BOSTON BOROUGH COUNCIL At the Annual Meeting of the Council of the Boston Borough Council held at the Municipal Buildings, Boston, on Monday 12 May 2014 at 6.30 p.m. Present: The Mayor (Paul Kenny) in the Chair Councillors Stuart Ashton, Richard Austin, Alison Austin, Mark Baker, Peter Bedford, Michael Brookes, Colin Brotherton, Maureen Dennis, Mike Gilbert, Paul Gleeson, Paul Goodale, Yvonne Gunter, Tiggs Keywood-Wainwright, James Knowles, Alan Lee, Bob McAuley, Frank Pickett, Derek Richmond, Gurdip Samra, Raymond Singleton-McGuire, Judith Skinner, Gloria Smith, Ossy Snell, Aaron Spencer, Helen Staples, Carol Taylor, David Witts, Stephen Woodliffe and Mary Wright. Officers - Chief Executive, Strategic Director and Deputy Chief Executive, Strategic Director – Resources, Interim Head of Customer and Democratic Services, Communications Manager, Democratic Services Manager, and Civic and Member Services Officer. PRAYERS The meeting commenced with prayers led by the Reverend Canon Alyson Buxton. 1 ELECTION OF MAYOR It was moved by Councillor Richard Austin, seconded by Councillor Stephen Woodliffe and RESOLVED that Councillor Alison Austin of Cherry Tree Cottage, Low Road, Wyberton, Boston, be elected Mayor of the Borough of Boston to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of the Council. The Mayor Elect thereupon made the declaration required by the Local Government Act 1972, took the Chair, and acknowledged the honour that had been conferred on her. (The Mayor in the Chair.) 2 ELECTION OF DEPUTY MAYOR It was moved by the Mayor, seconded by Councillor Maureen Dennis and RESOLVED that Councillor Helen Staples of Teal Lodge, Whitehouse Lane, Fishtoft, Boston, be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Boston to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of the Council. 3 APOLOGIES Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Leggott and Owens. 4 VOTE OF THANKS TO RETIRING MAYOR It was moved by Councillor Gleeson, seconded by Councillor Taylor and RESOLVED that the best thanks of the Council be extended to Councillor Paul Kenny for the professional way in which he had discharged his duties as Mayor during the past year, and to Mrs. Pam Kenny for supporting the Mayor in her role as Mayoress. The Mayor presented a Borough Plaque and a Past Mayor’s Badge to the retiring Mayor, Councillor Paul Kenny, who then addressed the meeting. 5 VOTE OF THANKS TO RETIRING DEPUTY MAYOR It was moved by the Retiring Mayor, Councillor Kenny, seconded by Councillor Gleeson and RESOLVED that the best thanks of the Council be extended to Councillor Paul Goodale for the admirable manner in which he had discharged his duties as Deputy Mayor during the past year and to Mrs. Angie Goodale for supporting the Deputy Mayor in her role as Deputy Mayoress. The Retiring Mayor presented a Borough Plaque to Councillor Goodale, who then addressed the meeting. 6 MAYOR’S SCOUT AND MAYORESS’ GUIDE (1) The Mayor expressed her appreciation to Mr. Nicholas Doddrell, the retiring Mayor’s Scout, for the manner in which he had carried out his duties during the past year, and handed the Sash of Office to the new Mayor’s Scout, Mr. Callum McNulty. (2) The Mayor expressed her appreciation to Miss Hannah Clark, the retiring Mayoress’ Guide, for the manner in which she had carried out her duties during the past year, and handed the Sash of Office to the new Mayoress’ Guide, Miss Sophie Ash. 7 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST No declarations of interest were made. 8 DEMOCRATIC ARRANGEMENTS – APPOINTMENTS 2014/15 The Chief Executive introduced a report recommending that, in accordance with the Council’s Rules of Procedure, Council consider the programme of meetings and appointments for the 2014/2015 Municipal Year as now indicated. (A) PROGRAMME OF MEETINGS 2014/15 The Chief Executive drew attention to the draft programme of ordinary meetings for 2014/15. It was noted that in terms of the Council’s Constitution, the Council was required to formally approve the programme of ordinary meetings at its AGM. It was moved by Councillor Bedford, seconded by Councillor Brookes and RESOLVED that the programme of ordinary meetings for 2014-2015 as set out in Appendix A be approved. (B) APPOINTMENT OF CABINET