Agenda and minutes

         I.        To receive any apologies for absence.

       II.        To receive any declarations of interest.

      III.        To receive any announcements by the Mayor

There were no announcements by the Mayor

To make an appointment to the post of Leader of the Council. The Leader as elected may then announce his or her appointments of Cabinet Members if he or she wishes

Councillor Robert C Bright was appointed as Leader of the Council.

The Leader of the Council announced that the Cabinet he had appointed would comprise:

Chair of the Cabinet and Leader   : Councillor Robert C Bright

Deputy Leader (Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Digital Innovation): Councillor Ray Truman

Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services: Councillor Paul Cockeram

Cabinet Member for Education & Young People: Councillor Deborah Wilcox

Cabinet Member for HR, People and Business Change: Councillor Gail Giles

Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Investment: Councillor John Richards

Cabinet Member for Regulatory Functions: Councillor Bob Poole

Cabinet Member for Skills and Work and Newport LIVE: Councillor Mark Whitcutt (Also to act as Business Manager)

Streetscene and City Services: Councillor Deborah Davies

Councillor Ken Critchley

The Leader of the Council thanked the retiring Cabinet Member, Councillor Ken Critchley for his contribution to the Council and to the Cabinet. The Leader stated that Councillor Critchley’s work was very much appreciated. All members joined the Leader by applauding Councillor Critchley.

To appoint chairs to the Planning and Licensing Committees; Scrutiny Committees and the Democratic Services Committee

Councillor Fouweather announced the following:

Leader of the Opposition: Councillor Matthew Evans

Deputy Leader: Councillor Margaret Cornelious

Opposition Spokesperson for:

Adult and Community Services:  Councillor David Fouweather

Customer and Digital Infrastructure: Councillor Ray Mogford

Education and Young People: Councillor David Atwell

People and Business Change Councillor Tom Suller

Regeneration Investment and Housing: Councillor Martyn Kellaway

Regulatory Functions: Councillor David Williams

Skills work and Newport LIVE Councillor Charles Ferris

Streetscene and City Services: Councillor Richard White

Chairs

(Councillors Huntley, Suller, Mayer, Atwell and Ferris each declared an interest in this item and did not vote.)

Following nominations by the Leader of the Council and, where appropriate by the Leader of the Opposition the following appointments were agreed by the Council:

Chair of Planning Committee: Councillor Paul Huntley.

Chair of Licensing Committee: Councillor Cliff Suller

Scrutiny Committee for Learning Caring and Leisure: Councillor David Mayer to be chair

Scrutiny Committee for Street Scene, Regeneration and Safety: Councillor Roger Jeavons to be chair.

Scrutiny Committee for Community Planning and Development: Councillor David Atwell to be chair.

Democratic Services Committee: Councillor Charles Ferris to be Chair

Committees and Outside Bodies

Councillor Bright announced that appointments of members to the committees and to outside bodies will be passed to the proper officer and recorded in the minutes   (See the appendix to these minutes)

Councillors Fouweather also announced that appointments of members to the committees will be passed to the proper officer and recorded in the minutes (See the appendix to these minutes)

The meeting will adjourn following consideration of the above items and will reconvene for the following items no earlier than 5.30 pm

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned following the above items of business and reconvened for the following items at 5.30 pm

To elect a Mayor for the municipal year 2015-2016

It was proposed by the Leader of the Council and seconded by Councillor D Fouweather and unanimously:

Resolved

That Councillor Herbie Thomas is elected as the Mayor of the City of Newport for the ensuing year. Councillor Thomas, having made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and taken the Official Oath and Oath of Allegiance, expressed thanks for the honour conferred upon him.

It was proposed by the Mayor and seconded by the Leader of the Council and unanimously

Resolved

That the Council’s thanks be given to Councillor Matthew Evans and Tina Hatton – Evans for the manner in which they had discharged the duties as Mayor and Mayoress.

Response

Councillor Evans congratulated the Mayor on his election. He expressed pride in serving the City as Mayor. He described a number of highlights of his year and mentioned the support he had received. He mentioned the successful year supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Sea cadets announcing that some £43,000 had been raised to be shared between the Charities

Councillor Evans thanked Councillor Atwell and Mrs Carole Watkins for their support as Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress over the past 12 months.

He thanked staff in the Mayoral Office and all Councillors for their support and in particular his ward colleagues.

Councillor Evans paid particular tribute to his wife and thanked her for her support as Mayoress.

To appoint a Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2015-2016

It was proposed by the Mayor, seconded by Councillor Fouweather and unanimously

Resolved

That Councillor Kate Thomas is appointed Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year. Councillor Thomas, having made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance for the role of Deputy Mayor expressed thanks for her appointment.

The Mayor announced that he would be supporting three charities this year: Diabetes UK Cymru, Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Madzimai Pamwe (meaning women together).

NEWPORT CITY COUNCIL - APPOINTMENTS AT AGM - May 2015

Cabinet:

SHADOW POSTS

Planning Committee:

(8 Labour, 2 Conservative, 1 Independent)

Licensing Committee:

(8 Labour, 2 Conservative, One Independent)

Audit Committee:

(6 Labour, 2 Conservative, 1 Independent)           LAY MEMBER CHAIR

* Chair to be appointed by the Committee

Democratic Services Committee:

(7 Labour, 2 Conservative, 1 Independent)

Scrutiny Committees:

Learning, Caring & Leisure

(7 Labour, 2 Conservative, 1 Independent)

Streets Scene, Regeneration & Safety

(7 Labour, 2 Conservative, 1 Independent)

Community Planning & Development

(7 Labour, 2 Conservative, 1 Independent)

NEWPORT CITY COUNCIL:   APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE BODIES: May 2015