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Council 18 May 2022 7.30 - 8.20 pm
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Present:
Councillors Bhandari (Mayor), Mrs L Gibson (Deputy Mayor), Allen, Angell, Dr Barnard, Bettison OBE, Bidwell, D Birch, Mrs Birch, Brossard, Brown, Brunel-Walker, Dudley, Finch, Ms Gaw, Gbadebo, MJ Gibson, Green, Harrison, Leake, Mrs Mattick, Ms Merry, Mrs McKenzie-Boyle, McLean, Neil, Porter, Turrell, Virgo and Wade
Present Virtually:
Councillors Mrs Hamilton, Mrs Hayes MBE, Ms Hayes, Heydon, Mrs Ingham, Kennedy, Kirke, Parker and Skinner
Apologies for absence were received from:
Councillors Atkinson, Mrs McKenzie, Mossom and Temperton
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THE MAYOR, COUNCILLOR MS MERRY, IN THE CHAIR
Before the business of the meeting commenced the Mayor said a few words about the sad loses from the wider Bracknell Forest Council family.
Martin Gocke had worked as a Chief Officer of Bracknell Forest Council working in education and children’s services until May 2010. He then worked as an independent consultant and continued to support the Bracknell Forest community in a number of roles including being active at Youthline, on the Schools Forum, serving as a community member on College Hall’s management committee and as a governor at Kennel Lane School. The Mayor concluded that he would be missed by colleagues across the education field.
Clive Temperton, the husband of the Council’s Labour Leader, Councillor Temperton sadly passed away earlier in the week. He was well known in the local community and had served as a Bracknell Town Councillor. The Mayor passed on the Council’s condolences to Councillor Temperton and her family.
The Mayor thanked her chaplain, Reverend Malcolm Chalmers, for his support throughout the previous year. She was pleased to announce that during her two years representing the borough she had successfully raised £10,282 for her two chosen charities: SSAFA Berkshire and The British Forces’ Foundation. |
1. Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
2. Election of the Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest for the 2022/23 Municipal Year
It was proposed by Councillor Bettison OBE, and seconded by Councillor Birch, that Councillor Bhandari be elected Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest for the Municipal Year 2022 –2023.
There being no further nominations it was
RESOLVED that Councillor Bhandari be elected Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest for the 2022 -2023 Municipal Year.
Councillor Bhandari made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Mayor and thanked Members of the Council for his election.
THE MAYOR, COUNCILLOR BHANDARI, IN THE CHAIR
In his acceptance speech Councillor Bhandari confirmed that his wife would be his consort. He stated that he was honoured and humbled to have been given this opportunity to serve as the Mayor of Bracknell Forest. He advised that the forthcoming year would be for the people of Bracknell Forest.
3. Vote of Thanks to the Retiring Mayor
Councillor Bettison OBE delivered a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor, Ash Merry.
4. Appointment of the Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest for the 2022/23 Municipal Year
It was proposed by the Mayor and seconded by Councillor Bettison OBE that Councillor L Gibson be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest for the Municipal Year 2022 –2023.
There being no further nominations, it was
RESOLVED that Councillor L Gibson be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest for the Municipal Year 2022 -2023.
Councillor L Gibson made and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Deputy Mayor. The Deputy Mayor thanked the Council for her appointment and said she was looking forward to supporting the Mayor in the coming year.
5. Response by the Immediate Past Mayor
The retiring Mayor, Councillor Ms Merry, in her response thanked Members of the Council for their support during the past two years – which had been fantastic and challenging. She reflected that whilst covid had been so difficult for so many she was heartened by the strengthening of communities through these challenges. Her sincerest thoughts went out to those who had lost friends and family. She stated that her biggest pleasure had been saying thank you to so many people doing extraordinary things and making a difference to other lives.
She thanked her Mayoress, Councillor Mrs Mattick, her Deputy Mayor, Councillor Gbadebo and his Deputy Mayoress, Councillor Finch and Liz Seamon, Mayoral Support Officer for their support during her time as Mayor. She added that Councillor Temperton had been the first to support her ‘Challenge the Mayor’ initiative.
Councillor Ms Merry was presented with the badge of Immediate Past Mayor by the Chief Executive together with a gift on behalf of the Council.
