M1 NL.COUNCIL1995M Motherwell, 21St April, 1995 at 2 Pm
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M1 NL.COUNCIL1995M Motherwell, 21st April, 1995 at 2 pm. At the First Meeting of the NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL PRESENT: Councillors Barrie, Beekman, Brooks, A. Burns, E. Burns, Carmichael, Cefferty, Chadha, Clarke, Combe, Connelly, Cox, Craig, Craigie, Curley, Curran, Foley, Gibson, Gilchrist, Gordon, Gormill, Gray, Griffin, Hebenton, Hogg, Holloway, Lafferty, Leitch, Logue, Lucas, Lyle, McAlorum, McCabe, McCulloch, McElroy, H. McGuigan, J. McGuigan, McKendrick, J. McKenna, R. McKenna, McKeown, McLaughlin, MacLeod, Maginnis, J. Martin, W. Martin, Mathieson, Moran, Morgan, Murphy, G. Murray, S. Murray, Nolan, Pentland, Robertson, Ross, Russell, Saunders, Selfridge, Shaw, Smith, Stocks, Sullivan, Wallace and Wilson. APOLOGIES:Councillors Coyle, Fitzpatrick, McGhee and Scott. ATTENDING:J. Bonomy, Proper Officer. Chair 1. John Bonomy, as Proper Officer and a Depute Returning Officer for the North Lanarkshire Council Election, took the Chair at the commencement of the meeting. Election 1995 \*@M2 2. There was submitted and noted Election Return (circulated) relative to the election of Councillors of the North Lanarkshire Council on 6th April, 1995, as detailed in Appendix 1 hereto. Declaration of Acceptance 3. The Proper Officer advised that all Councillors had signed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office. The Council noted the position. Election of Convener 4. There was submitted report (circulated) by Proper Officer, advising that, in terms of Section 4(1) of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, the Council of each local government area was required to elect a Convener from among the Councillors whose term of office would terminate on the date of the first meeting of the Council held on or after 1st April, 1996. The Council resolved that Councillor Mathieson be appointed as Convener of the Council. The Chair was then vacated in his favour. Election of Depute Convener 5. There was submitted report (circulated) by Proper Officer, advising that, although there was no statutory requirement for the election of a Depute Convener, Section 4 (2) of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 provided that a Council may elect a member of the Council to be Depute Convener, the first term of which office was identical to that of the Convener. The Council resolved (1) that a Depute Convener be appointed, and (2) that Councillor McCulloch be elected Depute Convener of the Council. Convener and Depute Convener - Titles 6. There was submitted report (circulated) by Proper Officer, (1) advising that the Council may decide by what names the Convener and Depute Convener should be known; (2) pointing out that the title of Lord Provost was reserved to the Conveners of each of the Councils of the Cities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow with effect from 1st April, 1996, and (3) suggesting, if the Council decided to use the title of Provost for this office, that this did not happen until April, 1996 in order not to create confusion with the office of Provost of the existing District Councils. The Council agreed that the titles of Convener and Depute Convener be used meantime. Allowances 7. There was submitted report (circulated) by Proper Officer, advising that, in terms of Section 4 (8) of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, the Council may pay the Convener and Depute Convener for the purpose of enabling each of them to meet the expenses of the office, such allowance as the Council thought reasonable, and pointing out that the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the North Lanarkshire Finance Officers Joint Working Party had suggested that a decision on the payment of such allowances be deferred until advice was issued on Special Responsibility Allowances. The Council agreed to continue consideration of this matter. Leader of the Council 8. There was submitted report (circulated) by Proper Officer, inviting the Council to consider if the leader of the majority group should be appointed or formally recognised as the Leader of the Council. The Council resolved that Councillor McGuigan be appointed as Leader of the Council. Depute Leader of the Council 9. Arising from consideration of the item of business contained within the immediately preceding paragraph, the Council resolved that Councillor McCabe be appointed as Depute Leader of the Council. Management Structure 10. There was submitted report (circulated) by Proper Officer, suggesting, for the reasons detailed therein, that pending discussion with the new Head of Paid Service, no immediate decisions be taken on the question of the Council's management structures, both Committee and Departmental. The Council agreed to remit this matter to the Interim