Annual Council Meeting, Council - Tuesday, 23rd May, 2023 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

Cllr Christine Guinness will move and Cllr Mrs D.B. Bedford will second:

“That Councillor CLIVE PATRICK GRATTAN be elected Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2024.”

On his election, the Mayor will make his Declaration of Acceptance of Office in accordance with Section 83 of the Local Government Act, 1972.

The Mayor will address the meeting and will signify the appointment of Mrs June Smith as the Mayoress and Mr. David Betts as the Mayor’s Chaplain.

Nominations were invited for the election of the Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2023/24.  It was MOVED by Cllr Christine Guinness; SECONDED by Cllr Diane Bedford - That Cllr Clive Patrick Grattan be elected Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2024.

RESOLVED: That Councillor CLIVE PATRICK GRATTAN be elected Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2024.

The Mayor then made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office in accordance with Section 83 of the Local Government Act, 1972 and took the Chair.

THE MAYOR (CLLR C.P. GRATTAN) IN THE CHAIR

The Mayor expressed his pride at the honour of being elected Mayor and first citizen of the Borough of Rushmoor.  He thanked his proposer and seconder for their kind words and the Council for supporting his nomination.  The Mayor signified the appointment of Mrs June Smith as his Mayoress and Mr David Betts as the Mayor’s Chaplain. 

The Mayor announced that he would be supporting Oak Farm Pre-School and Crohn’s and Colitis UK as his charities for the year ahead.

To record the Council’s appreciation of the excellent service rendered by Mr. John Marsh as Mayor during the Municipal Year 2022/23. An illuminated scroll shall be presented, together with a Past Mayor’s Badge, to Mr. Marsh.

It was MOVED by Cllr S.J. Masterson; SECONDED by Cllr K. Dibble and

RESOLVED: That the Council place on record its appreciation of the excellent service rendered by Councillor John Henry Marsh as Mayor of the Borough during the Municipal Year 2022/23.

The Mayor congratulated Mr Marsh and presented him with a framed, illuminated scroll, together with a Past Mayor's Badge. The Mayor also presented Mr Marsh with a long service badge to mark 42 years’ service in local government.

Other Councillors paid tribute to Mr Marsh’s successful Mayoral Year.

In response, Mr Marsh thanked the proposer and seconder for their kind words.  He referred to the memorable year that he had experienced as Mayor and said that it had been an absolute honour for him.  Mr Marsh referred to some particular highlights of the Mayoral Year and was pleased to report that £7,000 had been raised for his charities (Phyllis Tuckwell and Parity for Disability). He thanked Mr Terry Owens for Chairing his Charity Fundraising Committee and the members of the Committee for all their work during the year.

Mr Marsh thanked his Chaplain, Major Ted Benneyworth, who had been a great support to him. 

Cllr P.G Taylor will move and Cllr Peace Essien Igodifo will second:

“That Councillor MARA MAKUNURA be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2024.”

On her election, Councillor Makunura will make her Declaration of Acceptance of Office in accordance with Section 83 of the Local Government Act, 1972.

The Mayor invited nominations for the election of the Deputy Mayor of the Borough. It was MOVED by Cllr P.G. Taylor; SECONDED by Cllr Peace Essien Igodifo – That Cllr Mara Makunura be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2024.

RESOLVED: That Councillor MARA MAKUNURA be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2024.

Cllr Mara Makunura then made her Declaration of Acceptance of Office.   

The Deputy Mayor thanked her proposer and seconder for their kind words and the Council for the confidence placed in her and then proceeded to signify the appointment of her daughter, Miss Salwexeya Makunura, as her Deputy Mayoress   She pledged her support to the Mayor in the coming year.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 20th April 2023 (copy Minutes herewith).

It was MOVED by Cllr M.L. Sheehan; SECONDED by Cllr P.G. Taylor and

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council on 20th April 2023 (copy having been circulated previously) be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record.

To receive the Returning Officer’s Report of the names of the persons elected as Borough Councillors at the Elections held on 4th May 2023 (copy attached – Annex 1).

