Agenda and minutes

There were no announcements of the Lord Mayor.

It was moved by Councillor J Blundell, seconded by Councillor B Mosterman and supported by Councillors G Duggins, J Gardiner and E Reeves, that Councillor Roger Bailey be elected as Chair of the Council (being the Lord Mayor of the City) for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Roger Bailey be elected as Chair of the Council for the 2026/27 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.

A vote of thanks for the retiring Lord Mayor, Rachel Lancaster, was moved by Councillor L Kelly, seconded by Councillor J McNicholas and supported by Councillors J Gardiner, Blundell and Reeves.

Rachel Lancaster responded to the vote of thanks.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the warmest thanks of the Council are due and are thereby given to Rachel Lancaster for the zeal and impartiality with which she has discharged the arduous duties of the office of Lord Mayor during the year 2025/26; and

(2)  That a copy of this resolution, under the Common Seal, be presented to Rachel Lancaster and consorts Lawrie Womble-Lancaster and Meredith Womble-Lancaster.

It was moved by Councillor J Blundell, seconded by Councillor M Heaven and supported by Councillors G Duggins, J Gardiner and E Reeves that Councillor Julia Lepoidevin be elected as Vice Chair of the Council (being the Deputy Lord Mayor of the City) for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Julia Lepoidevin be elected as Vice Chair of the Council for the 2026/27 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.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rul 1.4, (Part 3A of the Constitution, Part 1 of the Annual Meeting adjourned at 12 noon)

(Meeting reconvened at 3:00 pm)

A nomination was moved by Councillor A Tucker and seconded by Councillor M Mutton that Councillor George Duggins be elected as the Leader of the Council.

A nomination was moved by Councillor M Lapsa and seconded by Councillor F Beechey that Councillor Jackie Gardiner be elected as the Leader of the Council.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.5 (Part 3A of the Constitution), it was moved by Councillor S Gray and seconded by Councillor A Hopkins that the question “now be put” and following this it was moved by Councillor J Gardiner and seconded by Councillor F Beechey that a named vote be taken on this Motion as indicated below.  Following a named vote that the question “now be put”, the  Motion was carried.

As two nominations had been received for the election of Leader of the Council, a named vote was taken as indicated below.  Councillor Duggins received the highest number of votes.

RESOLVED that Councillor George Duggins be duly elected as Leader of the Council.

Note 1): In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18.2, a named vote being required by Councillors J Gardiner and F Beechey the Councillors voting for or against the Motion in relation to Council Procedure Rule 15.5 “that the question now be put”, were as follows:

For: 32

Against: 19

Abstain: 0

Note: Councillor T Jewell was absent for this vote

2) Voting for the nominated Councillors for election of the Leader was as follows:

Totals

For Councillor G Duggins: 26

For Councillor J Gardiner: 19

Abstained: 6

(Note: Councillor T Jewell was absent for this vote)

The City Council received a report of the Leader, Councillor G Duggins, on the composition of the Cabinet, the allocation of executive functions within the Cabinet and the membership of the Coventry Shareholder Committee as set out below.

*Cabinet Member Children and Young People is designated as the Lead Member for Children’s Services as required by Section 19 of the Children’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2026.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2026 were agreed and signed as a true record.

The Return of Persons elected for the following Wards of the City on 7 May 2026 was noted as follows:

There were no declarations of interest.

Report of the Director of Law, Governance and Safer Communities

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

(i)  Political Proportionality 2026/27

(ii)  Amendments to the Constitution in relation to quorums for Scrutiny Boards

(iii)  Appointment of Council Bodies and Outside Bodies

(iv)  Approval of the Scheme of Delegation as set out in the Constitution

(v)  A programme of meetings for Council and Cabinet

Arising from discussion and concerns raised on the proposal to reduce the size of the Scrutiny Boards from 9 Members to 6 Members and consequently, the size of quorums for those Scrutiny Boards to 3 Members, the Leader indicated that the position would be reviewed in October 2026. In addition it was noted that Scrutiny Members can attend all meetings of Scrutiny.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1.  Approve the allocation of seats on Council bodies in accordance with the requirements of political proportionality as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report, the establishment of those Council bodies and the terms of reference for those bodies as set out in the Constitution.

2.  Approve that the quorum of the Scrutiny Boards now be amended to three Members, following a change to the size of Scrutiny Boards in line with the requirements of political proportionality, and that authority to amend the Constitution accordingly be delegated to the Director of Law, Governance and Safer Communities.

3.  Approve that in respect of 1 and 2 above, the size of Scrutiny Boards, together with the amended quorum, be reviewed in October 2026.

4.  Approve that the Director of Law, Governance and Safer Communities be delegated authority to appoint to those Council bodies, referred to in Recommendations 1 above, including the appointment of the Chair and Deputy Chair (where appropriate), and Outside Bodies in accordance with the proportionality as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, following consultation with the Leader and the Group Leaders and that all of the appointments to Council Bodies and Outside Bodies be submitted to the next meeting of the City Council.

(Note: the following appendices are attached to these Minutes:

Appendix 1 – Appointment to Council Bodies

Appendix 2 – Appointment to Outside Bodies)

5.  Approve the Scheme of Delegation as set out in the Constitution.

6.  Approve the dates for Council meetings 2026/27, including the date of the Annual General Meeting, 2027/28, and dates for Cabinet meetings 2026/27 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report submitted.

7.  Delegate authority to the Director of Law, Governance and Safer Communities to set the dates for all other meetings for the municipal year, following consultation with the relevant Chairs of the relevant bodies. 

Note: In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18.2, a named vote being required by Councillors J Gardiner and F Beechey, the Councillors voting For and Against the Recommendations were as follows:

This item was not required.