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Appointments, The Council - Monday, 20th May, 2024 6.30 pm

May 20, 2024 View on council website Watch video of meeting Watch video of meeting
AI Generated

Summary

The meeting focused on several key administrative and procedural issues, including the appointment of chairs and vice chairs for various committees, a motion to defer certain appointments, and the confirmation of the new administration's cabinet members and their responsibilities.

  1. Motion to Defer Appointment of Scrutiny Chairs and Vice Chairs:

    • Councillor Cumming proposed a motion to defer the appointment of scrutiny chairs and vice chairs to a future meeting. This was to allow time for a report from the monitoring officer and to ensure proper constitutional procedures were followed.
    • There was significant debate on this motion, with arguments both for and against it. Councillor Cowan argued that the current constitutional arrangements were not working and needed to be amended. Councillor Nelson and others opposed the motion, arguing it was an attempt to avoid scrutiny and accountability.
    • The motion to defer was eventually carried with 28 votes in favor and 18 against.
  2. Appointment of Cabinet Members and Responsibilities:

    • The new Leader of the Council confirmed the appointments of cabinet members and their responsibilities. The cabinet includes members from the Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Independent groups.
    • The Leader emphasized the administration's commitment to transparency, financial stability, and improving services for residents. He also announced the scrapping of a cabinet post to save money and pledged not to close libraries, family centers, or dementia community support services.
  3. Political Make-Up and Committee Appointments:

    • The political make-up of the Council was noted, and the details of the cabinet members and their responsibilities were confirmed.
    • The Council agreed to the appointments of councillors and substitutes to regulatory committees, the licensing subcommittee, the standards committee, and the audit committee.
    • The appointment of chairs and vice chairs for these committees was also agreed upon, with the exception of the scrutiny chairs and vice chairs, which were deferred.
  4. Traffic Regulations Working Party and Outside Bodies:

    • The Council agreed to the appointments of councillors and substitutes to the Traffic Regulations Working Party.
    • For appointments to outside bodies, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Cox, withdrew all Conservative nominations, simplifying the approval process for the remaining names on the list.
  5. Council Calendar of Meetings:

    • The Council agreed to the calendar of meetings for the municipal year 2024-2025, with amendments to the start times for cabinet and development control committee meetings.

Throughout the meeting, there were several points of order and procedural clarifications, particularly regarding the motion to defer the appointment of scrutiny chairs and vice chairs. The meeting concluded with the agreement on the calendar of meetings and the confirmation of various appointments.

