The Lord Mayor welcomed newly elected councillors to the meeting and congratulated those councillors who had been re-elected.

The Lord Mayor reported that she had agreed to the submission of the minutes of the Constitutional and Nomination Committee held on 15 May 2024.

The Lord Mayor invited those present to observe a minute’s silence in memory of former Alderman, Councillor and former Lord Mayor Gordon Conquest. Gordon Conquest was elected to the Council to represent the Gorton Ward South in May 1964. He was later elected to the Gorton North ward in 1970 and to the then Miles Platting ward in 1977 and Central ward from 1982 until 2000. Gordon served on a number of committees and was elected Lord Mayor in 1989.

To elect the Lord Mayor of Manchester for the 2024/25 Municipal Year.

The Lord Mayor invited nominations for the office of Lord Mayor for the forthcoming municipal year.

Councillor Paul Andrews was nominated and the Council voted by acclamation. The Lord Mayor declared that Councillor Andrews was elected Lord Mayor of Manchester for the forthcoming municipal year.

Councillor Andrews then read out the Declaration of Acceptance of Office. The Council adjourned briefly while the new Lord Mayor was robed.

When the meeting resumed, the Lord Mayor Councillor Andrews took the Oath of Allegiance and was invested with the badge of office.

The Lord Mayor then observed the investiture of the Lady Mayoress, Karen Andrews

The City Solicitor oversaw and confirmed the election and investiture of the Lord Mayor.

The Right Worshipful, the Lord Mayor, Councillor Andrews (In the Chair).

To adopt a resolution of thanks for the retiring Lord Mayor.

A vote of thanks to the retiring Lord Mayor was moved by Councillor Karney.

The Lord Mayor presented a Former Lord Mayor badge to the retiring Lord Mayor. The Lady Mayoress presented the retiring Mayor’s Consort, Majid Dar, with his commemorative badge.

Councillor Dar then addressed the Council.

Decision

To extend the sincere thanks of the Council to Councillor Yasmine Dar, the retiring Lord Mayor, for her valuable services to Manchester during her term of office, and to Majid Dar, the retiring Lord Mayor’s Consort, for the work he had undertaken to support the retiring Lord Mayor.

The Lord Mayor gave his mayoral speech to the Council.

To appoint a Deputy Lord Mayor for the 2024/25 Municipal Year.

The Lord Mayor invited nominations for the office of Deputy Lord Mayor for the forthcoming municipal year. Councillor Carmine Grimshaw was nominated and the Council voted by acclamation. The Lord Mayor declared that Councillor Carmine Grimshaw be had been appointed.

Councillor Grimshaw read out the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and was invested with the badge of office.

The Deputy City Solicitor oversaw and confirmed the appointment and investiture of the Deputy Lord Mayor.

To submit for approval the minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2024.

Decision

The Minutes of the Council meeting on 20 March 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor

The statement of the City Solicitor concerning the seniority of councillors attached

The Council noted the revised list of seniority of councillors following the election held in May 2024.

The seniority of the members of the Council as of 15 May 2024 is appended to these minutes.

To elect the Leader of the Council.

The Lord Mayor invited nominations for the appointment of Leader of the Council.

Councillor Midgley proposed Councillor Bev Craig as Leader of the Council. Councillor Curley seconded the proposal.

No other nominations were received.

After the Council voted on this, the Lord Mayor declared that Councillor Bev Craig was elected Leader of the Council.

The Leader of the Council then addressed the Council and highlighted the Council’s priorities and work needed to build on the City’s success and to move forward to ensure a safe, healthy and prosperous future for all its residents.

To approve the appointment of Members of the following –

Art Galleries Committee

Audit Committee

Employee Appeals Committee

Executive Standing Consultative Panel

Health and Wellbeing Board

Housing Advisory Committee

Licensing Committee

Licensing and Appeals Committee

Licensing Policy Committee

Personnel Committee

Planning and Highways Committee

Standards Committee (including the Nominated Spokesperson)

Scrutiny Committees:-

Children and Young People

Communities and Equalities

Environment, Climate Change and Neigbourhoods

Economy and Regeneration

Health

Resources and Governance

(see recommendations of the Constitutional and Nomination Committee in the minutes of 15 May 2024 – circulated in advance of the meeting).

Decision

The Council approved the recommendations made by the Constitutional and Nomination Committee on 15 May 2024 regarding the appointment of chairs and membership of the Council’s committees for the 2024/25 municipal year (see below).

To approve appointment of representatives to the Combined Authority, Joint Authorities and Joint Committees.

(see recommendations of the Constitutional and Nomination Committee in the minutes of 15 May 2024 – circulated in advance of the meeting).

Decision

The Council approved the recommendations made by the Constitutional and Nomination Committee on 15 May 2024 regarding Council’s appointments to the Combined Authority, joint authorities and joint committees for the 2024/25 municipal year (see below).

Decision

The Council approve the recommendations made by the Constitutional and Nomination Committee on 15 May 2024 regarding the changes to the Council’s constitution as set out below:-

·            To adopt, subject to recommendations 4 and 5 below, the revised Sections of the Constitution of the Council, namely:

a)         Part 2

b)         Part 3: Sections B, C and F

b)         Part 4: Sections A, B, E and F

c)          Part 5: Section C and D

d)         Part 6: Sections B and C

e)         Part 7

f)          Part 8

·            To re-adopt the remainder of the Constitution with the overarching changes set out in section 2 of this report.

·            To note that any changes to the Constitution already approved by the Council since the last review 30 November 2022 will be included in the revised Constitution.

·            To note in relation to Part 3 of the Constitution that responsibility for the discharge of executive functions and the delegation of such responsibility rests with the Leader of the Council and that the recommended delegations of executive functions set out in Part 3 (Sections A, B and F) are for the information of the Council only.

·            To note that, as the Licensing Committee has statutory responsibility for the discharge and delegation of certain licensing authority functions, the proposed delegations of such functions set out in Part 3 (Sections C and F) have been considered and reaffirmed by the Licensing Committee and to that extent are for the information of the Council only.

To agree the dates of ordinary meetings of the Council in 2024/25:

Wednesday 10 July 2024                              

Wednesday 2 October 2024                          

Wednesday 27 November 2024                    

Wednesday 5 February 2025

Wednesday 28 February 2025 (Budget)

Wednesday 19 March 2025

and that the Annual Meeting of the Council 2025 will be on Wednesday 14 May 2025

The Council considered the dates of Council meetings for the forthcoming municipal year 2024/25.

Decisions

The Council

(1)       Agrees the following dates of ordinary meetings of the Council in 2022/2023.

Wednesday 10 July 2024

Wednesday 2 October 2024

Wednesday 27 November 2024

Wednesday 5 February 2025

Wednesday 28 February 2025 (Budget)

Wednesday 19 March 2025

(2)       To agree that the Annual Meeting of the Council 2025 will be on

Wednesday 14 May 2025.