Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence received from Councillor P Brown.

Members are reminded of their personal responsibility to declare any personal and prejudicial interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 relating to Council Tax, the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct

Note:

(a)  Members are reminded that they must identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest and

(b)  Where Members withdraw from a Meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chair when they leave

No declarations of interest were made.

Councillor T Skinner proposed Councillor K Gibbs as Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017-2018 which was seconded by Councillor C Davies.

A vote was taken on the motion, and it was

RESOLVED that:

Councillor K Gibbs be elected as Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017-2018.

The Civic Party will retire for the exchange of Regalia and Chains of Office

The Civic Party will re-enter the Council Chamber and the Oaths of Office will be administered by the Chief Executive to the incoming Mayor and Deputy Mayor

The incoming Mayor will address the Council in thanks for her / his election to the Office of Mayor

Councillor R Braithwaite arrived at the meeting at 5.20 pm.

Councillor H Barrett proposed Councillor C Tovey as Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017-2018 which was seconded by Councillor L Mytton. 

A vote was taken on the motion, and it was

RESOLVED that:

Councillor C Tovey be elected as Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017-2018.

The Civic Party then retired for the exchange of Regalia and Chains of Office.

On their return, the Declarations of Acceptance of Office were administered to the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor by Gareth Chapman, Chief Executive.

Councillor K Gibbs addressed the meeting, thanking the Council for his election to the Office of Mayor, and stated that his chosen charities for 2017-2018 will be the:

·         Donation Station at the Merthyr Indoor Market at St. Tydfil’s Shopping Centre which provides essential items for the homeless people within the County Borough.

·         National Autistic Society Merthyr Tydfil.

To present the nominated Judge with a Scroll of Admission as ‘Honorary Recorder of Merthyr Tydfil’.

The Honorary Recorder will address the Council

Gareth Chapman referred to the resolution of the Council meeting on the 22^nd February 2017 that Judge Richard Twomlow be appointed Honorary Recorder of Merthyr Tydfil and, as such, on behalf of the Council he presented the nominated Judge Richard Twomlow with a Scroll of Admission as Honorary Recorder of Merthyr Tydfil.

Judge Richard Twomlow addressed the meeting and thanked the Council for restoring the office of Honorary Recorder of Merthyr Tydfil to this town.   He advised that it was a great honour to be invited to take this role and will do his best to justify the appointment. 

To consider report of the Chief Executive

(Print to Follow)

Councillor L Mytton proposed Councillor K O’Neill for the Leader of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council which was seconded by Councillor C Davies.

A vote was taken on the motion, and it was

RESOLVED that:

·         Councillor K O’Neill be appointed as Leader of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

Gareth Chapman advised it is now a matter of the Leader to appoint his Cabinet and that he has received notification as to the nominations for Cabinet which are:

Councillor C Davies

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with portfolio for Social Services.

Councillor A Barry

Cabinet Member with portfolio for Governance and Corporate Services.

Councillor L Mytton

Cabinet Member with portfolio for Learning.

Councillor G Thomas

Cabinet Member with portfolio for Regeneration and Public Protection. 

Councillor D Hughes

Cabinet Member with portfolio for Neighbourhood Services, Planning and Countryside.

The two Scrutiny Chairs within the Independent Group are Councillor T Skinner for Governance and Councillor D Sammon for Neighbourhood Services. 

Chair of Planning, Regulatory and Countryside will be Councillor H Barret.

Gareth Chapman confirmed that the Labour Group has allocated the two Chairs of Scrutiny to Councillor H Jones for Learning and LAESCYP  and Councillor B Smith for Social Services.  

He confirmed that he was still awaiting confirmation from Councillor J Amos, the Leader of the other Independent Group, for the remaining Chair of Scrutiny.

Given the current position with regard to the other committees, it was proposed that the Chief Executive be granted delegated authority in consultation with the Leaders of the Political groups to make the requisite appointments to the Committee structure.  

This proposal was moved and seconded.

RESOLVED that:

·         Delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leaders of the Political groups, to make the requisite appointments to the Committee structure.

·         A full detailed report be represented to the Full Council Meeting on the 28^th June 2017.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

(Print to Follow)

Given the current position with regard to the representation to Other Bodies,  it was proposed that the Chief Executive be granted delegated authority, in consultation with the Leaders of the Political groups, to confirm the representation to Other Bodies for 2017-2018.

This proposal was moved and seconded.

RESOLVED that:

·         Delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leaders of the Political groups, to confirm the representation to Other Bodies for 2017-2018.

·         A Full detailed report be represented to the Full Council Meeting on the 28^th June 2017.

The Leader of the Council was pleased to announce the achievement of our Chief Executive, Gareth Chapman, being awarded the Public Sector Director of the Year.  He offered his sincere congratulations and how it positively reflects once again on Merthyr Tydfil.   

Gareth Chapman advised the Mayor that he had received apologies from Gerald Jones MP together with Freemen of the Borough  -  Lord Ted Rowlands CBE, Sir Stanley Thomas OBE and Professor Sir Mansel Aylward CBE all of whom send their congratulations on your appointment as Mayor and wish you well in your mayoral year.