Agenda and minutes

The members had before them

A.    The Agenda papers (previously circulated); and

B.    The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2021 (previously circulated).

To receive apologies and invite any councillor to declare any interest in any of the items on the agenda.

Apologies were received from Councillors Salman Akbar and Marcus Hart.

To elect a Chairman of the Council to hold office until his or her successor becomes entitled to act.

The outgoing Chairman described his year of office and thanked the Council and its officers for their support.

RESOLVED that Cllr Steve Mackay be elected Chairman to hold office until his successor becomes entitled to act.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Council to hold office until immediately after the election of a Chairman at the next Annual meeting of the Council.

RESOLVED that Cllr Chris Rogers be appointed Vice-Chairman to hold office until immediately after the election of a Chairman at the next Annual meeting of the Council.

To consider a report on the appointment of a Leader of the Council.

RESOLVED that Mr S E Geraghty be appointed Leader of the Council.

Mr Geraghty announced that he would also serve as Cabinet Member for Finance and that he intended to appoint the following as members of Cabinet:

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care – Cllr Adrian Hardman

Cabinet Member for Communities – Cllr Matt Dormer

Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Communication – Cllr Adam Kent

Cabinet Member for Children and Families – Cllr Andy Roberts

Cabinet Member for Education – Cllr Marcus Hart

Cabinet Member for Health and Well-being – Cllr Karen May

Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills– Cllr Marc Bayliss

Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport – Cllr Alan Amos

Cabinet Member for Environment – Cllr Tony Miller

To allow a member of the public to present a petition, or ask a question relating to the functions of the Council, or to make a comment on any matter on the agenda.

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance in writing or by e-mail indicating both the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the Monday before the meeting (in this case, 17 May 2021). Further details are available on the Council’s website. Enquiries can also be made through the telephone number/e-mail address listed below.

Mr R Powell presented a petition in relation to the Western Relief Road for Bromsgrove.

Mr P Bladon asked a question about Trading Standards and the lack of an answer to a previous question to Council.

Mr P Millar asked a question about the impact of the Department of Transport's National Bus Strategy for England published on the County’s bus services.

Ms S Savage asked a question about climate change.

The Chairman thanked all the public participants for their contribution and said they would receive a written response from the relevant Cabinet Member.

To approve as a correct record and authorise the signing of the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2021 (previously circulated electronically).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2021 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any announcements to be made by the Chairman.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Bob Brookes for his work as Chairman through was a particularly difficult and challenging Municipal year.

To make a decision on the Council's political structures and appointments.

(a)         Political and Constitutional Structures

The Leader of the Council introduced the report and commented that no changes were proposed to the existing Committee and scrutiny structures.

The recommendation in paragraph 1 on page 3 of the agenda papers was moved by Cllr Simon Geraghty and seconded by Cllr Adrian Hardman.

RESOLVED: that

a)     the political structures established under the previous Council and set out in the Constitution (summarised in this report) be confirmed;

b)     the size of the Council’s ordinary committees and proposed allocation of seats between the political Groups on those committees and on Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority be agreed as set out in Appendix 1 attached to these Minutes;

c)     the individual members be appointed to those committees in accordance with the nominations from time to time of the respective political Groups in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, and the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance be required to give effect to such wishes expressed by the political Groups;  and

d)     the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance be authorised to settle any outstanding details relating to the political structures and to make changes as necessary to the Council's Constitution (Articles and Appendices) to give effect to the Council's decisions and any other revisions necessary to reflect needs or circumstances.

(b)        Constitutional and Other Appointments

The recommendation in paragraph 22 on page 6 of the agenda papers was moved by Cllr Simon Geraghty and seconded by Cllr Adrian Hardman.

The nomination of Cllr Richard Udall for Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board was moved by Cllr Mel Allcott and seconded by Lynn Denham.

It was then proposed by Cllr Matt Jenkins and seconded by Cllr Beverley Nielsen that Cllr Tom Wells be appointed Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board.

On being put to the vote, Cllr Tom Wells was appointed Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board.

The nomination of Luke Mallett for Vice-Chairman of Waste Credit Governance Committee was moved by Cllr Mel Allcott and seconded by Cllr Lynn Denham.

It was then proposed by Cllr Matt Jenkins and seconded by Cllr Natalie McVey that Cllr Matt Jenkins be appointed Vice-Chairman of Waste Credit Governance Committee.

On being put to the vote, Cllr Luke Mallett was appointed Vice-Chairman of Waste Credit Governance Committee.

RESOLVED: that

a)   the Constitutional Appointments be made as set out in Appendix 2 attached to these Minutes; and

b)   the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance be authorised to finalise appointments to outside bodies in consultation with Group Leaders as set out in the report.

(c)         Council Meeting Dates 2022

County Council meeting dates were currently scheduled up to November 2021. To enable the 2022 meetings programme to be produced and help members plan their commitments, the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance suggested that further meetings of the Council be now scheduled for 2022.  In accordance with the usual practice and pattern of meetings, further meetings (Cabinet, Committees and Panels)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2276.

To consider changes to the governance arrangements of the Pensions Committee.

The Council considered changes to the Worcestershire Pension Fund Governance Arrangements.

The recommendation in paragraph 1 on page 9 of the agenda papers was moved by Cllr Adrian Hardman and seconded by Cllr Elizabeth Eyre.

RESOLVED: that

a)    The draft Terms of Reference for the Pension Committee attached as Appendix 1 to the report be approved; and

b)   The revised and updated Governance Policy Statement attached as Appendix 2 to the report be approved.