Winchester City Borough Council Council Meeting

Proposed by Councillor Cutler and seconded by Councillor Learney and unanimously resolved that Councillor Angela Clear be elected the 824^th Mayor of the City of Winchester for the period commencing 17 May 2023.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Angela Clear be elected the 824^th Mayor of the City of Winchester for the period commencing 17 May 2023.

Proposed by Councillor Porter and seconded by Councillor Power and unanimously resolved that Councillor Russell Gordon-Smith be elected Deputy Mayor of the City of Winchester for the period commencing 17 May 2023.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Russell Gordon-Smith be elected Deputy Mayor of the City of Winchester for the period commencing 17 May 2023.

Proposed by Councillor Cutler and seconded by Councillor Thompson that Councillor Tod be elected Leader of the Council (Chairperson of Cabinet).

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Tod be appointed Leader of the Council (Chairperson of Cabinet).

The Leader, Councillor Tod, confirmed the Deputy Leader (Vice Chairperson of Cabinet) and other members of Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Cutler be appointed as Deputy Leader (Vice Chairperson of Cabinet) and Councillors Becker, Learney, Porter, Thompson and Westwood as remaining members of Cabinet.

With the exception of Cabinet, the Council reviewed the political representation on Committees in accordance with the provisions of Section 15(1) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

The number of seats to be allocated to each group and members and deputy members of each body were confirmed as set out in the appendix to these minutes and as set out below.

RESOLVED:

1. That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any minor consequential amendments to the Constitution to give effect to the decisions made.

2. That allocation of seats to political groups and memberships of the following bodies be confirmed be as follows:

Scrutiny Committee (7) – Councillors Reach, Scott, Laming, Pett, Williams (Liberal Democrats 5) and Councillors Brook, Horrill (Conservatives 2) plus deputies – Councillors Morris, Cramoysan (Liberal Democrats 2) and Councillors Bolton, Godfrey (Conservatives 2)

Audit and Governance Committee (6) – Councillors Power, Chamberlain, Gordon-Smith, V. Achwal (Liberal Democrats 4) and Councillors Godfrey, Miller (Conservatives 2) plus deputies – Councillors Eve, Wise (Liberal Democrats 2) and Councillors Bolton, Cunningham (Conservatives 2)

Licensing and Regulation Committee (10) – Councillors Laming, Brophy, Prest, Pett, S. Achwal, Eve (Liberal Democrats 6) and Councillors Kurn, Pearson, Langford-Smith (Conservatives 3) and Wallace (Green 1) plus deputies – Councillors Small, Morris (Liberal Democrats 2) and Councillors Cunningham, Read (Conservatives 2) and Lee (Green 1)

Planning Committee (9) – Councillors Rutter, Edwards, Small, Laming, Gordon-Smith, V. Achwal (Liberal Democrats 6) and Councillors Read, Cunningham (Conservatives 2) and Lee (Green 1) plus deputies – Councillors Pett, Williams (Liberal Democrats 2) and Councillors Bolton, Pearson (Conservatives 2) and Wallace (Green 1)

Business and Housing Policy Committee (7) – Councillors Batho, Chamberlain, Prest, Scott, Eve (Liberal Democrats 5) and Councillors Isaacs, Miller (Conservatives 2) plus deputies – Councillors Brophy, S. Achwal (Liberal Democrats 2) and Councillors Horrill, Brook (Conservatives 2)

Health and Environment Policy Committee (7) – Councillors Cramoysan, Wise, Greenberg, Tippett-Cooper, Morris (Liberal Democrats 5) and Councillors Bolton, Warwick (Conservatives 2) plus deputies – Councillors Williams, Brophy (Liberal Democrats 2) and Councillors Pearson, Kurn (Conservatives 2)

Housing Appeals Committee (3) - Councillors Rutter, Scott (Liberal Democrats 2) and Councillor Horrill (Conservatives 1) plus deputies – Councillors Batho, Power (Liberal Democrats 2) Kurn (Conservatives 1)

Joint West of Waterlooville Planning Committee (5) – Councillors Rutter, Small, Laming (Liberal Democrats 3) and Councillors Read, Pearson (Conservatives 2) plus deputies – Councillors Edwards, V. Achwal (Liberal Democrats 2) and Councillors Bolton, Cunningham (Conservatives 2)

Further to the above, and pursuant to Section 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Chief Executive served notice of each of the leaders of the political groups on the Council as to the allocation of seats indicated above.  

