Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will invite his Chaplain to lead the Council in Prayer.

The Chairman’s Chaplain led the Council in prayer.

The Chairman then made the following announcements:

“Before we begin the main business of the meeting it is my sad duty to announce the deaths of two people who were closely involved with Wychavon.  Mrs Audrey Steel passed away on Monday of this week.  Audrey was the District Councillor for the Inkberrow ward from 1999 until this year.  She was a member of the Executive Board from 2002 to 2013 and Chairman of the Communities and Funding Advisory Panel until 2020.  She was also on the Planning Committee for the past four years and, as a fellow member of that Committee, I was always struck by her no-nonsense approach to the applications that came before us.  It is ironic that many of us signed a card to remember her at my End of Term function on Friday.  We send our condolences to her family.

It is also my sad duty to inform you that Joanne Lomax, our Property Standards and Enforcement Officer in our shared Housing service, passed away on Saturday 29 April following a courageous battle with cancer.  Jo had worked for both councils since 2017 and was very kind and loyal – full of determination for whatever she put her mind to.  Jo will be sadly missed.  I know you will all join me in sending our thoughts and condolences to Jo’s family and, in particular, to her husband Bruce, who is also a member of our Housing team. 

As a mark of respect to Audrey and Jo, I invite you to stand for a minute’s silence.

At the end of the minute’s silence the Chairman’s Chaplain said a further prayer.

To note any declarations of interest.

Councillor P Middlebrough disclosed an interest in agenda item 21 – West Mercia Police and Crime Panel as he was an Assistant to the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors E Cohen, J Chaudry, N Dawkes, R Deller, A I Hardman and A Hartley.

The Chairman will refer to matters of information that he considers of interest to the Council.

The Chairman made the following announcements:-

“Since our last meeting on 22 April my activities as Chairman have continued apace.  Many of you were present at the Memorial Service for Malcolm Meikle in a packed Pershore Abbey last week.  Until his death on 1 April at the age of 93 he was the last surviving Honorary Alderman of Wychavon.  It was a truly memorable occasion and a fine tribute to one of the greatest characters who has sat in this Chamber. 

Other events I have attended included the opening of a new facility by Potter Space who aim to invest £18 million in Droitwich Spa in the next few years.  A real good news story.  I was also interviewed by Nick Owen of Midlands Today no less!

A fun event was the Blossom Boar Cruise on the Avon where a fellow guest included the Japanese Ambassador.  This celebrated 40 years of the Blossom Trail and I am sure you will join me in congratulating Angela Taylor who has been involved with it from the very beginning.  Opening the Evesham Abbey Trust project on 29 April was also a great pleasure and I offer my congratulations to all those involved in this amazing project.  Of course the Coronation on 6 May was the highlight of the past month for the Country as a whole and Eleanor and I were privileged to attend the Lord Lieutenant’s Service in Worcester Cathedral the day after and the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on 9 May.  Finally, I hope those who attended, enjoyed my End of Term function last Friday.

I cannot thank the Councillors who elected me to be Chairman of Wychavon District Council last May enough for entrusting me with this role.  It has been an incredible year which I will never forget.  Little did I know that I would represent the Council during a Royal Platinum Jubilee, the Queen’s funeral, the Accession of the King and finally his Coronation.  I also met Princess Anne three times and stood within touching distance of Prince William at the Royal Garden Party only last week.

As memorable as all this has been, what stands out for me is the number of incredibly dedicated local people who I have met at the 113+ official engagements I have attended.  Most of them are volunteers who work tirelessly for their communities.  Much of what they do is unheralded but they help make our beautiful District the wonderful place to live in it is.  I thank and congratulate all of them.  Many of them were, of course, represented at our Civic Service in March.

As many of you know, one of my main projects this year was to visit schools to talk to children about Wychavon’s Intelligently Green Plan.  I spoke to nearly 1000 pupils in schools throughout the District who received a Wychavon Eco Warrior badge from me as a result.  Their passion for the need to care for our environment was truly gratifying and augurs well  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Council will elect a Chairman for the Municipal Year 2023-24.  Once elected, the Chairman will make the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and receive the chain of office from the outgoing Chairman, Councillor A Sinton.  The new Chairman will then chair the meeting from this point on.

