Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Adams, Arnott, Hince, Hurley, Aftab Hussain, Quigg

Councillor Shah MOVED, Councillor Sheldon SECONDED and Councillor Sykes SUPPORTED the election of Councillor Zahid Chauhan as Mayor of the Borough and Chair of Council for the forthcoming Municipal Year.

On being put to the vote, the nomination was CARRIED.

Councillor Chauhan signed the declaration required by law, which enabled him to act in the Office of Mayor.

The retiring Mayor (Mrs Elaine Garry) invested the newly elected Mayor with the chain of office; the Mayor’s Consorts were presented with their chains.

(The Mayor, Councillor Chauhan, in the Chair).

The Mayor then made a speech of acceptance of office.

Councillor Taylor MOVED, Councillor Byrne SECONDED and Councillor SykesSUPPORTED a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor and her Consorts.

RESOLVED

1.         Councillor Zahid Chauhan be appointed Mayor of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council and Chair for the 2023/2024 Municipal Year.

2.         The sincere thanks and appreciation of the Council be recorded to Mrs Elaine Garry for her valuable services during her term of office as Mayor of the Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council.

Councillor Shah MOVED, Councillor Sheldon SECONDED and Councillor Sykes SUPPORTED the election of Councillor Moores as Deputy Mayor and Vice Chair of Council for the forthcoming Municipal Year.

On being put to the vote, the nomination was CARRIED. Councillor Moores signed the declaration required by law which enabled him to act in the office of Deputy Mayor.

RESOLVED that Councillor Moores be appointed Deputy Mayor for Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council and Vice Chair for the 2023/2024 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 15^th March 2023 be approved as a correct record.

2.    Subject to the inclusion of Councillor Woodvine as being included in the list of members present, the Minutes of the special meeting of the Council held 20^th March 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Members and officers to declare any interest which they may have in any of the items on the Summons for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no items of urgent business for Council to consider.

Councillor Shah paid tribute to the work of Councillor Chadderton during her time served on the Council.

Councillor Shuttleworth paid tribute to the work of Councillor Williams during his time served on the Council.

Councillor S. Bashforth paid tribute to the work of Councillor Clint Phythian and Councillor C. Gloster during their time served on the Council.

Councillor Murphy paid tribute to the work of Councillor Chadderton and Councillor C Gloster during their time served on the Council

Councillor Charters paid tribute to the work of Councillor Roberts during her time served on the Council.

Councillor Moores paid tribute to the work of Councillor Munroe during her time served on the Council

Councillor Shah paid tribute to the work of Councillor Kyle Phythian during his time served on the Council

Councillor Davis paid tribute to the work of Councillor Wilkinson during his time served on the Council

Councillor Al-Hamdani paid tribute to the work of Councillor Wilkinson during his time served on the Council

Councillor Williamson paid tribute to the work of Councillor Kyle Phythian, Councillor Roberts and Councillor Williams during their time served on the Council

Councillor Sheldon paid tribute to the work of Councillor Barnes during his time served on the Council

Councillor Hamblett paid tribute to the work of Councillor Williams during his time served on the Council

Councillor Woodvine paid tribute to the work of Councillor McManus during his time served on the Council

Councillor Al-Hamdani paid tribute to the work of Councillor McManus during his time served on the Council.

The Mayor referred to the recent death of former Councillor Ian McInnes. Accordingly, Councillor Sykes addressed Council paying his individual condolences and a tribute.

Council held a minute’s silence in memory of former Councillor McInnes.

The Mayor permitted Councillor Shah, Leader Elect of the Council, to address the meeting. Councillor Shah announced that the Chief Executive, Mr Harry Catherall, would be leaving Oldham Council at the end of the year and expressed appreciation for the work he had done since being appointed Chief Executive and continues to do.

To receive a report from the Returning Officer as to the persons elected to the office of Councillor on 4th May 2023.

Consideration was given to a report of the Returning Officer which informed members of the results of the Local Election which had taken place on 4^th May 2023.

RESOLVED that the results of the Local Election be noted.

Councillor Taylor MOVED and Councillor Mushtaq SECONDED a report of the Director of Legal Services, which asked that consideration be given to a report regarding the appointment of the Leader of the Council, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000 as amended.

RESOLVEDthat the appointment of Councillor Shah, as the Leader of the Council, from the 24th May 2023 and ending on the day when the Council holds its first annual meeting after the Leader’s normal day of retirement as Councillor, as outlined at paragraph 2.1 of the report, be noted.

To receive a report from the Leader of the Council on -

(i) the number of councillors appointed to the Cabinet;

(ii) appointments made to the Cabinet;

(iii) the appointment of the Deputy Leader)

(iv) the allocation of responsibilities (portfolios). 

