Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair will ask for nominations for the Office of Chair of the Council for the ensuing Civic Year.

(The Chair, if nominated, may not vote on his/her own election).

Councillor Sam Hawkins, Vice Chair of Council, invited nominations for the election of Chair of Council, to serve until the Annual General Meeting of East Devon District Council until May 2025.   Councillor Tim Dumper proposed, which was duly seconded by Councillor Eileen Wragg that Councillor Eleanor Rylance be elected as Chair of Council to serve until the next Annual General Meeting in May 2025.  Having been put to the vote the motion was unanimously carried. 

The Chair of Council then read and signed the formal Declaration of Acceptance of Office:  “I Councillor Eleanor Rylance having been elected to the Office of Chair of East Devon District Council declare that I take that Office upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability.  I undertake to observe East Devon District Council’s local code as to the conduct which is expected of members of East Devon District Council.

Councillor Eleanor Rylance signed the declaration in the presence of the Chief Executive.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Eleanor Rylance is appointed as the Chair of Council for East Devon District Council until the Annual General Meeting of East Devon District Council in May 2025.

The Chair will ask for nominations for the appointment of the Vice-Chair of the Council for the ensuing year.

The Chair of Council, invited nominations for the election of Chair of Council, to serve until the Annual General Meeting of East Devon District Council until May 2025.   Councillor Sarah Chamberlain proposed, which was duly seconded by Councillor Olly Davey that Councillor Eileen Wragg be elected as Vice Chair of Council to serve until the next Annual General Meeting in May 2025.  Having been put to the vote the motion was unanimously carried. 

The Vice Chair of Council then read and signed the formal Declaration of Acceptance of Office:  “I Councillor Eileen Wragg having been elected to the Office of Chair of East Devon District Council declare that I take that Office upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability.  I undertake to observe East Devon District Council’s local code as to the conduct which is expected of members of East Devon District Council.

Councillor Eleanor Rylance signed the declaration in the presence of the Chief Executive.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Eileen Wragg is appointed as the Vice Chair of Council for East Devon District Council until the Annual General Meeting of East Devon District Council in May 2025.

Apologies received from Councillors John Heath, Mike Howe, Sarah Jackson, Jamie Kemp, Dan Ledger and John O’Leary.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 24 May 2023 are approved as a correct record.

Guidance is available online to Councillors and co-opted members on making declarations of interest

None.

Information on public speaking is available online

No members of the public had registered to speak at the meeting.

Information on matters of urgency is available online

None.

None.

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the Press) have been excluded. Thereare no itemswhich officersrecommendshould be dealtwithin thisway.

None.

To consider the election of Leader of the Council for the ensuing year.

The Chair of Councillor invited nominations for the appointment of the Leader of Council, to serve until the Annual General Meeting of East Devon District Council until May 2025.   Councillor Paul Hayward proposed, which was duly seconded by Councillor Del Haggerty that Councillor Paul Arnott be elected as Leader of Council to serve until the next Annual General Meeting in May 2025.  Having been put to the vote the motion was carried by a majority show of hands. 

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Paul Arnott is appointed as the Leader of Council for East Devon District Council until the Annual General Meeting of East Devon District Council in May 2025.

To note the Leader of Council’s appointment of the Deputy Leader of Council for the ensuing year.

The Leader of Council confirmed that Councillor Paul Hayward is appointed as the Deputy Leader of Council until the Annual General Meeting of East Devon District Council in May 2025.  

The Leader of Council will confirm the Cabinet members to act as Portfolio Holders.

The Leader of Council confirmed the appointment of Portfolio Holders and Assistant Portfolio Holders:

The Council received a report setting out the proposed allocation and appointment of members for seats on the Council’s committees, the appointment of Chairs, Vice Chairs, members appointments to panels, forums and joint bodies, the appointment of members to outside bodies, the appointment of member champions, approving the Council’s Constitution for 2024/2025 and to seek confirmation of the Conservative Group as the formal opposition.

Recommendation 1:  Political balance and the proposed allocation of committee places.

Cllr Peter Faithfull proposed that the political balance and proposed allocation of committee places was rejected and having been seconded by Cllr Roy Collins the motion was put to the vote and lost.

The Chair of Council moved the recommendation which was put to the vote and carried by a majority show of hands.

RESOLVED:  That the political balance of the Council was noted and that the proposed allocation of committee places was agreed.

Recommendation 2:  Terms of Reference, size and quorum arrangements for all committees.

The Chair of Council moved the recommendation which was put to the vote and carried by a majority show of hands.

RESOLVED:  That the Terms of Reference, size and quorum for all committees as set out in the Council’s Constitution is agreed.

Recommendation 3:  Appointment of Chairs, Vice Charis, members and co-opted members to the Council’s committee and panels, forums and joint bodies.

In respect of the panels, forums and joint bodies members requested that further work is undertaken and in order to allow the panels, forums and joint bodies to continue to carry on meeting that this comes back to Full Council on 17 July 2024. 

The Chair of Council proposed that the appointment of members to panels, forums and joint bodies is deferred to the Full Council meeting on 17 July 2024 and having been seconded by Cllr Alasdair Bruce was carried by a majority show of hands.

The Chair of Council moved that the appointment of Chairs, Vice Chairs, members and co-opted members to the Council’s committee is approved and having been put to the vote was carried by a majority show of hands.

RESOLVED: 

1.     That the appointment of Chairs, Vice Chairs, members and co-opted members to the Council’s committees is approved.

2.     That the appointment of members to panels, forums and joint bodies is deferred to the Full Council meeting on 17 July 2024.

Recommendation 4:  Delegated authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the appropriate Group Leader to make in year changes to committee and panels, forums and joint bodies.

The Chair of Council moved the recommendation and having been put to the vote was carried by a majority show of hands.

RESOLVED:  That delegated authority is granted to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the appropriate group leader to make in year changes to committee and panels, forums and joint bodies (excluding the appointment of Chairs and Vice Chairs) in accordance with the allocation of places to political groups by the Council and the wishes of the relevant political group leader.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Members received the annual report from the Scrutiny Committee, Overview Committee and Housing Review Board.

RESOLVED:  That the annual reports of the Scrutiny Committee, Overview Committee and Housing Review Board are noted.

Members received the programme of ordinary meetings of the Council and its committees for the year 2024/2025.

RESOLVED:  That the programme of ordinary meetings of the Council for the year 2024/2025 is approved.