of Reference and Constitution of the West Midlands Joint Committee as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

(2) Authorise the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services to agree and enter into such documents are necessary to give effect to the above recommendation.

This item was not required.