Agenda and draft 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 F S Broadley, L M Broadley, H E Darling, D A Gamble, G G Hunt, K J Loydall, R E R Morris and C A M Walter.

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 Clare D Kozlowski.

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

She reflected on the highlights during her term of office.

The Mayor presented Uday Dholakia OBE with the Mayor’s Award in recognition of his work supporting local businesses.

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.

To elect the Mayor of the Council for the ensuing municipal year 2025/26 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 the Leader of the Council, seconded by the Deputy Leader of the Council and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

Councillor Jasvir K Chohan be duly elected to the Office of Mayor for the ensuing municipal year 2025/26.

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 Rotary Club of Oadby Memory Café and The Air Ambulance Service would be the Mayor’s nominated charities for the municipal year.

To elect the Deputy Mayor of the Council for the ensuing municipal year 2025/26 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 R H Adams, seconded by Councillor C D Kozlowski

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

Councillor Carl A M Walter be duly elected to the Office of Deputy Mayor for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25.

The Deputy Mayor was not in attendance at the meeting, and would sign the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and be invested with his Chains and Insignia of Office at a later date.

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 2025/26.

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 2025/26 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 3 – 14 of the second agenda update 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 2025/26.

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

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

i)          That 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 2025/26 (as set out at Appendix 1 to this report) be approved; and

ii)        That 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.

Report of the Senior Democratic & Electoral Services Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 3 -26 of the first agenda update pack), which asked it to approve the Schedule of Council and Allied Meetings (“the Schedule”) for the municipal year 2025/26.

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

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

That the Schedule of Council and Allied Meetings for 2025/26 (as set out at Appendix 1 and 2 to this report) be approved and adopted.

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.