Councillor A L Dyke proposed and Councillor L Robinson seconded that Councillor R Raphael be elected Chairman of the Council.

There being no other nominations, it was

Resolved

That Councillor R Raphael be elected Chairman of the Council to hold office until his successor becomes entitled to act as Chairman.

Councillor Raphael made the prescribed declaration of acceptance of office and Councillor A Sinton presented him with the chain of office.

Councillor R Raphael in the Chair.

The Council will elect a Vice-Chairman for the Municipal Year 2023-24.  Once elected, the Vice-Chairman will make the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and the Chairman will present the Vice-Chairman’s badge.

It was proposed by Councillor R J Morris, seconded by Councillor M S Goodge, and unanimously

Resolved

That Councillor G Duffy be elected Vice-Chairman of the Council to hold office until immediately after the election of the Chairman at the next Annual meeting of the Council.

To consider the confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 April 2023 as a correct record of the proceedings.

It was proposed by Councillor R Raphael, seconded by Councillor A L Dyke, and

Resolved

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 19 April 2023 be approved as a correct record of the proceedings and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman’s announcements will include:

• Presenting the Past Chairman’s Badge to the outgoing Chairman
• Presenting the Consort’s Badge to the Consort of the new Chairman
• Presenting the Consort’s Badge to the Vice-Chairman’s Consort

The Chairman made the following announcements:-

1.         He thanked Councillors A L Dyke, L Robinson, R J Morris and M S Goodge for proposing and seconding him and Councillor G Duffy to be Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the 2023-24 municipal year.

2.         He offered an apology as there were so many new names and faces to remember so he asked people to bear with him as he got to know everyone.

3.         He thanked Alex Sinton for a very successful year and presented him with his Past Chairman’s badge.

4.         He advised that Wychavon would be celebrating its 50^th anniversary year and he was planning to visit every parish during the year.

5.         He advised that his Chaplain would be John Darby, Leader of Evesham Street Pastors.

6.         He informed Members that his Consort would be his mother, Diana Raphael, but added that she was getting frail and couldn’t do as much as she used to so Marion Griffiths would stand in on rare occasions.

7.         He explained that the Vice-Chairman’s Consort would be his mother, Lynne Duffy.

8.         He concluded by inviting members, officers and guest to socialise in the café area at the end of the meeting to get to know one another.

The enclosed report shows the results of the District Council elections held on 4 May 2023.

The Chairman introduced the report of the Returning Officer, detailing the results of the district council election that took place on Thursday 4 May 2023, for noting.

Resolved

That the report on the district council, and contested parish elections, be noted.

To note the changes being made to the Council’s constitution in light of the new warding patterns and the change from 45 to 43 members.

Members considered the report of the Monitoring Officer detailing updates made to the Constitution in relation to the new warding patterns and the change from 45 to 43 members.

Following some discussion it was

Resolved

That Council note the updates to the Constitution to reflect the new warding patters and the change from 45 to 43 members.

To elect a Leader of the Council.

Councillor C Day proposed and Councillor R C Adams seconded that Councillor B A Thomas be appointed as Leader of the Council for a 4 year term of office, which expires at the Annual Council following the next District Council elections in 2027.

With the majority of members voting for and three abstentions, it was

Resolved

That Councillor B A Thomas be appointed as Leader of the Council for four years until the Annual meeting of the Council in 2027.

To consider the enclosed report outlining the current roles on the Executive Board and noting appointments to it.

As details of the new Executive arrangements had previously been circulated to members and attached to these Minutes, the Leader of the Council advised that he would take on the Economic Growth and Tourism portfolio.

He then introduced the new Executive Board and advised that the new portfolio holders would be:-

Deputy Leader and Housing, Health                    Councillor C Day

and Wellbeing                                 

Planning, Infrastructure and Urban                     Councillor E Kearsey

Design                       

Resources and investment                                 Councillor A Powell

Climate Change, Environmental Policy,              Councillor B Hardman

And Regulatory Services

Strong Communities, Culture and Sport             Councillor R C Adams

Resident and Customer Services                         Councillor E Stokes

Councillor Thomas added that the membership of the Executive Board’s Advisory Panels would be detailed at the next Executive Board meeting to be held on 21 June 2023.

