To save paper, the appendices to these minutes have not been printed.  Copies are available on the Council’s web site or from Richard Shortman (8770 5120) or richard.shortman@sutton.gov.uk

The Minutes of the Council meeting held on 29 March 2010 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

a)                             Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jayne McCoy.

b)                             Motion – Vote of Thanks to the Mayor

Further to Minute 303/10 the Mayor gave a further response to the Vote of Thanks that had been passed at the previous Council meeting.

During her speech, the Mayor referred to the support provided during the municipal year by the Deputy Mayor Councillor John Leach and Reverend Dame Sarah Mullally in her role as Mayor’s Chaplain.  The Mayor also thanked Paul Martin, Chief Executive, Sanjay Prashar, Executive Head of Legal and Democratic Services, Richard Shortman, Democratic Services Manager, Linda Workman, Mayor’s Secretary, Nick Prior the Mace Bearer, Pat Hart Relief Mace Bearer and David Pattison, the principal driver from White Ribbon.  She referred to the support that she had received for her charity – St. Raphael’s Hospice and thanked everyone for all their efforts in raising over £12,000 for it.

The Mayor, Councillor Margaret Court, relinquished the Chair in favour of the Deputy Mayor.

The Deputy Mayor called for nominations for the office of Mayor for the ensuing municipal year and proposed that Councillor Margaret Court be re-elected Mayor of the London Borough of Sutton for the municipal year 2010/11.

Councillor Colin Stears seconded the nomination.

There being no further nominations, the Motion was put to the meeting and CARRIED.  The Deputy Mayor thereupon declared Councillor Margaret Court duly re elected Mayor of the London Borough of Sutton for the municipal year 2010/11.

The Mayor (Councillor Margaret Court) in the Chair.

The Mayor signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

The Mayor returned thanks for her re election.

The Mayor announced that she had appointed Councillor Sheila Andrews to be Deputy Mayor during her mayoralty.

The Mayor reported that she had appointed Reverend Andrew Roland from All Saints Church, Hackbridge to act as Mayor’s Chaplain during her Mayoralty.

The Chief Executive reported the results of the local elections held on 6 May 2010.

            Resolved:  That the report, as set out in Appendix A to these Minutes, be noted.

The Chief Executive reported, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and Standing Order 45, the membership of political groups on the Council and consequential appointments.

            Resolved:  That the report, set out as Appendix B to these Minutes, be noted.

In accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, the Mayor called for nominations for Leader of the Council.  Councillor Sue Stears proposed and Councillor Roger Thistle seconded:-

            That Councillor Sean Brennan be appointed Leader of the Council until the annual Council meeting in 2014.

Councillor Sue Stears’ motion was put to the meeting and CARRIED.

Councillor Sean Brennan was elected Leader of the Council of the London Borough of Sutton until the annual meeting of the Council in 2014.

Councillor Sean Brennan announced that that he had appointed Councillor Ruth Dombey as Deputy Leader of the Council and the following persons to serve on The Executive for the municipal year 2010/11

Councillor Sean Brennan moved the reception of the report containing the allocation of seats to party groups on the Council, as required by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

            Resolved: That the allocation of seats to party groups, as altered and set out in Appendix C to these Minutes be agreed.

It was moved by Councillor Sean Brennan and seconded by Councillor Sue Stears and

            Resolved:  That the membership of Standing Committees, Joint Authorities and Committees with other Local Authorities, Advisory Committees and Joint Committees with staff, as altered and set out in Appendix D to these Minutes, be appointed until the annual Council meeting in May 2011

The following item was brought as an Urgent Item with the agreement of The Mayor so that a change to the Council’s constitution could be made with immediate effect.

Currently the Council’s constitution reserved the making of Compulsory Purchase Orders to Full Council.  However, Counsel had recently advised that such a reservation was contrary to the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000 which required such a decision to be made by the Council’s Executive.  There was a need for a Compulsory Purchase Order to be made and it was proposed to do this at the next meeting of The Executive on 7 June 2010.

            Resolved:  (i)  That Section 2 Article 4.4 of the Council’s constitution be amended by deleting paragraph 4.4(14) so that the making of a compulsory purchase order is no longer reserved to full Council;

            (ii) That the making of Compulsory Purchase Orders be added to the list of Executive functions in Section 2 Article 7.4

(iii) That Standing Order 1.7 be suspended to enable this change to take immediate effect.