Agenda and minutes

Council - Monday, 23rd May, 2022 7.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber - Civic Offices. View directions

Contact: Frank Jeffrey, Head of Democratic Services  on 01483 743012 or email  frank.jeffrey@woking.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors T Aziz, A Boote and G Elson.

2.

Mayor's Communications.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor reported on the events he had attended following his election as Mayor on 19 May 2022.  These had included a passing out parade at the Army Training Centre in Pirbright, an event attended by nearly 4,000 Beavers, Scouts and Guides at Merrist Wood College, a multi faith football match organised through Woking People of Faith and an event hosted by Woking Gymnastics Club.

3.

Urgent Business.

To consider any business which the Chairman rules may be dealt with under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

No items of Urgent Business were considered.

4.

Declarations of Interest. pdf icon PDF 48 KB

(i)         To receive declarations of interest from Members and Officers in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

(ii)        In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor A Azad declares a non-pecuniary interest in any items concerning the companies of which she is a Council-appointed director.  The companies are listed in the attached schedule.  The interests are such that speaking and voting are permissible.

(iii)      In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor K M Davis declares a non-pecuniary interest in any items concerning the companies of which he is a Council-appointed director.  The companies are listed in the attached schedule.  The interests are such that speaking and voting are permissible.

(iv)      In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor C S Kemp declares a non-pecuniary interest in any items concerning the companies of which he is a Council-appointed director.  The companies are listed in the attached schedule.  The interests are such that speaking and voting are permissible.

(v)       In accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Chief Executive, Julie Fisher, declares a disclosable personal interest (non-pecuniary) in any items concerning the companies of which she is a Council-appointed director.  The companies are listed in the attached schedule.  The interests are such that Mrs Fisher may advise the Council on those items.

(vi)      In accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Director of Legal and Democratic Services, Joanne McIntosh, declares a disclosable personal interest (non-pecuniary) in any items concerning the companies of which she is a Council-appointed director.  The companies are listed in the attached schedule.  The interests are such that Mrs McIntosh may advise the Council on those items.

(vii)     In accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Strategic Director – Place, Giorgio Framalicco, declares a disclosable personal interest (non-pecuniary) in any items concerning the companies of which he is a Council-appointed director.  The companies are listed in the attached schedule.  The interests are such that Mr Framalicco may advise the Council on those items.

(viii)    In accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Strategic Director – Communities, Louise Strongitharm, declares a disclosable personal interest (non-pecuniary) in any items concerning the companies of which she is a Council-appointed director.  The companies are listed in the attached schedule.  The interests are such that Mrs Strongitharm may advise the Council on those items.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor A Azad declared a non-pecuniary interest in any items concerning the companies of which she was a Council appointed director. The companies were listed in an attached schedule. The interests were such that speaking and voting were permissible.

In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor K M Davis declared a non-pecuniary interest in any items concerning the companies of which he was a Council appointed director. The companies were listed in an attached schedule. The interests were such that speaking and voting were permissible.

In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor C S Kemp declared a non-pecuniary interest in any items concerning the companies of which he was a Council appointed director. The companies were listed in an attached schedule. The interests were such that speaking and voting were permissible.

In accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Chief Executive, Julie Fisher, declared a disclosable personal interest (non-pecuniary) in any items concerning the companies of which she was a Council-appointed director. The companies were listed in an attached schedule. The interests were such that Mrs Fisher could advise the Council on those items.

In accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Director of Legal and Democratic Services, Joanne McIntosh, declared a disclosable personal interest (non-pecuniary) in any items concerning the companies of which she was a Council-appointed director. The companies were listed in an attached schedule. The interests were such that Mrs McIntosh could advise the Council on those items.

In accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Strategic Director - Place, Giorgio Framalicco, declared a disclosable personal interest (non-pecuniary) in any items concerning the companies of which he was a Council-appointed director. The companies were listed in an attached schedule. The interests were such that Mr Framalicco could advise the Council on those items.

In accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Strategic Director – Communities, Louise Strongitharm, declared a disclosable personal interest (non-pecuniary) in any items concerning the companies of which she was a Council-appointed director. The companies were listed in an attached schedule. The interests were such that Mrs Strongitharm could advise the Council on those items.

5.

Election of the Leader of the Executive ("Leader of the Council").

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Forster moved and Councillor Morales seconded the election of Councillor Barker as Leader of the Executive (“Leader of the Council”).

RESOLVED

That Councillor Ann-Marie Barker be elected Leader of the Executive (“Leader of the Council”).

6.

Leader of the Council's Statement.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader, Councillor Barker, made a statement on her approach for the forthcoming year and advised that the Executive for 2022/23 would comprise Councillor Forster as Deputy Leader, and Councillors Johnson, Leach, Lyons, Nicholson and Roberts.

Councillor Azad, Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Ali, Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, and Councillor Jordan, Deputy Leader of the Independent Group, were given the opportunity to respond to Councillor Barker’s statement.

7.

Questions.

To deal with written questions submitted by Members under Standing Order 8.1.  Copies of the questions and of the draft replies (which are subject to amendment by the Leader of the Council) will be laid upon the table.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

No questions had been received.

8.

Political Balance of the Council 2022-23 WBC22-016. pdf icon PDF 53 KB

To receive a report on the Political Balance of the Council.  The report will be published shortly before the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Formal notices had been received which had the effect of dividing the Council into political groups.  The composition of the Council was as follows:

Liberal Democrat                    16

Conservative                           8

Labour                                     3

Independent                            3

In addition, notification had been received of the Members to act as Group Leader and Deputy Group Leader of each political group as follows:-

                                           Group Leader                            Deputy Group Leader

Liberal Democrat              Councillor A-M Barker                Councillor W Forster

Conservative                     Councillor Azad                           Councillor C Kemp

Labour                               Councillor T Aziz                         Councillor M I Raja

Independent                       Councillor A Boote                      Councillor D Jordan

RESOLVED

That the report be received.

9.

Selection Panel WBC22-019. pdf icon PDF 216 KB

To receive the minutes of the Selection Panel held on Tuesday, 17 May 2022 and agree the recommendations contained therein.  The minutes will be published shortly before the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council moved and Councillor Forster seconded the receipt of the recommendations from Selection Panel which had met on 17 May 2022.

Appointment of Members to Committees and Sub-Committees 2022-23.

RESOLVED

That (i)    the Memberships of the Planning Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be increased by 1 to 10 Members, and the Membership of the Standards and Audit Committee be increased by 1 to 6 Members; and

          (ii)   the proportions for each Committee be settled as follows:

Committee

Lib Dem

Con

Lab

Ind

Other

Appeals (3)

2

-

-

1

-

Licensing (10)

5

3

1

1

-

Overview and Scrutiny (10)

5

3

1

1

-

Planning (10)

5

3

1

1

-

Standards and Audit (6)

3

1

1

1

1*

Licensing Sub A (3)

2

1

-

-

-

Licensing Sub B (3)

2

1

-

-

-

Taxi & Private Hire Sub (6)

3

2

1

-

-

Standards Panel (4)

2

1

-

1

1*

Woking Joint Committee (8)

4

2

1

1

-

*Independent Co-Opted Member

Appointment of Members to Working Groups and Task Groups 2022-23.

RESOLVED

That  (i)      the Aggregates Site Working Group be disbanded;

          (ii)     the HIF Oversight Panel be disbanded;

          (iii)     a HIF Task Group of 7 Members be established under the remit of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, taking on the responsibilities of the Aggregates Site Working Group and the HIF Oversight Panel;

          (iv)    the Elections and Electoral Registration Review Panel be renamed the Elections Panel and its membership to comprise the Group Leaders and Deputy Group Leaders (8);

          (v)     terms of reference for the Elections Panel be drawn up and presented at the next meeting of the Panel;

          (vi)    the Governance Review Task Group be disbanded;

          (vii)   membership on the Military Covenant Advisory Panel be increased from 5 to 6;

          (viii)   the Victoria Square Oversight Panel be renamed the Victoria Square and Town Centre Oversight Panel;

