Agenda item - Mayor's Communications.

58.1         The Mayor stated that she was delighted to have the opportunity on behalf of the Council to congratulate the City Planning Team who had been awarded the National Planning Award for Sustainable Communities.  It was the top award for planning for sustainable development and was presented recently to the City Planning team and the developer BioRegional Quintain for their work on the ‘One’ Brighton development and the wider New England Quarter.

58.2         The mayor noted that the judges’ commented in particular on the City Planning team’s positive approach and their ability to work in partnership to ‘really make things happen’.    She then called on Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, Cabinet Member for Environment to present the award to Jeanette Walsh, Head of Development Control.

58.3         The Mayor then drew the council’s attention to the Brighton & Hove Marathon which was taking place on the 18^th April and reminded colleagues that they could sponsor her by clicking onto the various mayoral charity links.

58.4         The Mayor stated that she was aware the Leader of the Council wished to move a procedural motion and called on Councillor Mears.

58.5         Councillor Mears stated that in having regard to Item 65(b) on the agenda, Review of Members Allowances, and the discussion at the recent Governance Committee meeting, she wished to move that the both items 65(a) and 65(b) be deferred to allow for further discussions between the Leaders of the Groups and the Independent Remuneration Panel before final recommendations were considered by the council.  She wished to place on record her appreciation of the work undertaken by the Panel, but felt that in view of the lack of consensus at the Governance Committee, it would be beneficial to ask the Panel to look further at its recommendations and to receive the views of the Leaders.

58.6         Councillor Oxley formally seconded the motion.

58.7         Councillor Randall queried whether there would be an opportunity to debate the motion and sought clarification from the Monitoring Officer.

58.8         The Monitoring Officer stated that as a procedural motion had been moved, the Mayor as the Chairman of the meeting could take the views of the Leaders or put the motion to the Council for a view.

58.9         The Mayor indicated that having had a procedural motion moved, she was inclined to put the motion straight to the vote.

58.10     Councillor Kitcat requested a recorded vote be taken, which was supported by a sufficient number of councillors.

58.11     The Mayor noted that a recorded vote had been requested and put the motion for Item No’s. 65(a) and 65(b) to be deferred from consideration to the vote;

58.12     The motion was carried.