The following motion has been submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.40 by Cllr Paul Rowling:-
“This motion proposes to amend the Procedure Rule “Appointment and Removal of the Leader of the Council” currently found in Part 3 of the Constitution of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. The addition is in bold.
APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL
The Council may at any meeting of Full Council remove the leader by passing a resolution in accordance with the Council's Procedure Rules. The removal will take effect immediately on the passing of the resolution. Where the Council has resolved to remove the leader, a new leader is to be elected either at the same meeting or at a subsequent meeting. When a motion to remove the leader of the Council has been discussed by a meeting of the Full Council, no other motion, which is the same or similar can be considered again within a twelve-month period, unless the notice of motion has been signed by at least half the membership of the Council and delivered to the Proper Officer in writing at least ten clear days before the date of the meeting at which it is to be addressed.”
Minutes:
The following motion had been submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.40, moved by Councillor Paul Rowling, seconded by Councillor Lisa Evans:-
“This motion proposes to amend the Procedure Rule “Appointment and Removal of the Leader of the Council” currently found in Part 3 of the Constitution of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. The addition is in bold.
APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL
The Council may at any meeting of Full Council remove the leader by passing a resolution in accordance with the Council's Procedure Rules. The removal will take effect immediately on the passing of the resolution. Where the Council has resolved to remove the leader, a new leader is to be elected either at the same meeting or at a subsequent meeting. When a motion to remove the leader of the Council has been discussed by a meeting of the Full Council, no other motion, which is the same or similar can be considered again within a twelve-month period, unless the notice of motion has been signed by at least half the membership of the Council and delivered to the Proper Officer in writing at least ten clear days before the date of the meeting at which it is to be addressed.”
Members debated the motion.
At this point and in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.65 Councillor Niall Innes requested that a recorded vote be taken; which was supported by at least a quarter of the members present:-
Members in favour of the motion:-
Cllr Stefan Barnes, Cllr Jim Beall, Cllr Pauline Beall, Cllr Michelle Bendelow, Cllr Marc Besford, Cllr Carol Clark, Cllr Nigel Cooke, Cllr Robert Cook, Cllr Richard Eglington, Cllr Lisa Evans, Cllr Kevin Faulks, Cllr Nathan Gale, Cllr Clare Gamble, Cllr Ray Godwin, Cllr Barbara Inman, Cllr Eileen Johnson, Cllr Mrs Ann McCoy, Cllr Mick Moore, Cllr Steve Nelson, Cllr Ross Patterson, Cllr Paul Rowling, Cllr Norma Stephenson OBE, Cllr Mick Stoker, Cllr Marilyn Surtees, Cllr Sylvia Walmsley, Cllr Paul Weston, Cllr Katie Weston and Cllr Barry Woodhouse.
Members against the motion:-
Cllr Diane Clarke OBE, Cllr John Coulson, Cllr Jason French, Cllr John Gardner, Cllr Alex Griffiths, Cllr Lynn Hall, Cllr Shakeel Hussain, Cllr Niall Innes, Cllr Sufi Mubeen,
Cllr David Reynard, Cllr Stephen Richardson, Cllr Tony Riordan, Cllr Susan Scott, Cllr Vanessa Sewell, Cllr Andrew Sherris, Cllr Hugo Stratton, Cllr Ted Strike, Cllr Emily Tate, Cllr Laura Tunney, Cllr Hilary Vickers and Cllr Marcus Vickers.
The motion was carried by 28 votes for to 21 votes against.