          (ix)    the Climate Change Working Group be renamed the Greener Woking Working Group;

          (x)     the membership of the Housing Task Group be reduced from 8 to 7 Members; and

          (xi)    the proportions for each Group be settled as follows:

Working Groups under the remit of Council

Working Group

Lib Dem

Con

Lab

Ind

Other

Elections Panel (8)

2

2

2

2

1*

Freedom of the Borough Working Group (7)

3

2

1

1

-

Military Covenant Advisory Panel (6)

2

2

1

1

-

Selection Panel (8)

2

2

2

2

-

Sheerwater Regeneration Delivery & Oversight Panel (7)

3

2

1

1

-

Victoria Square and Town Centre Oversight Panel (9)

5

2

1

1

-

*Independent Co-Opted Member

Working Groups under the remit of the Executive

Working Group

Lib Dem

Con

Lab

Ind

Other

Greener Woking Working Group (8)

4

2

1

1

-

Leisure Partnership Board (5)

3

1

1

-

-

LDF Working Group (7)

3

2

1

1

-

 

Task Groups under the remit of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Task Group

Lib Dem

Con  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Constitution of Committees 2022-23 WBC22-017. pdf icon PDF 55 KB

To approve the membership of Committees for 2022/23. The report will be published shortly before the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council had before it a document setting out the proposed memberships of the Committees for the coming year.

RESOLVED

That Membership of the Committees for 2022-23, as set out below, be agreed.

Committee

Nominations

Lib Dem

Conservative

Labour

Independent

Co-Optees

Appeals Committee (3)

Councillors

Morley

Oades

Councillor

Councillor

Councillor

Akberali

Licensing Committee(10)

Councillors

Caulfield

Sanderson

Morales

Morley

Spenser

Councillors

Dorsett

Elson

Kemp

Councillor

Ali

Councillor

Jordan

Overview and Scrutiny Committee (10)

Councillors

Caulfield

Graves

Kirby

Morley

Sanderson

Councillors

Azad

Davis

Kemp

Councillor

Raja

Councillor

Akberali

Planning Committee (10)

Councillors

Cosnahan

Graves

Morales

Oades

Spenser

Councillors

Brown

Dorsett

Whitehand

Councillor

Aziz

Councillor

Boote

Standards and Audit Committee (7)

Councillors

Caulfield

Cosnahan

Graves

Councillors

Elson

Councillor

Raja

Councillor

Akberali

Mrs C Storey

Independent Co-Opted Member

Woking Joint Committee (8)

Councillors

Barker

Caulfield

Nicholson

Morales

Councillors

Brown

Kemp

Councillor

Ali

Councillor

Jordan

 

11.

Appointments to Working Groups 2022-23 WBC22-018. pdf icon PDF 57 KB

To consider the membership of Working Groups for 2022/23.  The report will be published shortly before the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council had before it a document setting out the proposed memberships of the Working Groups under the remit of Council for the coming year. 

RESOLVED

That membership of the Working Groups for 2022/23, as set out below,be agreed.

Working Groups/Task Groups

Nominations

Lib Dem

Conservative

Labour

Independent

Co-Optees

Elections Panel (8 plus 1 Co-Opted Member)

Councillors

Barker

Forster

Councillors

Azad

Kemp

Councillor

Aziz

Raja

Councillor

Boote

Jordan

Mrs C Storey

Independent Co-Opted Member

Freedom of the Borough Working Group (7)

Councillors

Forster

Johnson

Lyons

Councillors

Brown

Dorsett

Councillor

Councillor

Jordan

Military Covenant Advisory Panel (6)

Councillors

Forster

Sanderson

Councillors

Brown

Dorsett

Councillor

Raja

Councillor

Boote

Selection Panel (8)

Councillors

Barker

Forster

Councillors

Azad

Kemp

Councillors

Aziz

Raja

Councillors

Boote

Jordan

Sheerwater Regeneration Delivery and Oversight Panel (7)

Councillors

Forster

Lyons

Johnson

Councillors

Dorsett

Whitehand

Councillors

Ali

Councillor

Boote

Victoria Square & Town Centre Oversight Panel (9)

Councillors

Barker

Forster

Johnson

Lyons

Roberts

Councillors

Azad

Kemp

Councillor

Ali

Councillor

Jordan

 

 

12.

