Agenda and minutes

The meeting of the Council will be called to order to receive Her Worship The Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Council was called to order to receive Her Worship The Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

To receive apologies for absence from Members to determine the quorum of the meeting in accordance with Rule 7 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

An apology for absence was received from Councillors S S Athwal, J K Chohan, H E Darling, J K Ford and D A Gamble.

Members are reminded that any declaration of interest should be made having regard to the Members’ Code of Conduct. In particular, Members must make clear the nature of the interest and whether it is 'pecuniary' or ‘non-pecuniary'.

None.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor in accordance with Rule 2 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

None.

An address by Her Worship Councillor Rosemarie H Adams.

The Mayor thanked her fellow Members, the Council’s Senior Leadership Management Team, the Mayoral Support Team, the Democratic Services Team, the Deputy Mayor and her Chaplain for all their support during the past year.

She reflected on the highlights during her term of office.

To receive any appreciations for the outgoing Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor S Z Haq, led the appreciations for the outgoing Mayor’s term of office.

Councillor G G Hunt entered the Civic Suite and joined the AGM at 7:09 pm.

To elect the Mayor of the Council for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25 in accordance with Article 2.9.1 of Part 2 and Rule 1.1.2 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

It was moved by Councillor L M Broadley, seconded by Deputy Leader of the Council and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

Councillor Clare D Kozlowski be duly elected to the Office of Mayor for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25.

The newly-elected Mayor read aloud the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and duly signed the Register. Her Worship the Mayor was invested with her Chains and Insignia of Office. 

The Mayor addressed the meeting, thanking her Proposer and Seconder for their nominations, and all Members for putting their trust and confidence in her for the ensuing year.

It was announced that both Hope Against Cancer (Leicestershire & Rutland) and Wishes 4 Kids would be the Mayor’s nominated charities for the municipal year.

To elect the Deputy Mayor of the Council for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25 in accordance with Article 2.9.1 of Part 2 and Rule 1.1.3 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

It was moved by Councillor J Kaufman, seconded by the Leader of the Council and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

Councillor Jasvir K Chohan be duly elected to the Office of Deputy Mayor for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25.

The Deputy Mayor addressed the meeting through a pre-recorded message, thanking her Proposer and Seconder for their nominations and pledging her full support to the Mayor for the ensuing year.

Report of the Legal & Democratic Services Manager / Deputy Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 4 - 8 of the agenda reports pack which asked it to appoint the Committees, Sub-Committees, Boards, Panels, Forums and Working Groups of the Council (“Council bodies”) and the number of Members to serve thereon for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25.

It was moved by Leader of the Council, seconded by Deputy Leader of the Council and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The content of the report and appendix be noted;

(ii)      The Council bodies and the number of Members to serve thereon (as set out at paragraph 2 of this report) for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25 be approved; and

(iii)    Delegated authority be given to the Head of Law & Democracy / Monitoring Officer to make all the necessary amendments to the Constitution therefrom accordingly.

Report of the Legal & Democratic Services Manager / Deputy Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 9 - 20 of the agenda reports pack) which asked it to appoint the relevant Office Holders of the Council and the Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Members to serve on the Committees, Sub-Committees, Boards, Panels, Forums and Working Groups of the Council (“Council bodies”) for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25.

It was moved by Leader of the Opposition, seconded by Councillor N Alam and

DEFEATED THAT:

(i)       Councillor C S Gore be appointed as the Chair of the Constitutional Working Group for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25;

(ii)     Councillor N V Joshi be appointed as the Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25.

Votes For                  5

Votes Against          14

Abstentions             1

It was moved by Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor L M Broadley and

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The nominated appointments of the Office Holders and the Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Members to serve on the Council bodies for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25 (as set out at Appendix 1 to this report) be approved;

(ii)      Councillor S Z Haq be appointed as the Chair of the Constitutional Working Group for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25;

(iii)   Councillor R H Adams be appointed as the Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25; and

(iv)    The current political balance of the Council and the proportionality arrangements as a result thereof in terms of eligible Member representation and allocation of seats on Council bodies by political group (as set out at Appendices 2 and 3 to this report) be noted.

Votes For                  15

Votes Against          0

Abstentions             5

Report of the Senior Democratic & Electoral Services Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 21 - 43 of the agenda reports pack) which asked it to approve the Schedule of Council and Allied Meetings (“the Schedule”) for the municipal year 2024/25.

It was moved by the Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded by the Leader of the Council and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The Schedule of Council and Allied Meetings for 2024/25 (as set out at Appendices 1 and 2 to this report) be approved and adopted; and

(ii)      The meeting of the Development Control Committee scheduled for 12 December 2024 be rescheduled to 11 December 2024 accordingly.

To receive any announcements from the newly-elected Mayor in accordance with Rule 2 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

Her Worship The Mayor expressed her steadfast commitment to champion the Borough of Oadby and Wigston for the ensuing year and asked her fellow Members for their support in doing so. The Mayor invited the representatives of her nominated charities in attendance to speak about the work undertaken by the organisations.