The Returning Officer, Mr. P. Shackley, submitted his report on the results of the Borough Council Elections held on Thursday, 4th May 2023 (appended to these minutes).

The Mayor congratulated all Members who had been re-elected and extended a warm welcome to the new councillors:  Cllrs Abe Allen, Halleh Koohestani, Gareth Lyon, Dhan Sarki, Becky Williams and Gareth Williams.  The Mayor also extended the Council’s thanks and appreciation for the service given to the Council and the Borough by Cllrs Peter Crerar (who had served for 20 years) and Adrian Newell (who had served for eight years) who had been unsuccessful in being re-elected.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

(1)      The Mayor reported that he was proposing to hold a number of fundraising events during his Mayoral Year for his charities – Oak Farm Pre-School and Crohn’s and Colitis UK.  These events would include quiz nights, a barbecue and a barn dance.  Further information on a series of fundraising events would be circulated in due course.

(2)      The Mayor referred to his first engagements as Mayor, which included:

·                welcoming some citizens of Oberursel to the Borough on 25th May;

·                the Faith, Country and Nation event at the Mubarak Mosque in Tilford on 26th May;

·                Gurkha Cup on 28th May;

·                Farnborough Donkey Derby on 29th May;

·                Garrison and Community Health Fair on 31st May; and

·                Sounding Retreat event organised by HQ Aldershot Garrison on 14th June

To consider the report of the Chief Executive (copy attached – Annex 2) which recommends the new Executive Head of Finance, Mr. Peter Vickers, be designated as the Council’s Section 151 Officer (Chief Finance Officer) from August 2023.

The Mayor advised Members that the Council had a statutory requirement to appoint a Section 151 Officer (Chief Finance Officer) with responsibility for the administration of the financial affairs of the Council.   Under the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the designation of an officer as the Council’s Section 151 Officer was made by the Council and approval was sought to designate a new Executive Head of Finance as the Section 151 Officer following the departure of the current Interim Executive Head of Finance.

It was MOVED by Cllr P.G. Taylor; SECONDED by Cllr Christine Guinness – That the Executive Head of Finance, Mr Peter Vickers, be approved as the Council’s Section 151 Officer from the commencement of his employment in September 2023.  There voted FOR: 33; AGAINST: 0 and the Recommendation was DECLARED CARRIED.

To consider the nominations and appoint the Leader of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting in 2024. Cllr D.E. Clifford has been nominated by the Conservative Group.

It was MOVED by Cllr M.L. Sheehan; SECONDED by Cllr G.B. Lyon - That Cllr D.E. Clifford be appointed Leader of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2024.  

There voted FOR: 22; AGAINST: 0 and the Motion was DECLARED CARRIED.

(1)      To note the appointment of the Deputy Leaders and the following councillors as Cabinet Portfolio Holders for the Municipal Year 2023/24, as made by the Leader of the Council:

(2)          To consider and approve the Appointments to Committees for the Municipal Year 2023/24 as follows in accordance with the allocations to achieve political balance indicated:

DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Voting Members

NOTE: The Cabinet Member with responsibility for planning matters is to be an ex officio non-voting member of the Development Management Committee.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, AUDIT AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Voting Members

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITEE

            Voting Members

            POLICY AND PROJECT ADVISORY BOARD

            Voting Members

(3)          To consider the nominations and appoint the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Committees (the Conservative Group nominations are set out below):

Development Management

Nominated Chairman                      -           Cllr S.J. Masterson

Nominated Vice-Chairman            -           Cllr Marina Munro

Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards

Nominated Chairman                      -           Cllr P.J. Cullum

Nominated Vice-Chairman            -           Cllr S. Trussler

(4)          To consider the nominations and appoint the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Policy and Project Advisory Board (the Conservative Group nominations are set out below):

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Nominated Chairman                      -           Cllr M.D. Smith

Policy and Project Advisory Board     

Nominated Chairman                      -           Cllr Marina Munro

(5)          To consider and approve the appointments to the Management Boards for the Municipal Year 2023/24:

The Aldershot Recreation  ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.