Attendees

Alan Richards
Claire Shuter
Colin Ansell
Susan Zeiss
Mark Harvey
Profile image for CouncillorStephen Habermel
Councillor Stephen Habermel  Conservative Party •  Chalkwell Ward
Profile image for CouncillorStephen Aylen
Councillor Stephen Aylen  Non-Aligned •  Belfairs Ward
Profile image for CouncillorMartin Berry
Councillor Martin Berry  Non-Aligned •  St Lukes Ward
Profile image for CouncillorMargaret Borton
Councillor Margaret Borton  Labour Party •  Victoria Ward
Profile image for CouncillorKevin Buck
Councillor Kevin Buck  Conservative Party •  Prittlewell Ward
Profile image for CouncillorLaurie Burton
Councillor Laurie Burton  Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, and SEND •  Labour Party •  Blenheim Park Ward
Profile image for CouncillorColin Campbell
Councillor Colin Campbell  Conservative Party •  Southchurch Ward
Profile image for CouncillorOwen Cartey
Councillor Owen Cartey  Conservative Party •  West Leigh Ward
Profile image for CouncillorPaul Collins
Councillor Paul Collins  Cabinet Member for Finance, Assets, Investments and Public Transport - Liberal Democrat Group Leader •  Liberal Democrats •  Eastwood Park Ward
Profile image for CouncillorJames Courtenay
Councillor James Courtenay  Leader of Conservative Group •  Conservative Party •  Chalkwell Ward
Profile image for CouncillorDaniel Cowan
Councillor Daniel Cowan  Leader of the Council •  Labour & Co-operative Party •  St Laurence Ward
Profile image for CouncillorTony Cox
Councillor Tony Cox  Leader of the Southend Reform UK Group •  Reform UK •  West Shoebury Ward
Profile image for CouncillorMeg Davidson
Councillor Meg Davidson  Conservative Party •  Prittlewell Ward
Profile image for CouncillorAlan Dear
Councillor Alan Dear  Conservative Party •  Belfairs Ward
Profile image for CouncillorMatt Dent
Councillor Matt Dent  Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Business •  Labour & Co-operative Party •  Kursaal Ward
Profile image for CouncillorFay Evans
Councillor Fay Evans  Conservative Party •  West Leigh Ward
Profile image for CouncillorNigel Folkard
Councillor Nigel Folkard  Deputy Mayor •  Conservative Party •  Chalkwell Ward
Profile image for CouncillorDavid Garston
Councillor David Garston  Conservative Party •  Prittlewell Ward
Profile image for CouncillorIan Gilbert
Councillor Ian Gilbert  Labour Party •  Victoria Ward
Profile image for CouncillorJohn Harland
Councillor John Harland  Conservative Party •  West Shoebury Ward
Profile image for CouncillorLydia Hyde
Councillor Lydia Hyde  Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Waste •  Labour & Co-operative Party •  St Laurence Ward
Profile image for CouncillorAnne Jones
Councillor Anne Jones  Deputy Leader - Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing •  Labour Party •  Westborough Ward
Profile image for CouncillorDarryl Jones
Councillor Darryl Jones  Deputy Leader of the Southend Reform UK Group •  Reform UK •  Southchurch Ward
Councillor Gabriel Leroy
Profile image for CouncillorRichard Longstaff
Councillor Richard Longstaff  Green Party •  Leigh Ward
Profile image for CouncillorRobert McMullan
Councillor Robert McMullan  Liberal Democrats •  Eastwood Park Ward
Profile image for CouncillorJames Moyies
Councillor James Moyies  Conservative Party •  West Shoebury Ward
Profile image for CouncillorCarole Mulroney
Councillor Carole Mulroney  Liberal Democrats •  Leigh Ward
Profile image for CouncillorKathy Murphy
Councillor Kathy Murphy  Non-Aligned •  St Lukes Ward
Profile image for CouncillorDaniel Nelson
Councillor Daniel Nelson  Conservative Party •  Southchurch Ward
Profile image for CouncillorCheryl Nevin
Councillor Cheryl Nevin  Labour Party •  Milton Ward
Profile image for CouncillorMandy O'Connor
Councillor Mandy O'Connor  Labour Party •  Victoria Ward
Profile image for CouncillorDonna Richardson
Councillor Donna Richardson  Labour & Co-operative Party •  Blenheim Park Ward
Profile image for CouncillorKevin Robinson
Councillor Kevin Robinson  Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Major Projects, and Regulatory Services •  Labour Party •  Westborough Ward
Profile image for CouncillorMaxine Sadza
Councillor Maxine Sadza  Cabinet Member for Social Care and Healthier Communities •  Labour Party •  Milton Ward
Profile image for CouncillorMartin Terry
Councillor Martin Terry  Cabinet Member for Community Safety •  Independent •  Thorpe Ward
Profile image for CouncillorSteven Wakefield
Councillor Steven Wakefield  Independent Group Lead Spokesperson •  Independent •  Shoeburyness Ward
Profile image for CouncillorNick Ward
Councillor Nick Ward  Independent •  Shoeburyness Ward
Profile image for CouncillorJack Warren
Councillor Jack Warren  Conservative Party •  Belfairs Ward
Profile image for CouncillorRon Woodley
Councillor Ron Woodley  Mayor •  Independent •  Thorpe Ward
Robert Harris
Katie Gardner
Profile image for CouncillorStuart Allen
Councillor Stuart Allen  Green Party •  Leigh Ward
Profile image for CouncillorSusan Badger
Councillor Susan Badger  Independent •  Thorpe Ward
Peter Bates
Joe Chesterton
Profile image for CouncillorMadison Faulkner-Hatt
Councillor Madison Faulkner-Hatt  Labour Party •  St Laurence Ward
Profile image for CouncillorIrene Ferguson
Councillor Irene Ferguson  Labour Party •  Kursaal Ward
Colin Gamble
Profile image for CouncillorSam Allen
Councillor Sam Allen  Labour Party •  Milton Ward
Adam Keating
Profile image for CouncillorPamela Kinsella
Councillor Pamela Kinsella  Labour Party •  Westborough Ward
Michael Marks
Profile image for CouncillorJudith McMahon
Councillor Judith McMahon  Conservative Party •  Shoeburyness Ward
Profile image for CouncillorShahid Nadeem
Councillor Shahid Nadeem  Labour & Co-operative Party •  Blenheim Park Ward
Profile image for CouncillorJane Norman
Councillor Jane Norman  Labour Party •  St Lukes Ward
Profile image for CouncillorDave Poulton
Councillor Dave Poulton  Liberal Democrats •  Eastwood Park Ward
Profile image for CouncillorLesley Salter
Councillor Lesley Salter  Conservative Party •  West Leigh Ward