Appointments to Ad Hoc Bodies and Ex Officio Positions 2022-23 WBC22-020. pdf icon PDF 125 KB

To consider the nominations to Ad Hoc Bodies and Ex-Officio Positions for 2022/23. The report will be published shortly before the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council was asked to agree the appointments to Ad Hoc Bodies and to receive the list of Ex Officio appointments.  In respect of the appointments available through the Surrey Leaders’ Group, the Council noted that no nominations had been received.

RESOLVED

That  (i)    appointments to Ad Hoc Bodies as set out below be agreed; and

Ad Hoc Body

Nominations

Lib. Dem.

Conservative

Labour

Independent

Ashford & St Peters Hospital NHS Trust (1 rep, 3 years to 2025)

Councillor

Nicholson (2025)

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Basingstoke Canal Joint Management Cttee (2 reps, 1 year plus 2 subs, 1 year)

Councillor

Leach

(Spenser)

Councillor

Davis

(Kemp)

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Corporate Trustee – Woking Palace (1 rep, 1 year)

Councillor

Barker

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Countryside Partnership Board (1 rep, 1 year plus 1 sub, 1 year).  Substitute appointed to the Local Liaison Group.

Councillor

Leach

Councillor

(Brown)

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Fairoaks Airport Consultative Cttee (1 rep., 1 year plus 1 sub, 1 year). 

Councillor

Morley

Councillor

(Dorsett)

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Farnborough Airport Consultative Cttee (1 rep., 1 year plus 1 sub, 1 year)

Councillor

Barker

Councillor

(Kemp)

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Maybury Centre (2 reps, four years to 2026 and 2023 respectively)

Councillor

Graves (2026)

Councillor

-

Councillor

Aziz (2023)

Councillor

-

National Parking Adjudications Service Jt Cttee (1 rep, 2 years, plus 1 sub, 2 years to 2023)

Councillor

(Barker) (2023)

Councillor

Dorsett (2023)

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Police and Crime Panel (1 rep., 1 year)

Councillor

Nicholson

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

ShopMobility (1 rep., 1 year plus 1 sub, 1 year)

Councillor

Barker

Councillor

(Whitehand)

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

South East Employers (1 rep., 1 year plus 1 sub, 1 year)

Councillor

Barker

Councillor

(Azad)

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Sport Woking (formerly Woking Sports Council) (2 reps, 1 year)

Councillor

Johnson

Councillor

-

Councillor

Aziz

Councillor

-

Surrey County Playing Fields Association (1 rep., 1 year)

Councillor

Johnson

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Sutton Green Village Hall Management Cttee (2 rep.s, 1 year, 1 to be local Ward Cllr, 1 to be a Member of WBC)

Councillor

Cosnahan

Forster

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Woking Access Group (2 rep.s, 1 year)

Councillor

Barker

Councillor

-

Councillor

Raja

Councillor

-

Woking Community Transport (2 observers, 1 year)

Councillor

Forster

Councillor

Kemp

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Woking People of Faith (1 rep, 5 years to 2026)

Councillor

Morales (2026)

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

Woking Youth Council (2 reps, 1 year plus 1 substitute, 1 year)

Councillor

Spenser

(Leach)

Councillor

Brown

Councillor

-

Councillor

-

 

          (ii)   the schedule of Ex Officio appointments as set out below be noted:

Allotments Consultation Group

Deputy Mayor to be a judge at the Annual Allotments Competition

Asset Management – Lead Member

Portfolio Holder for Asset Management

Children & Young People – Lead Member

Portfolio Holder for Cultural and Community Development

Elected Member Development – Lead Member

Jt Cttee – Oversight of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Notices of Motion.

To deal with anymotions received in accordance with Standing Order 5.0.  Any motions received before the deadline has passed for the receipt of motions will be published shortly before the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

No Notices of Motion had been received.