Agenda and minutes

i. To receive any announcements from Councillor John Scragg, the outgoing Town Mayor.

ii. To receive a list of engagements undertaken by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor since the last Council meeting held on Wednesday 23 March 2022 (copy attached).

i.       The Mayor highlighted That Wiltshire Council are holding a public webinar to update and provide information on Ukrainian refuges coming to settle in Wiltshire. The webinar will be held at 6:30pm on Monday 16 May, a link to the event can be found on the Wiltshire Council Website.

The Mayor thanked Harrison Wylie, the Mayoral Cadet for 2021/2022 for his work in the role, presented tokens of thanks and wished him the best for the future.        

ii.       The list of engagements undertaken by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor since the last Council meeting held on Wednesday 23 March 2022 were noted.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.1e to elect a Chair of the Council who shall be known as Town Mayor 2022/23:

i) Nominee: Cllr Liz Alstrom, nominated by virtue of her role as Deputy Town Mayor 2021/2022.

Councillor Liz Alstrom, by virtue of her role as Deputy Mayor 2022/23 was the sole nominee for the position of Chair of the Council, known as the Town Mayor, for 2022/2023. With all Councillors in favour it was;

RESOLVED that:

Councillor Liz Alstrom be elected to the role of Chair and Mayor of the Town for the municipal year 2022/2023.

Councillor Liz Alstrom in the chair

The newly elected Town Mayor will read the Declaration of Acceptance of Office. The Mayor will sign the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, witnessed by the Chief Executive.

Elected Mayor to take the Chair, and will put on the Mayoral Chain.

Councillor Liz Alstrom, as the newly elected Mayor, read and signed the declaration of acceptance of office. This was witnessed by the Chief Executive, Councillor John Scragg and Councillor Desna Allen. Councillor John Scragg handed the Mayoral chain of office to Councillor Liz Alstrom and she assumed the role of Chair of the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Hayley Wilson due to a family bereavement, Councillor Chris Ruck due to work commitments and from Councillor Myla Watts due to a prior engagement.

All Members of the Town Council are reminded to declare any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests they may have in any business of the Council, its Committees or Sub-Committees, in accordance with the latest approved Code of Conduct. Councillors are reminded to declare any dispensation granted in relation to any relevant matter.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.1e to elect a Vice Chair of the Council who shall be known as the Deputy Town Mayor 2022/23, based on the following received nominations, submitted at least seven clear days before the meeting:

i)            Nominee: Cllr Kathryn Macdermid, proposed by Councillor Desna Allen, seconded by Councillor Jenny Budgell.

ii)           Nominee: Cllr Declan Baseley, proposed by Councillor Pete Cousins, seconded by Councillor Nick Murry.

Councillor Kathryn Macdermid was nominated by Councillor Desna Allen. This nomination was seconded by Councillor Jenny Budgell.  

Councillor Declan Basely was nominated by Councillor Peter Cousins. This nomination was seconded by Councillor Nick Murry.

A vote was taken and with the majority in favour of Councillor Declan Baseley for Deputy Mayor, it was;

RESOLVED that:

Councillor Declan Basely be elected to the position of Vice Chair of the Council, also known as Deputy Town Mayor for the municipal year 2022/2023.

To receive the draft minutes of the Council meeting held on Wednesday 23 March 2022. Minutes require a proposer and seconder for approval (copy attached).

The draft minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 23 March 2022 were proposed as a correct record by Councillor Desna Allen, seconded by Councillor John Scragg and with all in favour, it was;

RESOLVED that:

The minutes from the meeting held on Wednesday 23 March 2022 were approved as a correct record and were signed by the Chair.

The Chair invites all Councillors to raise any queries or questions on the work being undertaken by Committees, purely for information only. To receive the following:

a.       Planning, Environment & Transport     Committee

The draft minutes of the meetings held on 30 March and 21 April 2022 (previously circulated).

b.       Strategy and Resources Committee

The draft minutes of the meeting held on 06 April 2022 (previously circulated).

a.       Planning, Environment & Transport Committee

The draft minutes of the meetings held on 31 March and 21 April presented by Councillor Gemma Grimes with all matters resolved.

b.       Strategy and Resources Committee

The draft minutes of the meeting held on 06 April 2022 were presented by Councillor Desna Allen with all matters resolved.