(v)  the appointment of Deputy Cabinet Members

Consideration was given to a report of the Leader of the Council which detailed the Cabinet portfolios and the appointments to the Cabinet for the 2023/2024 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that the appointment of the Deputy Leaders, Cabinet Members, Deputy Cabinet Members, the allocation of portfolios to Cabinet Members and the determination of delegations to executive functions for 2023/2024 be noted as outlined below:

Note - the executive functions are those as described in Part 3 of the constitution as amended by item 15.

RESOLVED that the appointment of the main Opposition Leader and the Shadow Cabinet, as circulated at the meeting and as set out below, be noted:

Conservative Group Leader – Councillor Graham Sheldon

Deputy Group Leader – Councillor Kamran Ghafoor

Conservative Group Shadow Cabinet:

To appoint to committees of the Council in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and give consideration to some committees not allocated strictly in accordance with proportionality under the Act 

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Sheldon SECONDED the report of the Director of Legal Services which sought a review of the political composition of committees and the composition of political groups as previously notified under Regulation 8(1) of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 and under Sections 15 and 16 of the Local Government Housing Act 1989.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The composition of the political groups as shown in paragraph 1.1, of the submitted report, be noted;

2.    The several Committees detailed at paragraph 1.5be constituted with the Terms of Reference and delegated powers as detailed in the Constitution.

3.    The number of seats on the various Committees for the 2023/2024 Municipal Year be as detailed in paragraph 1.6 be approved and the terms of office referred to therein.

4.    Council confirms the allocation of seats to the political groups and makes appointments to fill the seats in accordance with Sections 15 and 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, as detailed in Appendix 1, as far as is practicable, including those Committees that are not strictly politically balanced: - Scrutiny Boards, Appeals Committee and Standards Sub-Committee.

5.    Council appoints a Chair and Vice-Chair of each of the various Committees for the 2023/2024 Municipal Year, as detailed in Appendix 1, except for Selection and Appeals Committees.

6.    The Council appoints District Lead and Deputy Lead Members as follows:

                                          i.    Central District Lead – Councillor Salamat (no Deputy Lead Member required)

                                        ii.    North District Lead – Councillor S. Bashforth and Deputy Lead – Councillor Williamson

                                       iii.    East District Lead – Councillor Cosgrove and Deputy Lead – Councillor Al-Hamdani

                                       iv.    South District Lead – Councillor Davis (no Deputy Lead Member required)

                                        v.    West District Lead – Councillor Shuttleworth (no Deputy Lead Member required)

7.    The Co-opted Members detailed at paragraph 1.9 of the report be appointed to the Overview and Scrutiny Board and the Statutory Co-opted Members be given full voting rights in respect of education matters only.

8.    Any outstanding appointments to be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Leader of the main opposition group.

To appoint Councillors to serve on Outside Bodies:

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Sheldon SECONDED a report of the Director of Legal Services which detailed the appointments to Outside Bodies for the Municipal Year 2023/2024.

RESOLVED that:

1.         The appointments to the Outside Bodies as listed in the Appendices as circulated for the 2023/2024 Municipal Year be confirmed.

2.         Any outstanding appointments be delegated to the Chief Executive to determine, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Leaders of the two main Opposition Groups.

3.        The non-administration appointments to Positive Steps, Miocare and Oldham Community Leisure be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Leaders of the two main opposition groups.

a)    To confirm the meetings of Full Council will be held on the undermentioned dates during the 2023/24 Municipal Year, commencing at 6.00pm unless otherwise shown:

Wed 12th July 2023

Wed 6th September 2023

Wed 1st November 2023

Wed 13th December 2023

Wed 28th February 2024 (Budget)

Wed 13th March 2024

b)    To approve the calendar of meetings for the 2023/224Municipal Year.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Legal Services which set out the Calendar of Meetings for the 2023/2024 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The meetings of Full Council be held on the undermentioned dates during the 2023/2024 Municipal Year, commencing at 6.00pm unless otherwise shown:

12^th July 2023

6^th September 2023

1^st November 2023

13^th December 2023

28^th February 2024

13^th March 2024

2.    The Council’s calendar of meetings for 2023/2024 be approved.

3.    Approval of any outstanding dates or changes to dates to be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Group Leaders.

To approve the Constitution and Scheme of Delegation. 

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Sheldon SECONDED a report of the Director of Legal Services which requested that Council considers amendments to the constitution and to re-affirm the Council Constitution as a matter of good governance.

RESOLVED

That Council re-affirms its Constitution, subject to the inclusion of revisions to the Council Procedure Rules, the Officer Scheme of Delegation, Responsibility for functions in respect of Employment Appeals, Scrutiny functions, the Planning Committee, Audit Committee and Charitable Trust Committee and Petitions Protocol as identified in the Director of Legal Services’ report.

(time limit 30 minutes)

None received

There were no item of Administration Business for Council to consider.

(time limit 30 minutes)

None received

There were no items of Opposition Business for Council to consider.