The Chief Executive referred to Appendix B, which related to the appointment of the Cabinet by the Leader of the Council, circulated for information purposes. It was moved by Councillor Bedford, seconded by Councillor Singleton McGuire and RESOLVED that the appointment of the Cabinet and allocation of portfolios for 2014/15, as set out in Appendix B, be noted. (C) MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES 2014-2015 The Chief Executive referred to the proposed membership of the Committees for 2014/15 as set out in Appendix C of the report. It was moved by Councillor Bedford, seconded by Councillor Brookes and RESOLVED that the membership of Committees for 2014-2015, as set out in Appendix C, be approved. (D) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMEN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES 2014-2015 The Chief Executive referred to the list of proposed appointments of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Committees, as set out in Appendix D of the report. It was moved by Councillor Bedford, seconded by Councillor Brookes and RESOLVED that the appointments of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen for 20014/15 be approved as set out in Appendix D of the report; such appointees to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of the Council, or until the appointment of their successors. (E) APPOINTMENTS TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS The Chief Executive referred to the schedule of appointments to external organisations as set out in Appendix E of the report. It was moved by Councillor Bedford and seconded by Councillor Singleton-McGuire and RESOLVED That the following Members listed in Appendix E to the report submitted be appointed as the Council’s representatives to serve on the external organisations indicated in each case; to hold office whilst they remain Members of the Council, until the next Annual Meeting of the Council; or until the appointment of their successors; NAME OF EXTERNAL ORGANISATION APPOINTEE • Age Concern (Boston & South Holland Division) Snell • Bicker Trust Witts • Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board Bedford Brookes Brotherton Gunter Lee Singleton -McGuire Woodliffe • Boston Citizens Advice Bureau Management Committee Singleton -McGuire Smith • Boston Municipal Non-Educational Charities Brotherton Pickett Woodliffe Mr. Tony Austin (Lay Member) • Boston Preservation Trust Wright • Boston Womens Aid Dennis Skinner • Centrepoint Outreach Woodliffe • Community Lincs Knowles Samra • Council of Fydell House Centre Ltd Committee Baker Wright • Council for the Protection of Rural England (Lincs Branch) Smith • Health Overview and Scrutiny Samra Wright (sub) • Heritage Lincolnshire Bedford • Lincolnshire County Council Flood and Drainage Leggott Management Committee • Local Government Association’s Rural Commission Bedford Singleton -McGuire • Nacro Services in Lincolnshire Samra Woodliffe • Neighbourhood Watch Association Snell • Rural Services Network (SPARSE Rural, Rural Services Bedford Partnership, RSN Community Group) Singleton McGuire • Sir Thomas Meddlecott and Others Charity Trust A. Austin Brotherton Woodliffe • South East Lincolnshire Travel Association Knowles • South Lincolnshire Blind Society Taylor Skinner (sub) • St. Leonard’s Hospital Trust Richmond Samra • Swineshead Poor Charity Brookes • Wash and North Norfolk Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Members Group Brotherton Wright (Sub) • Witham Fourth District Internal Drainage Board Bedford Brotherton Dennis Leggott Pickett Richmond Wright Long Term Appointments: Boston Grammar School Foundation Governors Pickett Samra Woodliffe Wright John Butler Charity Brookes Welland and Deepings IDB Leggott WH & E Harlock Swineshead Almshouses Charity Brookes 9 AUDIT AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES Councillor David Witts introduced the unconfirmed minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee meeting held on 31 March 2014. It was moved by Councillor Witts, seconded by Councillor Samra and ACTION RESOLVED that the unconfirmed minutes of the meeting of the Audit and Governance Committee held on 31 March 2014 RB / PJ be received. (The meeting ended at 7.45 p.m.) .