Issue - meetings

For the minute of this item please refer to the Council meeting held on 11 October 2018, item 13.

https://democracy.thanet.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=4708

Ms Nartey, Interim Head of Legal Services and Deputy Monitoring Officer, advised Members of the Council’s legal obligation to declare the vacancy for the Margate Central Ward.

It was proposed by the Chairman and seconded by the vice Chairman that Members agree the recommendations within the report, namely that:

‘1. Council notes that Ian Venables has become disqualified for being a member of this authority;

2. Council declares as vacant the office held by Ian Venables as a Councillor for the Margate Central ward.’

Members agreed to hold a recorded vote on the proposal.

Before a vote could be taken the meeting was adjourned due to disruption from the public gallery.  The Chairman advised that the meeting would reconvene on Monday 15 October 2018.

Meeting adjourned at 20:20.

Meeting reconvened at 19:00 Monday 15 October 2018

Members present:

Councillors Ashbee, Bayford, Braidwood, Brimm, Buckley, Campbell, K Coleman-Cooke, Connor, Constantine, Crow-Brown, Dellar, Dennis, Dexter, Dixon, Evans, J Fairbrass, L Fairbrass, Falcon, Fenner, Gregory, Grove, Hillman, Jaye-Jones, Johnston, Martin, Parsons, L Piper, S Piper, L Potts, R Potts, Rogers, Rusiecki, D Saunders, M Saunders, Savage, Shonk, Taylor, Tomlinson, Townend, Wells, Wright.

Mr Howes, Director of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer, reminded Members of the Council’s legal obligation to declare the vacancy for the Margate Central Ward.

In response to a question, Mr Howes advised Members that if an unlawful decision was made, he would have to consider his duty to prepare a report under Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Mr Howes conducted the recorded vote.

13 Members voted in favour the motion: Councillors Ashbee, Bayford, K Coleman-Cooke, Dexter, Gregory, Martin, Parsons, Rogers, D Saunders, M Saunders, Savage, Tomlinson, Wright.

27 Members voted against the motion: Councillors Braidwood, Brimm, Buckley, Campbell, Connor, Constantine, Crow-Brown, Dellar, Dennis, Dixon, Evans, J Fairbrass, L Fairbrass, Falcon, Fenner, Grove, Hillman, Jaye-Jones, Johnston, L Piper, S Piper, L Potts, R Potts, Rusiecki, Shonk, Townend, Wells.

1 Member abstained from voting on the motion: Councillor Taylor.

The motion was lost.