To consider the enclosed report seeking appointments to various Committees of the Council, including:

• Audit Committee
• Licensing Committee
• Member Conduct Committee
• Overview and Scrutiny Committee
• Planning Committee

Consideration was given to the report of the Senior Member Support Officer seeking appointments to the committees of the Council as per the political balance table included in the agenda papers.

It was noted that the report also sought the appointment of a new independent member on the Member Conduct Committee and confirmation of the independent member on the Audit Committee and the Parish Council members on the Member Conduct Committee.

Councillor B A Thomas proposed the appointments, as circulated prior to the meeting, which were seconded by Councillor C Day, and

Resolved

1.         That the allocation of places on the Audit, Licensing, Member Conduct, Overview and Scrutiny and Planning Committees be agreed as the table below.

2.         That the recruitment for a new independent member for the Member Conduct Committee will commence shortly and that, in the meantime, David Warner will continue in the role.

3.         That Parish Councillors Robert Pinfield and Keith Wright be confirmed as the Parish Council representatives of the Member Conduct Committee.

4.         That Mr Graham Moore be confirmed as the independent member of the Audit Committee.

The Council is asked to appoint Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen to the following:

• Audit Committee
• Licensing Committee
• Member Conduct Committee
• Overview and Scrutiny Committee
• Planning Committee

Consideration was given to the appointment of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen to the Audit, Licensing, Member Conduct, Overview and Scrutiny and Planning Committees.

Councillor B A Thomas proposed the appointments which were seconded by Councillor C Day and it was

Resolved

That the following be elected as Chairmen/Vice-Chairmen of Committees for 2023/24:-

Committee                         Chairman                           Vice-Chairman

Audit                                       Councillor A Hardman         Councillor

Licensing                              Councillor M Goodge           Councillor E Bowden

Member Conduct                 Councillor P Middlebrough Councillor A Hartley

Overview and Scrutiny        Councillor C Homer             Councillor B Hurdman Planning                           Councillor N Wright             Councillor P Middlebrough

The Council is required by its constitution to agree the Terms of Reference of the Executive Board and Committees at the Annual Meeting.  The current Terms of Reference are attached for the appropriate Committees, the Executive Board portfolios having been agreed at item 11 above.

It was proposed by Councillor B A Thomas, seconded by Councillor C Day, and

Resolved

That the terms of reference of committees, as presented, be agreed.

The Council has previously agreed the following dates for ordinary Council meetings during 2023-24:

19 July 2023

18 October 2023

6 December 2023

21 February 2024 – Budget

17 April 2024

15 May 2024 – Annual Council

The Council is asked to confirm the dates above together with the dates of the first meetings of the Executive Board and Committees as follows:

Planning Committee – 25 May 2023

Member Conduct Committee – 5 June 2023

Executive Board – 21 June 2023

Licensing Committee – 5 July 2023

Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 12 July 2023

Members were asked to confirm the dates for Council meetings during 2023/24, together with the dates of the first meetings of the Executive Board and Committees as detailed in the agenda papers.

Councillor B A Thomas proposed, Councillor C Day seconded, and it was unanimously

Resolved

1.         That the following dates be agreed for ordinary Council meetings during 2023/24:-

         19 July 2023

          18 October 2023

          6 December 2023

          21 February 2024

          17 April 2024

2.         That the first meetings of the Committees be as follows:-

         Planning Committee – 25 May 2023

          Member Conduct Committee – 5 June 2023

          Executive Board – 21 June 2023

          Licensing Committee – 5 July 2023

          Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 12 July 2023

The Council is asked to appoint 6 members to this Panel.  The Panel meets with 6 employees of the Council in accordance with the Terms of Reference at Agenda Item 14 above.

Resolved

That the following members be appointed to the Joint Consultative Committee for 2023/24:-

Councillors D Boatright-Greene, E Kearsey, P Middlebrough, A Powell, R Raphael and J Tucker.

An advisory committee has been established by Wychavon, Worcester City and Malvern Hills to help prepare a Joint Development Plan for South Worcestershire as part of the Local Development Framework.  It was agreed that this would be working on the South Worcestershire Development Plan under revised requirements.  The Joint Advisory Panel reports to the Planning Committee and onwards to the Executive Board and has no delegated powers.

