Agenda item

To approve as a correct record the Minutes from the following meetings held (as attached):

·        Special Meeting of the Council – 23 February 2022

·        Special Meeting of the Council – 3 March 2022

·        Full Council – 9 March 2022

·        Extraordinary Meeting of the Council – 14 April 2022

The Chair asked Members to approve as a correct record the Minutes from the meetings held below:

·         Special Meeting of the Council on 23 February 2022

·         Special Meeting of the Council on 3 March 2022

·         Full Council on 9 March 2022

·         Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on 14 April 2022

Having been proposed by Councillor Gunner and seconded by Councillor Bower the minutes from the meeting of the Special Council held on 23 February 2022 were approved as a correct record with the Chair confirming that he would sign these at the end of the meeting. 

            The Chair then turned to the Minutes from the Special Meeting of the Council held on 3 March 2022. Councillor Elkins challenged the accuracy of the minutes in relation to Minute 692 [National Highways’ Proposals for the A27 Arundel Improvements – Response to Statutory Consultation (Grey Route)] in that the amended recommendations on Page 25, Item E did not match the resolutions on Page 27 Item E and he sought an explanation. Given the detailed nature of the challenge, the Interim Group Head of Law & Governance confirmed that this entry would be reviewed with a view to the minutes being re-tabled at the next meeting of the Full Council on 13 July 2022.

            The Chair then turned to the Minutes from the Full Council meeting held on 9 March 2022. Councillor Walsh challenged Minute 719 [Appointment of Vice-Chair of the Council for the Municipal Year 2022/23] where it had been reported that the Monitoring Officer had confirmed that there had been 7 spoilt ballot papers.  Councillor Walsh stated that this was not accurate and that the number of spoilt papers had been challenged following the conclusion of that meeting.  Based on this fact, he felt that the minutes should reflect that the ballot papers had been challenged.

            Councillor Gunner, as Leader of the Council, responded by outlining that Councillor Walsh was not challenging the accuracy of the minutes he was challenging the outcome of that meeting.  Councillor Gunner sought legal advice as to whether Council could proceed with voting to approve these minutes.

            The Interim Group Head of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer outlined that the purpose of presenting minutes for approval was to confirm that the minutes recorded proceedings not whether the outcome was acceptable to everyone.  The minutes accurately reflected what had been announced at the meeting by the Monitoring Officer.

            Following further discussion, Councillor Gunner proposed that the minutes be approved and this was seconded by Councillor Bower. A request was then made that the voting to approve these Minutes be recorded.

            Those voting for were Councillors Bicknell, Bower, Caffyn, Chace, Chapman, Clayden, Mrs Cooper, Cooper, Daniells, Dendle, Edwards, Elkins, Mrs English, English, Goodheart, Gunner, Hughes, Kelly, Madeley, Oliver-Redgate, Pendleton, Rhodes, Roberts and Staniforth [24]. Those voting against were Councillors Batley, Coster, Dixon, Gregory, Hamilton, Haywood, Huntley, Lury, Needs, Oppler, Stanley, Thurston, Walsh, Warr, Worne and Yeates [16]. Councillors Brooks, Buckland, Northeast and Stainton abstained from voting [4].

            The Council therefore approved the minutes from the meeting of Full Council on 9 March 2022 as an accurate record of the meeting.

Having been proposed by Councillor Gunner and seconded by Councillor Edwards, the Minutes from the Extraordinary Meeting of the Council held on 14 April 2022 were approved by the Council as a correct record.