Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Rutland County Council Annual Meeting. 29th June 2020 Via Zoom


Rutland County Council Annual Meeting. 29th June 2020
Via Zoom

Chairman Kenneth Bool retired as Chairman after five years
he took the opportunity to thank CEO Helen Briggs who has decided after many years
the time has come to go. This probably the last meeting she attended before retiring to 
Norfolk. As the council is highly unlikely to meet again before September.
So its good bye Helen Briggs, I wont mention the hair cut :-) I guess many cant wait to
the hair salons and barber to open.

Council Leader, Cllr Oliver Hemsly thanked all councillors new and old for all the work they have done for the county over the past year especially during the difficult time we all find ourselves in during the Covid 19 pandemic.

Helen Briggs thanked the outgoing chairman for his kind words and thanked the governance team and others who planned and put together this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest

Zoom certainly is Zoom close ups of councillors some will give me nightmares :-)

Cllr Baines and Cllr Dale were nominated for the position of chairman.
Cllr Baines was elected chairman of Rutland County Council.
Vote 16 - 11

It was obvious the Conservatives who have a majority were going to chose their members for the various roles even if in some cases there was more qualified opposition. 

Cllr Begy and Cllr Oxley were nominated for the position
of vice chairman.
Cllr Begy was elected vice chairman of Rutland County Council.
Vote 16 – 10 one abstention.

The Leader of the council announced there would be no changes to the current cabinet and members will hold the same positions within.

Cllr Gordon Brown remains deputy leader of the council.

Adult and Health Scrutiny Committee Chairman
Cllr Gale Waller and Cllr Sam Harvey were nominated
Cllr Harvey was elected.
Votes 16 – 10 one abstention

Children's and Young Peoples Scrutiny Committee Chairman
Cllr Ainsley

Growth and Infrastructure Committee Chairman
Cllr June Fox

Chairman of Scrutiny Commission Chairman
Deferred

Appointment to health and well being board was deferred

Chairman of Audit and Risk Financial Control Committee
Nominated Cllr Karen Payne and Cllr Rosemary Powell
Cllr Karen Payne was elected
Votes 16 – 11

Cllr Rosemary Powell a independent came across to me as the most
qualified for the role, all she did look quite miserable on Zoom. 


Conduct Committee Chairman
Cllr Hemsly elected as Chairman as there no other nominations

Planning and Licensing Committee Chairman
Cllr Razzell and Cllr Oxley Nominated
Cllr Razzell Elected Chairman
Votes 17 - 10

Cllr Oxley delayed his own vote talking to one of his own group who voted against him.
I have never understood why Independent Councillors would want to form a group 
controlled by Cllr Oxely. Sadly the former Libdem and former Green came across as quite
bitter at last nights meeting. Surely if you Independent, you don't need to belong to a 
group, especially when if you disagree with the group leader you will find yourself receiving 
messages from your leader.

Employment and Appeals Committee Chairman
Cllr Waller and Cllr Bool nominated
Cllr Bool Elected
Votes 18 - 8 one abstention

Mark Andrews was appointed interim of Chief Executive Officer Rutland County Council
for the next 12 months.

During the meeting Cllr Dale complimented Cllr Bool the outgoing Chairman of the Council
I have to agree with his compliments. Personally I don't think the appointment of Edward Baines
was a wise move. Far to old fashioned in his ways for 2020 and a friend of the most unkind Joyce Lucas.