To elect a Leader of the Council who shall be Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee.

Any nomination for Leader of the Council will be proposed, seconded and voted upon in accordance with Standing Order 12.1m viii.

The Chair sought nominations for the position of Leader of the Council for the municipal year 2022/2023. Councillor Desna Allen was nominated by Councillor Jenny Budgell, this nomination was seconded by Councillor Clare Cape. Councillor Pete Cousins was nominated by Councillor James Bradbury, this nomination was seconded by Councillor David Poole.

There were no further nominations, a vote was taken with equal votes for Councillor Desna Allen and Councillor Pete Cousins. Due to the equality of votes, the Chair exercised a casting vote in favour of Councillor Desna Allen, it was;

RESOLVED that:

Councillor Desna Allen be elected Leader of the Council and subsequently Chair of the Strategy & Resources Committee for the municipal year 2022/2023.

To elect a Deputy Leader of the Council who shall be Vice Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee.

Any nomination for Deputy Leader of the Council will be proposed, seconded and voted upon in accordance with Standing Order 12.1m ix.

Councillor Peter Cousins was nominated by Councillor Desna Allen and the nomination was seconded by Councillor Jenny Budgell. Councillor Matthew Short was nominated by Councillor Nick Murry and the nomination was seconded by Councillor Angie Litvak-Watson. With the majority in favour of Councillor Pete Cousins, it was;

RESOLVED that:

Councillor Pete Cousins be elected Deputy Leader of the Council and subsequently Vice Chair of the Strategy & Resources Committee for the municipal year 2022/2023.

To appoint the following Standing Committees of the Town Council in accordance with Standing Order 12.1 m x:

a) Amenities, Culture and Leisure Committee (12 Cllrs)

 Political balance to be achieved (SO 3.1).

b) Planning, Environment and Transport Committee (12 Cllrs)

Political balance to be achieved (SO 3.1).

c) Human Resources Committee (9 Cllrs)

Political balance not required (SO 3.1).

d) Strategy and Resources Committee (12 Cllrs)

i) To note the Leader of the Council is automatically Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee (SO 12.1m viii).

ii) To note the Deputy Leader of the Council is automatically Vice Chair of the Strategy and Recourses Committee (SO 12.1m ix).

iii) To note the Chair of Council (Town Mayor) is automatically appointed to the Strategy and Resources Committee (SO Appendix A 3.1c).

iv) To appoint 9 Cllrs to fill the remaining seats. Political balance to be achieved (SO 3.1).

e) Finance Sub Committee (9 Cllrs)

Political balance to be achieved (SO 3.1).

f) Community Donations Sub Committee (7 Cllrs)

Political balance to be achieved (SO 3.1). This Sub Committee will be dissolved to become ‘Council Donations Sub Committee’ subject to approval of the Terms of Reference at a future Strategy and Resources Committee meeting.

g) Civic Matters Sub Committee (5 Cllrs)

To include the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, 3 further members are sought. Political balance to be achieved (SO 3.1).

h) Dispensations Sub Committee (5 Cllrs)

Political balance to be achieved (SO 3.1).

The Chief Executive presented the nominations for Committee appointments that had been provided by Group Leaders in advance. Councillor names for the membership of Standing Committees and Sub Committees for the municipal year 2022/2023 were read out by the Chief Executive and voted en bloc. With all Councillors in favour, it was;

RESOLVED that:

The Councillors named below be appointed to the relevant Committee or Sub Committee for the municipal year 2022/2023:

a) Amenities, Culture and Leisure Committee

Sub: Cllr George Simmonds (Lib Dem)

b) Planning, Environment and Transport Committee (letter denotes Ward)

Subs: Need to be a Ward Representative

c) Human Resources Committee

Sub: Bill Douglas (Lib Dem)

d) Strategy and Resources Committee

i) It was noted that the Leader of the Council, Councillor Desna Allen, is automatically Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee (SO 12.1m viii).

