Annual Meeting of Council & ‘Mayor Making’
Annual Meeting of Council & ‘Mayor Making’
May 14th 2024
Minutes
In attendance:
Cllr Dawn Clark
Cllr Alan Coiley
Cllr Martin Edwards
Cllr Irene Faseyi
Cllr Sally Graham
Cllr Lena Hogben
Cllr Steve Hogben
Cllr Stuart Mackay
Cllr Kevin Murray
Cllr James Pratt
Cllr Jill Rhodes
Cllr John Rhodes
Cllr Dennis Straine-Francis
Cllr Ben Wye
Cllr Simon Yates
Cllr Straine-Francis opened the meeting with an address relating to his year as Mayor of Crewe.
The Mayor thanked Cllr Clark as Deputy Mayor, having supported the Mayoralty during the year and thanked fellow members of the council for their support.
| 1 | To receive apologies for absence |
| Cllrs Messent; Houston; Bratherton; Chapman; Mortimer | |
| 2 | To note declarations of Members’ interests
None |
| 3 | To confirm the minutes of the Crewe Town Council Meeting held on 24th March 2024
RESOLVED: That the minutes are approved as a true record of the meeting |
| 4 | To confirm the Mayor (elect) as Mayor of Crewe for 2024/25
Proposed by Cllr Simon Yates, commented on Cllr Clark’s long service to the town as well as her work with dementia groups and carers. RESOLVED: That Cllr Dawn Clark is elected Mayor of Crewe |
| 5 | To confirm the Deputy Mayor (elect) as Deputy Mayor of Crewe for 2024/25 |
| RESOLVED: That Cllr Sally Graham is elected Deputy Mayor of Crewe | |
| Following this, the meeting was adjourned to enable the incoming Mayor and Deputy Mayor to receive the insignia of office and sign their acceptance of office. | |
| 6 | To propose a vote of thanks and to present a past Mayor’s Medal to the outgoing Mayor, Cllr Dennis Straine-Francis
Cllr Jill Rhodes progressed the proposal thanking Cllr Straine-Francis for his dedication and time as Mayor. RESOLVED: That Cllr Straine-Francis was thanked for his year of service as Mayor of Crewe and presented with his Past Mayor’s Medal |
| 7 | To receive an address from the Town Mayor |
| Cllr Clark gave an address to the meeting regarding the coming year of mayoralty commenting that her focus will be to raise awareness of dementia support and care as well as raising awareness of all the activities and services of Crewe Town Council. Cllr Clark thanked members and her husband for their support. | |
8 |
To note the minutes of committee meetings held since Council in March:
a) Committee: Finance and Governance RESOLVED: That the Reserves Policy is approved for adoption b) Committee: Planning The minutes were noted |
| 9 | To approve constitutional governance
i. Standing Orders ii. Financial Regulations iii. Standing Orders for Contracts iv. Council & Committee Terms of Reference v. Customer Care & Complaints Policy vi. Information & Data Protection Policy vii. Press & Media Policy viii. Employee Handbook RESOLVED: That the constitutional governance is approved |
| 10 | To consider and approve representations on outside bodies
i. Crewe Town Board – Cllr Jill Rhodes ii. Crewe Allotments – Cllr John Rodes iii. Crewe Pledge Management Board – Mayor & Deputy Mayor iv. Crewe Town Board Blue & Green Infrastructure Steering Group – Cllr Ben Wye v. Crewe Heritage Trust – Cllr Stuart Mackay RESOLVED: That the representations on outside bodies are approved |
| 11 | To consider the approval of Committee structures and nominations to Committees
RESOLVED: That the committee structures and nominations for memberships are approved |
| 12 | To confirm the Council’s adoption of the Councillor Code of Conduct
RESOLVED: That the Councillor Code of Conduct is approved for adoption |
| 13 | To note and approve matters related to:
i. Council list of assets – to be received and noted ii. Provision of Insurance cover – to be received and noted iii. Affiliation to Cheshire Association of Local Councils. – to be considered and approved The list of assets and provision of insurance cover were noted. RESOLVED: That the council’s affiliation to the Cheshire Association of Local Councils is approved |
| 14 | Internal auditor – to approve JDH Business Services as internal auditor 2024/25 & approve the Internal Audit for 2023/24
RESOLVED: i. That JDH Business Services is approved as the council’s internal auditor ii. That the internal audit for 2023/24 is approved |
| 15 | External support services
i. To approve Wirehouse Employer Services for HR and H&S support ii. To approve Blain Boland & Co Solicitors for legal support iii. To approve John Greenhall & Co for finance and accountancy support RESOLVED: That professional support services are approved |
| 16 | To note, consider and approve payments between 01/02/2024 and 31/03/2024 to the value of £234,899.69 as recommended by the Finance & Governance Committee
RESOLVED: That the payments between 01/02/2024 and 31/03/2024 to the value £234,899.69 are approved |
| 17 | General Power of Competence
i. Agree eligibility to adopt the Power ii. Adopt the General Power of Competence with immediate effect RESOLVED: That the council’s eligibility to adopt the General Power of Competence and the adoption of the General Power of Competence are approved. |
| 18 | To approve the Annual Governance and Accountability Return for 2023/24 as recommended by the Finance & Governance Committee
RESOLVED: That the Annual Governance and Accountability Return for 2023/24 is approved |
| 19 | To receive the Meeting Calendar for civic year 2024/25
Received and noted |
| 20 | To receive the Annual report for 2023/24
Received and noted |
| 21 | To note the date of the next meeting of Council – 11th June |
The meeting closed at 6.23pm
Chair to agenda item 5 – Cllr Straine-Francis
Chair from agenda Item 6 – Cllr Clark
Clerk P Turner
Recent Comments