Agenda and minutes

To elect a Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2006/2007.

[Local Government Act 1972:  Schedule 2, Paragraph 3(1)]

N.B.    Under the provisions of Paragraphs 2(2) and 2(3) of Schedule 2 to the Local Government Act 1972, the retiring Mayor for 2005/06, Miss Paddy Lyne, will assume the Chair and preside for the purposes of the proceedings at Item 1 on the Summons, being the election of her successor as Mayor.

Only in the event of there being an equality of votes cast in the election would Miss Lyne be entitled to vote on the appointment of a Mayor for 2006/07 by virtue of the statutory provisions, notwithstanding that she is not an elected Councillor.

The Mayor, Paddy Lyne, welcomed all Members to a new Council following the Borough Elections, both those who had been re-elected and also the Councillors who had been elected for the first time.

The Mayor called formally for nominations for the Office of the Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow for the ensuing Municipal Year.

Councillor Richard Romain nominated and Councillor Chris Mote seconded that COUNCILLOR JANET ROSLYN COWAN be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2006/2007.

Councillors Navin Shah, Christopher Noyce, Keeki Thammaiah, Mrs Camilla Bath and Manji Kara endorsed the nomination of Councillor Mrs Janet Cowan.

There being no other nominations, the Mayor put the nomination of Councillor Mrs Janet Cowan to the meeting, and it was

RESOLVED:

THAT COUNCILLOR JANET ROSLYN COWAN BE ELECTED MAYOR OF THE LONDON BOROUGH OF HARROW FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2006/2007.

The retiring Mayor, Paddy Lyne, vacated the Chair and, after a short interval for robing, the newly elected Mayor, having made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, took the Chair.

The retiring Mayor handed to the duly elected Mayor the keys of the Corporate Seal.

The Mayor’s Consort, Councillor John Cowan, was then invested by the retiring Mayoress with the Medallion of Office.

The Mayor, Councillor Mrs Janet Cowan, then returned thanks for her election.

Councillor Navin Shah formally moved a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor, Paddy Lyne and to the retiring Mayoress, Mrs Mary Graham, which was seconded by Councillor Chris Mote.

Councillors Jean Lammiman, Ms Nana Asante, John Cowan, Thaya Idaikkadar, Mrs Kinnear, Keeki Thammaiah and Christopher Noyce also endorsed the vote of thanks.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE COUNCIL PLACE ON RECORD ITS UNANIMOUS APPRECIATION OF AND SINCERE THANKS TO PADDY LYNE AND MRS MARY GRAHAM FOR THEIR YEAR OF OFFICE AS MAYOR AND MAYORESS OF THE LONDON BOROUGH OF HARROW FOR 2005/2006.

Paddy Lyne congratulated the incoming Mayor and Mayor’s Consort, Councillor Mrs Janet Cowan and Councillor John Cowan, on their appointment.  She expressed her gratitude to the London Borough of Harrow for having elected her as Mayor for the past year, and felt very proud to have worn the mantle of Mayor.

In recalling her Mayoral Year, Paddy Lyne referred especially to the many functions she had attended and the opportunities to meet the people of the Borough, which she had very much enjoyed.

She fondly recalled some of her most memorable engagements, including a meeting with the staff at the Central Depot, to whom she extended her grateful thanks, and the dedication of the new War Memorial.

In her speech, Paddy Lyne highlighted that nearly £15,000 had been raised for her Special Appeal, the St John’s Ambulance, Harrow Weald, which would be used to fund equipment and training.

She drew attention to the sterling work and fundraising efforts of the Mayoress’s Committee, which was the envy of other Boroughs, and without which, the Mayor’s Special Appeals would not function.

Paddy Lyne offered her thanks to all the staff at the Civic Centre, and in particular to the Mayoral staff, Mrs Ball, Mrs Gresty, Mr Deans and Mr Ball, for their dedication and guidance.  She also paid tribute to her Chaplain, the Reverend Terence MacMath, who had been a great support.

She expressed her heartfelt thanks to her Mayoress and dear friend, Mary Graham, for the support she had given her in her role as Mayor, and also to her Deputy Mayor, Mary John.

Finally, she extended her thanks to the press, for their coverage of her Mayoral Year.

Concluding her speech, Paddy Lyne reminded Members of Council that they had been elected by the residents of Harrow, to serve the people of Harrow.

She then left the Dais and was escorted by the Macebearer to her seat in the Council Chamber.

The Mayor, Councillor Mrs Janet Cowan, on behalf of the Council presented a replica of the Mayor’s Medallion to Paddy Lyne in commemoration of her Mayoralty of the Borough 2005/06.

The Mayor’s Consort, Councillor John Cowan, presented to the immediate past Mayoress, Mrs Mary Graham, a Medallion to commemorate her year as Mayoress of the Borough 2005/06.

To receive the Mayor’s intimation in writing of the appointment of a Councillor of the Borough to be Deputy Mayor.

[Local Government Act 1972:  Schedule 2, Paragraph 5(1) and (2)]

The Mayor signified in writing that she had appointed Councillor Jean Lammiman to be Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2006/2007.

The Deputy Mayor, having been duly invested with the Deputy Mayor’s robe and Badge of Office, occupied the Deputy Mayor’s Chair.

The Mayor’s Consort then invested the Deputy Mayor’s Consort, Mr John Hinkley, with his Medallion of Office.

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jean Lammiman, then returned thanks for her appointment.

To receive, the Mayor’s announcement concerning a Chaplain (as may be appropriate).

[Note:  The Order of Proceedings for Items 1-3 above is to follow].

