Agenda and minutes

        i.           To receive any apologies for absence.

      ii.           To receive any declarations of interest.

     iii.           To receive any announcements by the Presiding Member.

1.i Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest at this stage, but members declared personal interests at the appropriate times during the meeting when they were nominated for appointments.

1.ii Apologies

Councillors Whitehead and Fouweather.

The Leader moved the appointment of the Presiding Member.

Councillor Cockeram declared an interest at this point.

It was moved and seconded that Councillor Cockeram be appointed as Presiding Member.

Resolved:

That Councillor Cockeram be appointed as Presiding Officer of the Council.

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.

The Presiding Officer invited a member from the majority party to move the appointment of Leader of the Council. 

Councillor Mudd declared an interest at this point.

It was moved and seconded by Councillor Evans that Councillor Mudd be appointed as Leader of the Council.

Resolved:

That Councillor Jane Mudd be appointed as Leader of the Council.

The Leader, as elected announced her appointment of Cabinet Members:

Council Business Manager – Councillor James Clarke

Group Chief Whip – Councillor Emma Corten

Councillor Evans then announced the Shadow appointments.

Opposition Spokespersons:

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

Following nominations by the Leaders of their respective parties, and the nominations having been duly seconded, it was Resolved that the following Committee Chair appointments be agreed by Council:

(The nominated persons listed above declared an interest in this item and did not vote on their specific appointments).

To give effect to appointments of members to committees by the political groups.

The Council gave effect to appointments to Committees by the political groups.

Each Group Leader agreed to pass the appointments of members to the Committee to the Proper Officer for recording in the Minutes. 

The following allocation of Committee seats was confirmed:

* Chair to appointed by the Committee

Scrutiny Committees:

*This Chair position will be on an annual rotation basis with the Lliswerry Independent group, Councillor Mark Howells.

To give effect to appointments of members to external bodies.

The Council gave effect to appointments of members to external bodies.

Each Group Leaders agreed to pass the appointments to Outside Bodies and members with Special Responsibilities to the Proper Officer for recording in the Minutes, as outlined in the Appendix 2 below.

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

Councillors took a short break whilst the council chambers were prepared for the Inauguration of the Mayor.

Council resumed and the Mayor Elect, Councillor Trevor Watkins was sworn in as the new Mayor of Newport for the year 2023/2024.

Councillor Pat Drewett was sworn in as the new Deputy Mayor for the Year 2023/24.

Appendix 1

The Leader is responsible for the discharge of Executive Functions and has delegated responsibility for the discharge of some Executive Functions to the Cabinet as a whole and to individual Cabinet Members, in accordance with this scheme of delegation.

The following Executive Functions have been delegated to individual Cabinet Members in relation to the portfolios allocated to them by the Leader, as set out in the tables below.

If there is any uncertainty as to whether a matter falls within a particular portfolio, the Leader will make a determination as to which Cabinet Member should take that executive decision.

General for all Cabinet Members:

Policies and Policy Documents

All Cabinet Members have responsibility to determine and amend any policy or policy documents relating to their portfolios, in line with the Council's policy framework and budget.  This does not include those policies and documents reserved for determination by Council, or delegated to the Cabinet collectively, other individual Cabinet Members or officers.  All operational matters are to be determined by the relevant Head of Service in accordance with the Officer Scheme of Delegation.

Policy documents will include:

·        Strategies

·        Schemes

·        Plans

·        Guidance documents or supplementary guidance documents

·        Eligibility criteria and patterns of provision

·        Objectives for service delivery within the portfolio

Service Planning and Performance

To determine the service plans for service areas within the portfolio, to monitor performance against service plans and to determine any actions arising.

Consultation Documents

To determine the response to any major consultation document or formal inspection document specific to the portfolio or service area.

Statutory Notices

To determine whether to advertise, consult upon or publish any statutory notices or Orders (insofar as they are not delegated to officers) and to take action upon advertised proposals in the light of any representations received.

Variations to Budgets

To determine any variations to budgets in accordance with Financial Regulations and the Constitution, including virement up to an aggregate total of £100,000 per annum or 10% of the Objective Analysis as set out in the Budget Book (whichever is the lower).

Tenders

To determine an approved or select list of prospective tenderers for supply of goods, materials or services within the portfolio and to determine whether to exclude contractors from approved or select lists.

Grants

In consultation with the Leader, to determine whether to accept available external grants which require match funding, subject to confirmation of available funding to meet any commitment by the Council, which must include any residual termination costs to the Council when grant funding ceases.

To agree criteria, limits, eligibilities and distribution within schemes for grant aid in relation to services within the portfolio and to determine whether to waive conditions relating to grant aid.

To make grants or provide support to organisations or individuals, other than those subject to specific delegations elsewhere within the scheme, where the grant amount is £20,000 or above. Decisions on grant applications of less than £20,000 will be determined by Heads of Service  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

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