To determine that:
1. The Annual Meeting of the Council in 2020 be held on 14 May 2020
2. The ordinary meetings of the Council in 2019/2020 to be held as follows;
Thursday 18 July 2019;
Thursday 19 September 2019;
Thursday 7 November 2019;
Thursday 12 December 2019;
Thursday 20 February 2020.
Minutes:
The suggested meeting dates for the Annual Meeting of the Council and for the ordinary meetings of the Council for 2019/20 were proposed as follows;
· Thursday 18 July 2019
· Thursday 19 September 2019
· Thursday 7 November 2019
· Thursday 12 December 2019
· Thursday 20 February 2020
Councillor Mrs Mayor submitted a motion proposing an amendment to the meeting dates (as per the Agenda) as there are a number of meeting dates that clash with meetings scheduled to take place at Cambridgeshire County Council. She proposed that the meeting dates were revised accordingly;
· Thursday 18 July 2019
· Wednesday 18 September 2019
· Monday 4 November 2019
· Friday 13 December 2019
· Thursday 20 February 2020
· Monday 11 May 2020
Councillor Boden seconded the motion and Councillor Mrs Mayor opened the Motion up for debate.
1. Councillor Yeulett queried why Fenland District Council would amend their meeting dates to avoid a conflict of meetings with Cambridgeshire County Council, as the Council meetings of Fenland District Council should take precedence.
2. Councillor Booth stated that he did not support this amendment to the meeting dates as precedence has been set that Council meetings historically have taken place on a Thursday.
3. Councillor Tanfield confirmed that she did not agree with the amendment to the meeting dates.
4. Councillor Mrs Bligh highlighted that many members schedule work around Council meeting dates and therefore amending these now may mean some members are unable to attend Council meetings.
5. Councillor Patrick stated that those that are members of both the District and County Council need to decide which meetings take precedence and fulfil their obligations.
6. Councillor Tierney stated that elective members serve the interests of the public. If there are two different meetings on the same day, this not only affects members but also members of the public who may wish to attend both of these meetings.
7. Councillor Yeulett highlighted that for many years, many members have been able to balance their attendance at both District and County Council meetings. It is the member’s responsibility to decide which meeting takes preference.
8. Councillor Booth asked if the dates could be amended to take place on another Thursday in the month to ensure members availability.
9. Councillor Boden explained that meetings are arranged as per the tiers of Local Authorities and therefore upper-tier authorities, such as Cambridgeshire County Council, taking precedence when setting their meeting dates. He said it was inappropriate to hold meetings on the same day as upper-tier authorities.
10.Councillor Sutton argued that reforms need to take place within Local Government to disperse Cambridgeshire County Council as they are ineffective and no longer fit for purpose.
11.Councillor Count stated that he disagreed entirely with Councillor Sutton’s opinion.
A recorded vote was taken.
In favour of amending the original Council meeting dates, as per Councillor Mrs Mayor’s proposal – Councillor Benney, Councillor Boden, Councillor Bristow, Councillor J Clark, Councillor S Clark, Councillor Connor, Councillor Count, Councillor Mrs Davis, Councillor Mrs French, Councillor Miss French, Councillor Hay, Councillor Miss Hoy, Councillor Humphrey, Councillor Mrs Laws, Councillor Lynn, Councillor Maul, Councillor Marks, Councillor Mason, Councillor Mrs Mayor, Councillor Miscandlon, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Purser, Councillor Rackley, Councillor Skoulding, Councillor Tierney, Councillor Topgood and Councillor Wallwork.
Against the amending of the original Council meeting dates – Councillor Mrs Bligh, Councillor Booth, Councillor Cornwell, Councillor Divine, Councillor Marks, Councillor Meekins, Councillor Patrick, Councillor Sutton, Councillor Tanfield, Councillor Wicks and Councillor Yeulett.
Councillor Booth requested to move an amendment to the substantive motion, stating he would like the original Council meeting dates to be amended to take place on an alternative Thursday only.
Councillor Mrs Bligh seconded the amendment and Councillor Mrs Mayor opened the amendment to the substantive motion up for debate.
1. Councillor Tanfield supported Councillor Booth’s amendment as many members have scheduled childcare and work around Council meetings being held on a Thursday.
2. Councillor Miss Hoy confirmed that she was available on any day of the week as none of her committee meetings at Cambridgeshire County Council clash. She added that this should not be a political discussion.
3. Councillor Boden confirmed that officers had already checked potential meeting dates with Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to ensure there were no further clashes.
A recorded vote was taken.
In favour of amending the meeting dates to take place on an alternative Thursday only; Councillor Mrs Bligh, Councillor Booth, Councillor Cornwell, Councillor Divine, Councillor Marks, Councillor Meekins, Councillor Patrick, Councillor Sutton, Councillor Tanfield, Councillor Wicks and Councillor Yeulett.
Against amending the meeting dates to take place on an alternative Thursday only; Councillor Benney, Councillor Boden, Councillor Bristow, Councillor J Clark, Councillor S Clark, Councillor Connor, Councillor Count, Councillor Mrs Davis, Councillor Mrs French, Councillor Miss French, Councillor Hay, Councillor Miss Hoy, Councillor Humphrey, Councillor Mrs Laws, Councillor Lynn, Councillor Maul, Councillor Marks, Councillor Mason, Councillor Mrs Mayor, Councillor Miscandlon, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Purser, Councillor Rackley, Councillor Skoulding, Councillor Tierney, Councillor Topgood and Councillor Wallwork.
The amendment to the Motion was dismissed.
Councillor Mrs Mayor explained that a vote would now be taken on the substantive motion as per her original amendment.
The amendments to the suggested dates, as follows, for the Annual Meeting of Council and for the ordinary meetings of the Council were AGREED by members;
· Thursday 18 July 2019
· Wednesday 18 September 2019
· Monday 4 November 2019
· Friday 13 December 2019
· Thursday 20 February 2020
· Monday 11 May 2020