ii) It was noted that the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Pete Cousins, is automatically Vice Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee (SO 12.1m ix).

iii) It was noted that the Chair of Council (Town Mayor), Councillor Liz Alstrom, is automatically appointed to the Strategy and Resources Committee (SO Appendix A 3.1c).

iv) The remaining 9 seats were filled by nominations and the full membership of the Strategy and Resources Committee be:

e) Finance Sub Committee

f) Community Donations Sub Committee

It was noted that this Sub Committee will be dissolved to become ‘Council Donations Sub Committee’ subject to approval of the Terms of Reference at a future Strategy and Resources Committee meeting.

g) Civic Matters Sub Committee

It was noted that the Mayor is Chair and Deputy Mayor is Vice Chair.

h) Dispensations Sub Committee

To reconstitute the following Working Parties set up by the Strategy and Resources Committee (SO 6.3).

a) Neeld Development Working Party

Political balance not required.

b) Stanley Park Sports Ground Working Party

Political balance not required.

To fill any arising vacancies and ratify existing Chair and membership of Steering Groups and Advisory Groups (SO 7.2):

a) Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

Declan Baseley, Clare Cape, Robert Giles Nick Murry (Chair), John Scragg (Vice Chair) and Matthew Short.

b) Climate and Ecological Emergency Advisory Group

Liz Alstrom, Declan Baseley, James Bradbury, Clare Cape, Nick Murry and John Scragg. Elected Mayor will be Chair.

The Chief Executive presented the nominations for Working Party, Steering and Advisory Group appointments that had been provided by Group Leaders in advance. Councillors voted for all nominations en bloc, with all Councillors in favour, it was;

RESOLVED that:

The Councillors named below be appointed to the relevant Working Party, Steering and Advisory Group for the municipal year 2022/2023:

Neeld Development Working Party

Stanley Park Sports Ground Working Party

Chippenham Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

Climate Emergency Advisory Group, Elected Mayor to be Chair

To appoint Councillors to the relevant positions on Outside Bodies (copy of requirements attached).

The Chief Executive presented the nominations for representation on Outside Body appointments that had been provided by Group Leaders in advance. Councillors voted for all nominations en bloc, with all Councillors in favour, it was;

RESOLVED that:

The Councillors named below be appointed to the relevant Outside Body for the municipal year 2022/2023:

Councillor Desna Allen highlighted that the Democratic Services team had recognised that the Community Safety Forum appointments should have been recorded on the agenda proper rather than under Outside Bodies as it is run by the Town Council, this would be taken into account for the next annual Council meeting.

Chippenham Town Council resolves from 11 May 2022, until the next relevant Annual Meeting of the Council, that having met the conditions of eligibility as defined in the Localism Act 2011 and SI 965 The Parish Councils (General Power of Competence) (prescribed conditions) Order 2012, to adopt the General Power of Competence.

RESOLVED that:

Chippenham Town Council resolves from 11 May

2022, until the next relevant Annual Meeting of

the Council, that having met the conditions of

eligibility as defined in the Localism Act 2011

and SI 965 The Parish Councils (General Power of

Competence) (prescribed conditions) Order

2012, to adopt the General Power of

Competence.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Communications and Customer Services regarding the adoption of the Annual Report 2021/22 (copy attached).

The Head of Communications and Customer Services presented the Annual Report for 2021/2022 for adoption. Councillors requested that the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and Climate and Ecological Emergency Advisory Group feature more in future. With all in favour, it was;

RESOLVED that:

The Annual Report 2021/2022 be adopted.

To receive the following Urgent Action Form containing a Council decision that was made under delegated authority by the Chief Executive in accordance with Standing Order 11.4 (copy attached):

i) Insurance Contract Renewal

RESOLVED that:

Councillors noted the urgent action form.

To consider any items for communication and any items to be consulted with the Youth Council.

It was noted that communications were scheduled regarding the election of Mayor and other positions, there were no further items for communication requested.

The next meeting of Full Council will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 22 June 2022.

The next meeting of Full Council will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 22 June 2022.