Agenda and draft minutes

To receive and note apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ayre, Fisher, Nelson, Smalley, Warters, Waudby and Widdowson.

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

(1)         Members must consider their interests, and act according to the

following:

(2)         Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)         Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them. A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in the business on the agenda. None were declared.

To appoint a Lord Mayor for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

Councillor Cullwick moved, Councillor Baxter seconded, and Council unanimously

Resolved: That Councillor Martin Rowley BEM be elected Lord Mayor of the City of York for the ensuing municipal year.

Councillor Martin Rowley BEM signified Acceptance of the Office of the Lord Mayor of the City of York, subscribed the Declaration of such acceptance and took the Oath of Allegiance prescribed by the law in that behalf.

To appoint a Sheriff for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

Councillor Steward moved, Councillor Fenton seconded, and Council unanimously

Resolved: That Paul Doughty be elected Sheriff of the City of York for the ensuing municipal year.

Paul Doughty signified Acceptance of the Office of the Sheriff of the City of York, subscribed the Declaration of such acceptance and took the Oath of Allegiance prescribed by the law in that behalf.

To appoint a Deputy Lord Mayor for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

Councillor Rowley as Lord Mayor moved, Councillor Steward seconded, and Council unanimously

Resolved:    That Councillor Margaret Wells be appointed Deputy Lord Mayor for the ensuing municipal year.

Councillor Margaret Wells made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of the Office of Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of York and took the Affirmation of Allegiance prescribed by law.

The Sheriff advised Council that Arif Khalfe had been chosen to serve as Under Sheriff during this year of office, and thanked him for undertaking this service to the City.

Councillor Fenton moved, Councillor Nicholls seconded, and Council unanimously

Resolved: That Council express its sincere thanks to the outgoing Lord Mayor, Councillor Margaret Wells, and Lord Mayor’s Consort, Paul Midgley, for their services to the city during the past municipal year.

Councillor Mason moved, Councillor Orrell seconded, and Council unanimously

Resolved: That Council express its sincere thanks to the outgoing Sheriff, Fiona Fitzpatrick, and Sheriff’s Consort, Geoff Cossins, for their services to the city during the past municipal year.

To receive a report which asks Council to:

(i)         Agree the allocation of seatsin accordance with the arrangements set out in Annex A;

(ii)        Agree the delegation of approval of future changes to group allocations to the Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer;

(iii)      Agree the appointment of the Council Leader and note the Executive appointments and respective portfolios to be approved by the elected Leader of the Council;

(iv)      Note the group nominations to Committees and other bodies, as well as appointments to Chairs and Vice-Chairs, as set out in this report and its annexes, together with details of any nominations and appointments which may be circulated prior to the meeting, in light of the Council’s duty to give effect to group nominations;

(v)       Waive political balance requirements in respect of the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation place, as noted in Annex B4;

(vi)      Note the allocation of motions for consideration at Ordinary Full Council meetings for the period 2025-2027 as set out in Annex C;

(vii)     Agree the Terms of Reference for Corporate Scrutiny Committee, People Scrutiny Committee and Place Scrutiny Committee as shown at Annex D;

(viii)  Agree the Terms of Reference of the Corporate Appeals Committee as shown at Annex F; 

(ix)      Agree the amendment to the number of seats on the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee from five seats to three seats;

(x)       In the event that the Leader of the Council notifies the Monitoring Officer of any changes to the Executive Portfolios, the Monitoring Officer to update the Council’s Constitution accordingly.

[Annex A – Allocation of seats 2025/2026; Annex B2 – Appointments to Committees, Sub Committees and Working Groups 2025/26;  Annex B3 – Chairs and Vice Chairs 2025/2026; and Annex B4 – Appointments to Outside Bodies 2025/2026 to follow].

Councillor Douglas moved, and Councillor Kilbane seconded, the recommendations in respect of allocations to seats, appointments, and other matters, as set out in the report of the Director of Governance at pages 7-15 of the updated agenda papers, with reference to Annexes A-F to that report and the further update to appointments to committees and outside bodies.

On being put to the vote, the recommendations were declared CARRIED unanimously and it was

Resolved:

                            i.        To agree the allocation of seats in accordance with the arrangements set out in Annex A;

                          ii.        To agree the delegation of approval of future changes to group allocations to the Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer;

                         iii.        To note the Executive appointments and respective portfolios to be approved by the Leader of the Council;

                        iv.        To note the group nominations to Committees and other bodies, as well as appointments to Chairs and Vice-Chairs, as set out in this report and its annexes, together with details of any nominations and appointments which may be circulated prior to the meeting, in light of the Council’s duty to give effect to group nominations;

                          v.        To waive political balance requirements in respect of the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation place, as noted in Annex B4;

                        vi.        To note the allocation of motions for consideration at Ordinary Full Council meetings for the period 2025-2027 as set out in Annex C;

                      vii.        To agree the Terms of Reference for Corporate Scrutiny Committee, People Scrutiny Committee and Place Scrutiny Committee as shown at Annex D;

                     viii.        To agree the Terms of Reference of the Corporate Appeals Committee as shown at Annex F;

                        ix.        To agree the amendment to the number of seats on the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee from five seats to three seats;

                          x.        In the event that the Leader of the Council notifies the Monitoring Officer of any changes to the Executive Portfolios, the Monitoring Officer to update the Council’s Constitution accordingly.

Reason:     To fulfil the Council’s statutory and constitutional requirements.