Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Tony Bellasis, Emma Evans, Carol O’Neal and Sharon Sluman.

To elect a Chairman of the Council until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2025.

The Chairman will call for nominations for election of the Chairman of the Council. If there is more than one nomination, there will be a vote in the usual way.

The Chairman to declare their acceptance of office.

To elect the Chair of the Council until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2025.

Councillor Adrienne Lowe was proposed as Chair of the Council for the municipal year 2024/25, the proposal was seconded and upon a vote it was,

Resolved: That Councillor Adrienne Lowe be Elected as Chair of the Council until the Annual meeting in 2025.

To appoint a Vice Chairman of the Council until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2025.

The Chairman will call for nominations for the appointment of the Vice Chairman of the Council. If there is more than one nomination, there will be a vote in the usual way.

The Vice Chairman to declare their acceptance of office.

To appoint a Vice Chairman of the Council until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2025.

Councillor Andy Harvey was proposed as Vice-Chair of the Council for the municipal year 2024/25, this was seconded and upon a vote it was,

Resolved: That Councillor Andy Harvey be appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Council until the Annual Meeting in 2025.

To elect a Leader of the Council. 

The Chairman will call for nominations for election of the Leader of the Council, if there is more than one nomination, there will be a vote in the usual way. 

The Leader to declare their acceptance of office.

Councillor Lee Cowen proposed that Councillor Jeremy Gardner be elected as Leader of the Council. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Robina Baine and upon a vote it was,

Resolved: that Councillor Jeremy Gardner be elected as Leader of Adur District Council for the period of his term of office as Councillor; namely to the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2026.

To receive any announcements from the Leader.

The Leader addressed the Council, confirming the membership and portfolio responsibilities of the Cabinet - details of which are appended in Appendix B.

To receive and note the Return of Persons Elected at the 2 May 2024 District Council elections.

The Council received and noted the Return of Persons elected at the 2 May 2024 District Council elections.

Resolved: that the Returning Officers return of persons elected be noted.

Members and officers must declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to any business on the agenda. Declarations should also be made at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting.

If in doubt contact the Legal or Democratic Services representative for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Council on 28 March 2024, copies of

which have been previously circulated.

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting of the 28 March 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Resolved: that the Council approved a vote of thanks to the retiring Chair and that the past Chair’s insignia be presented to Mr Joe Pannell.

There were no announcements from the Chair or the Head of Paid Service.

To consider any items the Chairman has agreed are urgent

The Chair announced that there were no urgent items for consideration.

To consider a report by the Director for Sustainability & Resources, copy attached as item 12.

Before the Council was a report by the Director for Sustainability and Resources, a copy of which had been circulated to all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes.  

The report before members outlined a number of decisions required by Council to ensure that the decision making structure for 2024/25 was determined according to the Council’s Constitution.

It was noted that an updated Appendix B had been circulated in advance of the meeting detailing the nominations for Committee Memberships from each of the political groups and the chair and vice-chair nominations.

The Chair sought nominations for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) and the Adur Overview & Scrutiny Committee (OSC). The Leader proposed Councillor Joss Loader as Chair of both JOSC and OSC and Councillor Nigel Jenner as Vice-Chair of JOSC and OSC.

The recommendations in the report as well as the nominations for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) and the Adur Overview & Scrutiny Committee (OSC) were proposed, seconded and supported.

Resolved: 

      i.        That the Council noted the decision making structure of the Council and the political balance of the Council as set out in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.5. 

     ii.        That the Council appointed to the Committees in accordance with the wishes of the Political Groups on the Council detailed in Annex B.

    iii.        That the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Committees be appointed until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2025. 

   iv.        That under Council Procedure Rule 38, Council noted the appointment of the Leader of the Conservative Group on the Council as the Leader of the Main Opposition.