The Mayor confirmed to the Council that she had appointed Rabbi Andrew Shaw as her Mayor’s Chaplain for the Municipal Year 2006/2007.

To note:-

(i)                 the report of the Director of Corporate Governance as to the results of the election of Councillors for the several Wards of the Borough, held on 4 May 2006, and

(ii)               that all Councillors have signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

      (Note: The report is an attachment with the Summons). 

The Director of Corporate Governance reported formally as to the Election of Borough Councillors on 4 May 2006 and the persons who had been duly elected as Borough Councillors for the respective Wards (as set out in Appendix 1 to these Minutes) to hold office for a period of four years, expiring in 2010, and that each had made and subscribed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

(i)                 To appoint a Leader of the Council.

(ii)               To appoint a Deputy Leader of the Council.

FOR DECISION

Further to Item 5 on the Summons, the Mayor called for nominations to the office of Leader of the Council.

Councillor David Ashton nominated and Councillor Tom Weiss seconded the appointment of Councillor Chris Mote.

There being no other nominations, it was

RESOLVED:

THAT COUNCILLOR CHRIS MOTE BE ELECTED LEADER OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2006/2007.

Item 5 on the Summons also proposed that the Meeting consider the appointment of a Deputy Leader of the Council.

The Mayor, Councillor Mrs Janet Cowan, called for nominations to the office of Deputy Leader of the Council.

Councillor Chris Mote nominated and Councillor Yogesh Teli seconded the appointment of Councillor David Ashton.

There being no other nominations, it was

RESOLVED:

THAT COUNCILLOR DAVID ASHTON BE ELECTED DEPUTY LEADER OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2006/2007.

Paragraph 7.02 of Article 7 provides for the determination by the Council of the size of the Executive, which will consist of the Leader of the Council together with at least two but not more than nine other Councillors.

Further to Item 6 on the Summons and the provisions of Paragraph 7.02 of Article 7 of the Constitution for the determination by the Council of the size of the Executive, the Annual Meeting received a proposal from the Leader of the Council that the Cabinet should consist of 9 Members, including the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE SIZE OF THE CABINET BE 9 MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE LEADER AND DEPUTY LEADER OF THE COUNCIL.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 April 2006, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

[Note: These minutes are enclosed with the Summons].

RESOLVED:

THAT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 27 APRIL 2006, HAVING BEEN CIRCULATED, BE TAKEN AS READ AND SIGNED AS A CORRECT RECORD.

To receive any communications from the newly elected Mayor as to the Civic Functions for the Municipal Year 2006/07.

[NOTE: It is anticipated that the dates of Civic Functions for 2006/07 will be confirmed to Members of Council in the week following the Annual Council Meeting ].

Further to the notification provided by the Mayor of forthcoming functions, it was

RESOLVED:

THAT THE DATES OF THE FOLLOWING CIVIC FUNCTIONS BE NOTED:

To consider any announcements as to the Authority’s business which the Leader of the Council requires to advise at this Council Meeting.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Chris Mote, welcomed all new and re-elected Members to the Council.

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from the remaining business to be transacted at this Annual Meeting of the Council, from all Members present.

It was noted that there were no declarations of interest to be made by Members of Council in relation to the business on the Annual Council Summons.

To receive and consider any procedural motions by Members of the Council under the relevant Council Procedure Rules in relation to the conduct of the remaining business for this Annual Meeting of the Council.  

It was noted that there were no procedural motions from Members of Council.

(Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990).

To receive and confirm the Determination as to the proportional allocation of Committee places for the Municipal Year 2006-07 under the 1990 Regulations, for the Committees of the Council:-

FOR CONFIRMATION

[Note: The Determination as agreed would be utilised for the formal appointment of Committee Memberships at the Extraordinary Council meeting to be held on 31 May 2006].

Further to the provisions of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, the Director of Corporate Governance had prepared and notified to the political groups on the Council, following the results of the Borough Elections, a Determination under the Regulations as to their proportional entitlements to places on Committees.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE DETERMINATION AS TO THE PROPORTIONAL ALLOCATION OF COMMITTEE PLACES BE HEREBY RECEIVED AND CONFIRMED.

In a Borough Election Year, a second (Extraordinary) Council Meeting is required to implement the Determination of Committee places, to establish the Committees of the Council and their membership and the Allocation of Responsibility (Scheme of Delegation) as set out in Part 3 of the Constitution.

The previous Council had agreed that the Extraordinary Council Meeting should be held on Wednesday 31 May 2006.

FOR NOTING

At Item 13 of the Summons, Members were notified of a decision by the previous Council that an Extraordinary Council Meeting should be held on Wednesday 31 May 2006.

The Annual Meeting duly noted that the Extraordinary Meeting was required to be convened in this, an Election Year, in order to undertake business which could not otherwise be effected at an Annual Meeting, including the formal establishment of committees and the appointment of their memberships.

RESOLVED: 

THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 31 MAY 2006 BE HEREBY CONFIRMED.

To note and confirm the dates of the Council Meetings for the Municipal Year, which are set out in the Calendar of Meetings (circulated to all Members), as follows:-

Wednesday 31 May 2006

Thursday 13 July 2006

Thursday 19 October 2006

Thursday 22 February 2007  (Council Tax meeting)

Thursday 26 April 2007

Thursday 10 May 2007  (Annual meeting)

Further to the information provided at Item 14 of the Summons, it was

RESOLVED:

THAT THE FOLLOWING DATES FOR MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL IN THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2006/2007 BE HEREBY CONFIRMED:-