6. Mayor's Announcements
Lexicon Half Marathon
The Mayor reflected on the fantastic event which had taken place on 15 May 2022 and congratulated everyone that had taken part.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Bettison OBE
Councillor Bettison updated the meeting on the support provided to the borough’s Ukraine guests. He advised that the Council had continued to work closely with all partners across the voluntary, community and faith sector in order to offer a warm welcome those arriving through the various routes. The Council hosted the second event for all the known Homes for Ukraine hosts on 4 May 2022 which was attended by colleagues from Involve, Department for Work and Pensions and NHS as well as Bracknell MP James Sunderland. The event was designed to develop community networks and feedback from hosts was very positive.
He reported that many guests were settling in well. He stated that 61 households in Bracknell Forest had applied under the Homes for Ukraine scheme to host between them 141 Ukrainians that they have been matched with. In addition, there were over 350 households that had expressed an interested in being matched with future arrivals. 50 guests had arrived in the area so far. Ukrainian children were starting to join their new schools with adult arrivals starting to seek and finding employment. He thanked all the residents for their ongoing support and the commitment to their community.
The family visa scheme allows people to join relatives who were already residents, but it was a challenge to offer support and guidance as no details were available on the numbers arriving via this route.
Councillor Birch, Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing
Councillor Birch was pleased to advise that HRH The Duke of Gloucester had formally opened the borough’s new Heathlands re-enablement and dementia centre on 17 May 2022. He reported that the Duke had recognised the dementia-friendly design of the building and the value of the important service to patients and their families. He thanked everyone who had been involved in the delivery in the vital caring facility.
Councillor Brunel-Walker, Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration
Councillor Brunel-Walker encouraged everyone to attend the programme of events running over the Jubilee week including the viewing of a movie collating memories of Bracknell Forest residents of previous royal events, the Beacon Lighting ceremony and the Lexicon Proms.
7. Appointments by the Leader of the Council
Members of the Executive
The Leader of the Council announced that he had appointed the following Members to the Executive for the 2022 -2023 Municipal Year:
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Councillor Dr Barnard |
Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning (Vice-Chair of the Executive) |
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Councillor Bettison OBE |
Executive Member for Council Strategy and Community Cohesion (Leader of the Council and Chair of the Executive) |
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Councillor D Birch |
Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing (Deputy Leader of the Council) |
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Councillor Brunel-Walker |
Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration |
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Councillor Harrison |
Executive Member for Culture, Delivery and Public Protection |
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Councillor Mrs Hayes MBE |
Executive Member for the Environment |
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Councillor Heydon |
Executive Member for Transformation and Finance |
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Councillor Turrell |
Executive Member for Planning and Transport |
Delegation of Executive Functions
The Leader of the Council announced that the responsibility for the discharge of Executive functions was as set out in Part 2, Section 5 of the Council’s Constitution.
Appointments to Executive Committees, Sub Groups and Advisory Panels
The Leader of the Council announced that he had made appointments to Committees of the Executive and its Advisory Panels (Annex A to these minutes).
Appointment of Councillors to External Organisations
The Leader of the Council announced that he had made appointments to external organisations, whose functions solely related to the Executive (Annex B to these minutes).
8. Establishment of Committees and Associated Matters
On the proposition of Councillor Bettison OBE, Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor Birch, it was:
RESOLVED that:
i) the establishment of ordinary committees, their size and allocation of seats, agreeing a local variation to the proportionality rules, is agreed as set out in paragraph 5 of the report;
ii) the establishment of the Licensing and Safety Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny Commission, their size and allocation of seats is agreed as set out in paragraph 5 of the report;
iii) the establishment of Appeal Panels as required be agreed as set out in paragraph 5 of the report;
iv) the membership of each committee, in accordance with political groups’ wishes be agreed (Annex A to these minutes);
v) appointments to external organisations be agreed (Annex B to these minutes) and
vi) the appointment of Council Champions is agreed, in accordance with Part 1 Section 7 of the Constitution as set out below:
Commuters’ Champion –Cllr Atkinson
Large Business Champion –Cllr Bhandari
Small Business Champion –Cllr Wade
Older People’s Champion –Cllr Ms Gaw
Voluntary Sector Champion –Cllr MJ Gibson
9. Absence from meetings of Councillor Mrs McKenzie
The Council considered the report on whether it wished to exercise its powers relating to attendance rules now that remote provisions had ended in relation to Councillor Mrs McKenzie as a result of her ill health.
On the proposition of Councillor Bettison OBE, Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor Birch, it was:
RESOLVED that:
i) the current position in respect of Councillor Mrs McKenzie be noted; and
ii) pursuant to section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council approved Councillor Mrs McKenzie’s failure to attend Council by reason of her ill health and this would be reviewed before 30 November 2022.
CHAIRMAN