Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Hussain and Councillor Jordan.

(i)           To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary and other interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

(ii)         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 on those items.

(iii)        In accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Strategic Director - Corporate Resources, Kevin Foster 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 Foster may advise on those items.

(iv)        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 on those items.

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 on those items.

In accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Strategic Director - Corporate Resources, Kevin Foster 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 Foster could advise 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 on those items.

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

No items of Urgent Business were considered.

The Mayor reported that, following his election as Mayor on 18 May 2023, he had attended his first engagement on the weekend at Christ Church to see the work of the Turning Point Trust.  The Trust supported vulnerable families and children living in Kibera in Kenya.

The Mayor referred to forthcoming engagements including the American Armed Forces Day at Brookwood Cemetery on 28 May, a dinner at the Chobham Golf Club and the funeral of Paul Russell, former Chief Executive of Woking Borough Council.

The Leader, Councillor Barker, made a statement on her approach for the forthcoming year and advised that the Executive for 2023/24 would comprise Councillor Forster as Deputy Leader, and Councillors Graves, Johnson, Lyons, Nicholson and Roberts.

Councillor Davis, Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Aziz, Leader of the Labour Group, and Councillor Boote, Leader of the Independent Group, were given the opportunity to respond to Councillor Barker’s statement.

In accordance with revised Standing Orders, the Council to receive any announcements from the Leader of the Council (or their nominated spokesperson) and/or the Chief Executive.

No announcements were received.

To receive a report on the Political Balance of the Council.  The report will be published in due course.

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        20

Conservative               4

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 Barker                    Councillor Forster

Conservative             Councillor Davies                   Councillor Brown

Labour                        Councillor T Aziz                    Councillor Javaid

Independent              Councillor A Boote                  Councillor D Jordan

RESOLVED

That the report be received.

To receive the minutes of the Selection Panel held on Tuesday, 16 May 2023 and agree the recommendations contained therein.  The minutes will be published in due course.

The Committee received a report which set out the recommendations from Selection Panel which had met on 16 May 2023.

RESOLVED

That (i)     the proportions for each Committee and Sub-Committee be settled as follows:

Committee                               Lib Dem     Con       Lab      Ind

Appeals (3)                                      2            0            1          0

Licensing (10)                                  7            1            1          1

Overview and Scrutiny (10)             6            2            1          1

Planning (10)                                   7            1            1          1

Standards and Audit (6)                  4            1            0          1

Committee                               Lib Dem     Con       Lab      Ind

Licensing Sub-Cttee A (3)             2          1          0        0

Licensing Sub-Cttee B (3)             2          0          1        0

Taxi Licensing Sub-Cttee (6)         4          1          1        0

Standards Panel (4)                    3          0          0        1

          (ii)   the HIF Housing Outputs Panel be disbanded;

          (iii)  the membership of the Military Covenant Advisory Panel be increased by 1, creating a Panel of 7 Members;

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

Working Groups Under the Remit of Council

Working Groups Under the Remit of the Executive

Working Groups Under the Remit of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

          (v)   the proportions for each appointment be settled as follows:

To approve the membership of Committees for 2023/24.  The report will be published in due course.

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 2023/24, as set out below, be agreed.

To consider the membership of Working Groups for 2023/24.  The report will be published in due course.

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 2023/24, as set out below, be agreed.

To consider the nominations to Ad Hoc Bodies and Ex-Officio Positions for 2023/24.  The report will be published in due course.

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 three nominations had been received.

RESOLVED

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

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