Executive Committee for further consideration. Interim Executive/Policy and Resources Committee \*@M3 11. There was submitted report (circulated) by Proper Officer, (1) referring to a note from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities containing advice on the establishment of an Interim Executive/Policy and Resources Committee to provide a formal forum for initial consideration of practical problems and, with powers, to authorise, where necessary, action being taken urgently, and (2) inviting the Council to consider its response to that suggestion and, if accepted, the size, powers, and composition of the Committee. Following discussion, the Council resolved that an Interim Executive Committee be established; that its terms of reference be as detailed in Appendix 2 hereto, and that membership be as follows, viz:- Councillor H. McGuigan, Chair; Councillor McCabe, Vice-Chair; Councillors Craig, Craigie, Gray, Hebenton, Lafferty, Logue, Lyle, McCulloch, McKendrick, R. McKenna, Mathieson, Moran, Murphy, G. Murray, Pentland, Shaw, Sullivan and Wallace. Arrangements for Appointment of Head of Paid Service \*@M4 12. There was submitted report (circulated) by Proper Officer, (1) referring to the requirement by the new Council to appoint a Head of Paid Service; (2) advising that 48 applications for the post had been received, and (3) suggesting, for the reasons detailed therein, that a Recruitment Committee/ Sub-Committee be established with powers to be determined. The Council resolved that a Recruitment Sub-Committee be established; that its terms of reference be as detailed in Appendix 3 hereto, and that membership be as follows, viz:- Councillor H. McGuigan, Chair; Councillor McCabe, Vice-Chair; Councillors Craigie, Gray, Lyle, R. McKenna, Robertson, Smith and Sullivan. Arrangements for Other Senior Posts 13. There was submitted report (circulated) by Proper Officer, advising that initial advice on the appointment of other senior officers had been provided by the Local Government Staff Commission (Scotland) in their circular 3/95, and suggesting that detailed consideration of the arrangements to be followed, particularly in relation to the question of an early appointment of Finance and Personnel Officers, be remitted to the Interim Executive Committee. The Council resolved that the arrangements for the appointment of other senior officers be remitted to the Interim Executive Committee for further consideration. Appointment of Interim Clerk 14. There was submitted report (circulated) by Proper Officer, (1) explaining that his designation by the Secretary of State applied only to the convening of the first meeting of the Council and acting as the Proper Officer for the purpose of that meeting; (2) advising that since it would be some weeks before the new Council had permanent staff available, provision would require to be made to cover that interim period; (3) indicating that agency arrangements could be made with Motherwell District Council to allow him to continue as Interim Clerk or, alternatively, some other suitable person could be appointed, and (4) suggesting that the Interim Clerk be authorised to make appropriate arrangements for support staff and facilities from the existing Councils. The Council resolved that J. Bonomy be appointed as Interim Clerk, and that he be authorised to make appropriate arrangements for support staff and facilities. Shadow Funding and Banking Arrangements 15. There was submitted report (circulated) by Proper Officer, advising that the Secretary of State had allocated $1.911m to the North Lanarkshire Council to cover various items of expenditure as detailed therein, and suggesting that the Interim Clerk (1) be authorised meantime to incur any necessary expenditure, on the understanding that a report on the utilisation of the shadow funding be submitted at the earliest possible opportunity, and (2) be instructed to advise the Scottish Office that the monthly instalments of grant should be paid into the bank account of Motherwell District Council and to make the necessary arrangements for the disbursement and reimbursement of funds. The Council noted the information and resolved that the Proper Officer's proposals be approved. Members' Allowances \*@M5 \*@M6 16. There was submitted report (circulated) by the North Lanarkshire Finance Officers Joint Working Party, (1) enclosing copies of a proposed scheme for members' allowances for 1995-96 and a provisional scheme of approved duties for travelling and subsistence; (2) suggesting, for the reasons detailed therein, that these schemes be approved, and (3) advising on various other matters which required to be resolved by the Council during the first few months, or on the appointment of a Finance Officer. The Council (1) resolved (a) that the scheme for members' allowances for 1995-96, as detailed in Appendix 4 hereto, be approved,