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

The Mayor referred to the very sad loss of a friend and Councillor colleague, Councillor Ed Townsend. Members, officers and visitors stood in silence in memory of Councillor Townsend

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 Deborah Wilcox was appointed as Leader of the Council.

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

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment,

Sustainability and Transport                                                   Cllr Ray Truman

Cabinet Member for Education & Young People                   Cllr Gail Giles

Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources                        Cllr Mark Whitcutt

CM for Community Services, Work and Skills                      Cllr Roger Jeavons

Cabinet Member for Regulatory Functions                            Cllr Robert Poole

Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Investment                  Cllr John Richards

Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services & Housing          Cllr Paul Cockeram

Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport and

Business Manager                                                                  Cllr Deborah Harvey

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

Opposition Spokespersons:

Councillor M. Evans announced that he would act as Leader of the Opposition. Opposition spokespersons would be as follows:

Deputy Leader                                                Cllr Margaret Cornelious

Education & Young People                             Cllr David Williams

Community Services, Work & Skills              Cllr Tom Suller

Regeneration & Investment                            Cllr Martyn Kellaway

Regulatory Functions                                      Cllr Margaret Cornelious

Environment, Sustainability & Transport        Cllr Richard White

Adult Social Services & Housing                    Cllr David Fouweather

Culture, Leisure & Sport                                 Cllr Charles Ferris

Finance & Resources                                     Cllr Ray Mogford

Chairs of Committees:        

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 John Guy to be Chair

Scrutiny Committee for Street Scene, Regeneration and Safety: Councillor Omar Ali to be chair.

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

Democratic Services Committee: Councillor Charles Ferris to be Chair

(Councillors Huntley, Suller, Guy, Ali, Williams and Ferris each declared an interest in this item and did not vote on the specific appointments)

Committees and Outside Bodies

Councillor Wilcox 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)

Councillor M Evans 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)

Governors:

The following were agreed:

·         Bassaleg School: Cllr Tom Bond re-appointed

·         Duffryn High School; Cllr Omar Ali

·         Kimberley Nursery: Cllr Paul Cockeram

·         Liswerry Primary : Cllr Debbie Harvey

·         Millbrook Primary: Sarah Craven

·         Mount Pleasant Primary: Tom Bond re- appointed

·         Ringland Primary: Tim Harvey

The Monitoring Officer reported that The Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) (Wales) Amendment Order 2016 has amended the mandatory provisions of the current Members Code of Conduct. 

The Council was required to formally adopt this new Model Code of Conduct before 26^th June 2016.  All elected members and voting co-opted members of the Council would be automatically bound by the revised Code of Conduct following its adoption and there is no requirement for members to sign a fresh declaration or undertaking to abide by the revised Code.

The main changes were set out in the report. The Monitoring Officer reported that, for the most part, the revisions to the previous model Code of Conduct are technical in nature and reflect changes introduced by the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 (“the 2013 Act”) but there are some substantive changes which clarify previous uncertainty regarding conflicts of interest, reporting of misconduct and registration of interests.

Resolved

To formally adopt the new Model Code of Conduct

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

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 2016-2017

It was proposed by the Leader of the Council and seconded by Councillor M Evans and unanimously:

            Resolved

That Councillor David Atwell is elected as the Mayor of the City of Newport for the ensuing year. Councillor Atwell, 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.

Vote of Thanks

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 Cliff Herbie Thomas and Ms Jacqueline Mitchell for the manner in which they had discharged the duties as Mayor and Mayoress.

Response

Councillor Herbie Thomas congratulated the Mayor on his election. He expressed pride in serving the City as Mayor.

He mentioned in particular the support he has received from Sian Isgrove, his PA and Ms Sue Griffiths. He also thanked the Chauffeurs and made particular mention of the contribution of Mr Peter Howells who was retiring from his role as Chauffeur after the Annual Meeting

Councillor Thomas thanked his chaplain and referred to the teamwork that had helped in his successful year. He mentioned the wonderful people from all walks of life he and the Mayoress had met in the past year. He described a number of highlights of his year and mentioned the good times he and the Mayoress had enjoyed.

Councillor Thomas thanked Councillor Kate Thomas and Dr Worden for their support as Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress over the past 12 months.

Councillor Thomas thanked his son and family for their support and paid particular tribute to his Mayoress, Ms Jacqueline Mitchell.

To appoint a Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2016-2017

It was proposed by the Mayor, seconded by the Leader of the Opposition and unanimously

Resolved

That Councillor David Fouweather is appointed Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year. Councillor Fouweather, having made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance for the role of Deputy Mayor expressed thanks for his appointment.

NEWPORT CITY COUNCIL - APPOINTMENTS AT AGM - May 2016

Cabinet:

Opposition Spokespersons:

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 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)

APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE BODIES: May 2016