The Council is asked to appoint 5 Councillors to the Joint Committee.  Our previous representatives were Councillors A M G Darby, Mrs E A Eyre, T Rowley, M Ward and D Wilkinson.

Resolved

That the following members be appointed to the South Worcestershire Development Plan – Joint Advisory Panel:-

Councillors D Birch, E Kearsey, P Middlebrough, A M Rowley and N Wright

To appoint 5 members to the Joint Shared Appointments Committee which has been established to undertake non-executive functions relating to employment matters at senior management team level where matters are in relation to shared posts.

The Membership shall be politically balanced and comprise of the Leader or his appointee and four other members.

Resolved

That the following members be appointed to the Joint Shared Appointments Committee for 2023/40:-

Councillors D Boatright-Greene, C Day, A Powell, B A Thomas and J Tucker.

To appoint 2 members to the Worcestershire Regulatory Services Board, 1 of which must be an Executive Board member.

Resolved

That Councillors M S Goodge and B Hardman be appointed to the Worcestershire Regulatory Services Board.

To appoint one member to sit on the West Mercia Police and Crime Panel which is operated by Worcestershire County Council.

Councillor P Middlebrough, having disclosed an interest in this item, left the room during the discussion and voting thereon.

The Leader, Councillor B A Thomas, explained that he was required to nominate a member to sit on Worcestershire County Council’s Police and Crime Panel and he named Councillor R C Adams, Executive Board member for Stronger Communities, Culture and Sport, whose portfolio covered policing matters, for the role.

Resolved

That Councillor R C Adams, Executive Board member for Stronger Communities, Culture and Sport, be the Council’s representative on Worcestershire County Council’s Police and Crime Panel.

Mrs M Patel, Monitoring Officer, explained that it was normal practice for all members of the Council to be appointed to the Personnel Panel and called upon as and when required.

To note that the appointment of Councillors to various bodies be deferred until the first ordinary meeting of the Council which is due to be held on 19 July 2023.

Resolved

That the making of appointments to all outside bodies as recommended in the appendix to the report be deferred until the first ordinary meeting of the Council on 19 July 2023.

The Leader is the Council’s appointee to the Local Government Association (LGA) and is also the voting member on the LGA General Assembly.

To appoint two Councillors, the Leader and one other, to attend the Annual Conference in Bournemouth  on 4-6 July 2023.  The Chief Executive will also attend.

The Council was requested to appoint Councillors to attend the LGA General Assembly and Annual Conference on 4 - 6 July 2023.

Councillor B A Thomas advised that it was normally the Leader and Deputy Leader that attended.  He proposed, and Councillor A Powell seconded that he and the Deputy Leader, Councillor C Day should attend, together with the Chief Executive.

Councillor D Boatright-Greene proposed that, in the spirit of co-operation, Councillor Mrs A M Rowley should be allowed to attend.  This was seconded by Councillor C G J Tucker.

A vote was taken and with 23 votes for Councillors B A Thomas and C Day and 13 votes for Councillor Mrs A M Rowley, it was

Resolved

That the Leader, Councillor B A Thomas, and Deputy Leader, Councillor C Day, accompany the Chief Executive, Mr V Allison, to the Local Government Association General Assembly and Annual Conference on the 4-6 July 2023.

Ballot of members who have put their names forward for “Member debates” at ordinary Council meetings during the municipal year:-

19 July 2023 *

18 October 2023

6 December 2023

17 April 2024

Any member interested in putting their name forward for the ballot should do so in writing to Mel Harris, Senior Member Support Officer, by 5.00pm on Tuesday 18 May 2023.

Members are reminded that Executive Board members, the Chairman of the Council and committee chairmen are excluded from this ballot.

*Councillor R Raphael to choose the topic for the first Member debate which was carried over from the 2022/23 municipal year.

A ballot was held of members that had put their names forward to introduce a member debate at ordinary Council meetings during the municipal year.

Resolved

That the following members host a member debate on the dates given below:-

19 July 2023 – Councillor P Capel

18 October 2023 – Councillor A L Dyke

6 December 2023 – Councillor J Grady

17 April 2024 – Councillor L Turier

1^st reserve – Councillor N Dawkes

2^nd reserve – Councillor E B Tucker