Agenda item

(A)         Appointment of the Chief Executive

To consider the following recommendation from the Joint Human Resources Committee meeting held on 18 June 2019:

http://easthants.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=143&MId=2532

RECOMMENDED to full Council that

(1)          Gillian Kneller be appointed as Chief Executive;

(2)          The Chief Executive be appointed as Head of Paid Service; and

(3)          The Chief Executive be appointed as Returning Officer.

(B)         Policy Approval for a Proposed Revision, Efficiency and Alignment of the Constitutions of East Hampshire District Council and Havant Borough Council

To consider any recommendations arising from the meeting of the Governance, Audit and Finance Scrutiny Board, to be held on 2 July 2019.

http://havant.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=477&MId=10975

(A)         Appointment of the Chief Executive

The Acting Chief Executive left the meeting during consideration of this item.

Councillor Smith presented a report and recommendation to Council arising from the meeting of the Joint Human Resources Committee held on 18 June 2019.

Proposed by Councillor Smith and seconded by Councillor Crellin, it was

RESOLVED that

(1)  Gillian Kneller be appointed as Chief Executive;

(2)  The Chief Executive be appointed as Head of Paid Service; and

(3)  The Chief Executive be appointed as Returning Officer.

Following the resolution by Council, the Mayor took the opportunity to congratulate the new Chief Executive on her appointment.

(B)         Policy Approval for a Proposed Revision of Havant Borough Council’s Constitution and to Improve Efficiency by the alignment of the Constitutions of Havant Borough Council and East Hampshire District Council

Councillor Kennett presented a report and recommendation to Council arising from the meeting of the Governance, Audit and Finance Board held on 2 July 2019, seeking approval to proceed with a review of the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor Kennett reported that the terms of reference of the proposed sub-committee had been amended to increase its membership from 6 to 8, with 4 members representing Havant Borough Council and 4 members representing East Hampshire District Council respectively.

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Kennett and seconded by Councillor Thomas:

(1)      agree the review of the constitution and methodology set out in 3.2 of the report;

(2)      approve the policy principles in Appendix 1;

(3)      approve the creation of a single purpose joint sub-committee with East Hampshire District Council of 8 members;

(4)      appoint 4 members from Havant Borough Council to the sub-committee;

(5)      invite the sub-committee to report to full Councils in October;

(6)      approve the budget to a maximum of £20,000 from Havant Borough Council General Reserve.

In considering the proposals, and whilst it was recognised that Councillors sitting on Planning and Licensing Committees needed to be fully trained, a number of members expressed concern about the appropriateness of the proposal to introduce compulsory training for all Councillors on all Committees in the context of their role as unsalaried elected members. 

An assurance was also sought that any recommendations from the proposed joint sub-committee would be brought back to full Council for final approval and this was confirmed by the Leader.

In relation to the appointment of members to the Sub-Committee, members of the Council were minded to delegate this to the Leader of the Council.

As an amendment, it was proposed by Councillor Howard and seconded by Councillor Satchwell that the reference in Appendix 1 to the report “Compulsory training to be completed for all members of all committees” be amended to read “Compulsory training to be completed for all members of the Development Management Committee and the Licensing Committee”

In response to the proposed amendment, the Leader indicated that he would be prepared to remove recommendation (2) from the original motion and, on that basis,  Councillor Howard, with the approval of Councillor Satchwell, agreed to WITHDRAW her amendment.

In accordance with Standing Order 19, it was then proposed by Councillor Satchwell and seconded by Councillor Wade that this agenda item be withdrawn for further consideration.  The Mayor having taken a vote declared the motion NOT CARRIED.

As an amendment to the original motion, it was proposed by Councillor Wilson and seconded by Councillor Hart that the following be removed:

“(2) approve the policy principles in Appendix 1”.   The Mayor having taken a vote declared the amendment CARRIED.

At the request of Councillors Lloyd and Satchwell the voting was recorded as follows:

For the amendment:

Councillor Inkster

Councillor Jenner

Councillor Patel

Councillor Thain-Smith

Councillor Crellin

Councillor Rennie

Councillor Carpenter

Councillor Davis

Councillor Lowe

Councillor Hart

Councillor Weeks

Councillor Howard

Councillor Branson

Councillor Smith

Councillor Kennett

Councillor Hughes

Councillor Bowerman

Councillor Turner

Councillor Wilson

Councillor Pike

Councillor N Bains

Against the amendment:

Councillor Raines

Councillor Francis

Councillor Wade

Councillor Satchwell

Councillor Keast

Councillor Lloyd

Councillor Mrs Robinson

Abstentions:

Councillor Sceal

Councillor Thomas

Councillor Briggs

Councillor Guest

The Mayor then took a vote on the substantive motion, it was:

RESOLVED that the following be approved:

(1)      agree the review of the constitution and methodology set out in 3.2 of the report;

(2)      approve the creation of a single purpose joint sub-committee with East Hampshire District Council of 8 members;

(3)      the Leader to appoint 4 members from Havant Borough Council to the sub-committee;

(4)      invite the sub-committee to report to full Councils in October;

(5)          approve the budget to a maximum of £20,000 from Havant Borough Council General Reserve.