RESOLVED:

That chairpersons of the following bodies be confirmed as follows:

Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Brook

Audit and Governance Committee  – Councillor Power

Licensing and Regulation Committee – Councillor Laming

Planning Committee– Councillor Rutter

Business and Housing Policy Committee – Councillor Batho

Health and Environment Policy Committee – Councillor Cramoysan

Housing Appeals Committee - Councillor Rutter

Joint West of Waterlooville Planning Committee – Councillor Rutter

Proposed by The Leader, Councillor Tod and seconded by Councillor Cutler.

RESOLVED:

That the Winchester Town Forum be established for 2023/24 with membership consisting of all Members who represent the five Winchester Town Wards.

Proposed by The Leader, Councillor Tod and seconded by Councillor Cutler.

RESOLVED:

That alternative arrangements other than proportional representation be agreed in respect of the Housing (Appeals) Committee.

The Mayor firstly presented certificates to former councillors in recognition of their service to their communities and as members of Winchester City Council:

·         Thérèse Evans – 28 years – Wickham ward and from 2016, Southwick & Wickham ward and as a member of cabinet 2002-2006 and 2010 - 2011 and also as Mayor 2001-2002.

·         Vicki Weston – 17 years – Swanmore & Newtown ward and from 2016, Central Meon Valley ward and as a member of cabinet 2011-2017.

·         Mike Craske – 4 years – St Barnabas ward.

·         Hannah Williams - 4 years – Badger Farm & Olivers Battery ward and as a member of cabinet 2021.

The Mayor then asked that council record its thanks to former councillors who had been unable to attend the meeting to receive their certificates:

·         Tony Bronk – 4 years - Colden Common & Twyford ward.

·         Judy Clementson – 4 years – Denmead ward.

·         Paula Ferguson - 4 years - St Bartholomew ward and as a member of cabinet 2020-2021 and 2022-2023

·         Jonathan Fern – 4 years – Whiteley & Shedfield ward.

·         Derek Green - 10 years – St Luke ward and as Mayor 2022.

·         Hugh Lumby - 5 years – Upper Meon Valley ward.

·         David McLean - 13 years – Bishops Waltham ward and as Mayor 2017-2018.

·         Charles Radcliffe - 2 years – St Michael ward.

The Mayor welcomed Colonel Allen from the Royal Logistic Corps to the meeting.  The Leader then moved the Motion as set out on the agenda.

In summary, the Leader referred to the Corps’ long and proud military history which included the predecessor units which came together to form the Royal Logistic Corps 30 years ago.  Their connections to Winchester went back much further than their relatively recent relocation of their headquarters to Worthy Down.  The honour to be bestowed on the Corps would go some way to thank them for their services to the country and for their commitment to a shared future to the city and district. 

The Motion was seconded by Councillor Horrill (leader of the principal opposition).  Councillor Horrill also restated the historical connections of the military to both the city and the district and referred to the direct links to the armed services with some members of the Council.  She then referred to the vital role of His Majesty’s armed forces across the globe and the critical support of the Royal Logistic Corps in their conducting successful operations.

The Motion was unanimously supported and the Mayor then presented a framed scroll of the council’s resolution to Colonel Allen, who then responded. 

In summary, Colonel Allen reiterated the special honour to have received the Freedom of Entry.  He thanked the council in facilitating the Corps exercising its freedom on 1 June 2023 with a parade in celebration of its thirtieth anniversary. He also looked forward to the Corps ongoing special relationship with the City of Winchester.

RESOLVED:

That this Council, in recognition of the close ties of friendship which have been established between the City of Winchester and the Corps and the most excellent civil links thus formed, do confer upon the Royal Logistic Corps the Freedom of Entry to the City of Winchester, comprising the right to march through the City to the beat of drums, with swords drawn, bayonets fixed and colours flying.