Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors’ Astle, Proctor and Snell

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items contained within this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

The Mayor read out a letter which he had received from the Leader, Councillor Elizabeth Shenton tendering her resignation as Leader of the Council.

In addition, Members were advised that Councillor Terry Turner had also stepped down as Deputy Leader of the Council.

As a consequence of the previous item, it was necessary to seek nominations for Leader and the following Members were nominated:

Councillor Elizabeth Shenton, nominated by Councillor Turner and

seconded by Councillor Hambleton.

Councillor Simon Tagg, nominated by Councillor Fear and seconded by Councillor Sweeney.

A named vote was requested for the two nominees:

Councillor Shenton:

In Favour -     23

Against -        30

Abstain –       1

Councillor Simon Tagg:

In Favour -     30

Against -        23

Abstain -        1

Resolved:     That Councillor Simon Tagg be appointed as Leader of the Council.

The Leader, Councillor Simon Tagg informed Members of his Cabinet appointments:

The Leader’s Portfolio would be Corporate and Service Improvement, Partnerships and People.

Councillor Stephen Sweeney –    Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for

Finance and Resources.

Councillor Paul Northcott –           Portfolio Holder for Planning and

Regeneration.

Councillor Mark Holland –                         Portfolio Holder for Sport and Leisure.

Councillor Trevor Johnson –         Portfolio Holder for Environment and

Recycling.

Vacant                                   -           Portfolio Holder for Community

Safety (this would be done by Councillor Sweeney in the short term).

The Leader wished Councillor Elizabeth Shenton well and Councillor Shenton then made a statement giving the reasons for her resignation.

The Leader introduced a report  informing Members that the independent review into the issues at the General Election in June, 2017 had been completed.

A copy of the Scallan report was attached to the agenda and a consequential appendix seeking interim appointments of Electoral Registration Officer and returning Officer, Interim Head of Paid Service and Monitoring Officer was tabled at the meeting.

The Leader stated that there had been a number of failings and that the Council needed to be stabilised.  There are by-elections on 14 December and May, 2018 would see the Council moving to ‘all-out’ elections.  They needed to be resourced effectively. 

The disciplinary hearings of the two suspended officers needed to be completed and interim officers appointed.

Members debated the contents of the report stating that the Council had been ‘caused damage’.  There was now a need to find a solution and move forward.  It was important to ensure that  people have confidence in future elections.

Resolved:     (i)         That the sixteen recommendations, as set out in the

Scallan report be agreed and to take any action required.

(ii)        That the Borough council appoints David Sidaway –

Stoke–on-Trent City Council’s City Director to act as the Borough’s Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer until further notice for all elections.

                        (iii)       That the Borough Council appoints Dave Adams (the

current Executive Director – Operational Services) as interim Head of Paid Service and Paul Washington (the Council’s Legal and Democratic Services Manager and Deputy Monitoring Officer ) as interim Monitoring Officer.

To consider any communications which pursuant to Appendix 7 – paragraph 7 of the constitution are, in the opinion of the Mayor, of an urgent nature and to pass thereon such resolutions as may be  deemed necessary.

There was no urgent business.