Annual Council Meeting, Council - Tuesday, 26th May, 2026 7.00 pm - Agenda and draft minutes

The outgoing Mayor opened the meeting and welcomed all new councillors to the Council following the local elections: Cllrs Kevin Betsworth, Uttar Gurung, Sharon Harvey, Rob Matthews, Sally McGuinness, Ian Simpson and Nicky Slater. The Council also welcomed back Cllrs Dave Bell and Jib Belbase.

 

Congratulations were also given to those Members who had been re-elected: Cllrs Craig Card, Mara Makunura, Martin Tennant, Sarah Spall and Ade Adeola.

 

The Mayor also spoke on behalf of the Council to acknowledge those councillors who had not returned to the Council following the elections and thanked former councillors Jules Crossley, Akmal Gani, Clive Grattan, Nadia Martin, Stuart Trussler, Abe Allen, Peace Essien-Igodifo, Mike Smith and Jacqui Vosper for the service they had given to the Council and the Borough of Rushmoor.

Cllr Steve Harden will move and Cllr Bill O’Donovan will second:

 

“That Councillor PETER JAMES CULLUM be elected Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2027.”

 

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 Ann Cullum as the Mayoress.

 

Nominations were invited for the election of the Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2026/27. It was MOVED by Cllr Steve Harden; SECONDED by Cllr Bill O’Donovan - That Cllr P.J. Cullum be elected Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2027.

 

RESOLVED: That Councillor PETER JAMES CULLUM be elected Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2027.

 

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 P.J. CULLUM) IN THE CHAIR

 

The Mayor thanked his proposer and seconder, and the Council for endorsing

his nomination and placing trust in him to represent the Borough, which he accepted with pride. He committed to always representing the Borough and its residents with impartiality and announced that he would be supporting three charities during his Mayoral year: Diabetes UK, Step by Step and Phyllis Tuckwell.

 

The Mayor then signified the appointment of his wife, Mrs Ann Cullum as his Mayoress and advised that he was in the process of appointing a Chaplain for future meetings.

To record the Council’s appreciation of the excellent service rendered by Councillor Calum Stewart as Mayor and Mrs Shani Stewart as Mayoress during the Municipal Year 2025/26. An illuminated scroll shall be presented, together with a Past Mayor’s Badge, to Councillor Stewart and a Past Mayoress’ Badge to Mrs Shani Stewart.

 

It was MOVED by Cllr Keith Dibble; SECONDED by Cllr Gareth Williams and

 

RESOLVED: That the Council place on record its appreciation of the excellent service rendered by Councillor Calum Stewart as Mayor of the Borough and Mrs Shani Stewart as Mayoress during the Municipal Year 2025/26.

 

The Mayor congratulated Cllr Stewart and presented him with a framed, illuminated scroll, together with a Past Mayor's Badge and a Past Mayoress’s Badge for Mrs Shani Stewart.

 

Cllr Stewart thanked Members and congratulated the Mayor and Mayoress on their appointment. He reflected on his year and the range of experiences he had through the year, from being recognised in Greggs to visiting Buckingham Palace and meeting the King. He described not always feeling instinctively comfortable in the role but that he felt it was an immense privilege and honour to have met so many people who quietly contributed to our community, and that he had the opportunity to experience the Borough in such a unique way. He also acknowledged the hospitality of the Nepali Community and partners in the twin town of Oberursel, which he had been fortunate to visit.

 

Cllr Stewart announced that £9,000 had been raised for his charity, Step Beyond Alderwood, which would go towards providing support to young people at Alderwood School. He extended a special thanks to Virginia Barrett, Principal - Farnborough College of Technology, who had supported a dinner at the Galleries earlier in the month, and the local Rotary Clubs and Tamu Dhee Society, who had also supported his fundraising activities.

 

Cllr Stewart thanked officers for their support, in particular Mrs Amanda Hanson in the Democracy Team who had managed the mayoral diary around his busy schedules. He thanked his Mum, as his Mayoress, for her enormous support and encouragement and extended his thanks to Cllr Cullum, in his role as Deputy Mayor, for his support throughout the year.

 

In concluding, he remarked that the role of Mayor had reminded him that, despite what we sometimes told ourselves about modern public life, most people were kinder, warmer and more community-minded than we often gave each other credit for. Over the year, he had found himself caring deeply, not just about the role of Mayor, but about what it represented; connection, community, service and belonging.

 

He thanked all for the enormous privilege and honour of serving the Borough as one of the youngest ever councillors to be elected Mayor of the Borough.

To elect a Deputy Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2027.

 

On their election, the Deputy Mayor will make their 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 Mara Makunura; SECONDED by Cllr Paul Taylor – That Cllr Jib Belbase be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2027.

 

RESOLVED: That Councillor JIB BELBASE be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2027.

 

Cllr Jib Belbase then made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office in accordance with Section 83 of the Local Government Act, 1972.

 

The Deputy Mayor thanked his proposer and seconder for their kind words and the Council for their trust and support in appointing him as Deputy Mayor. He also extended his congratulations to the Mayor and pledged to support him to make his year a success.

 

The Deputy Mayor signified the appointment of his wife, Mrs Amita Belbase as his Deputy Mayoress.

To confirm the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 19th March 2026 (copy Minutes herewith).

It was MOVED by Cllr Gareth Williams; SECONDED by Cllr Sophie Porter and

 

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council on 19th March 2026 (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 7th May 2026 (copy attached).

The Returning Officer, Mr Ian Harrison, submitted his report on the results of the Borough Council Elections held on Thursday, 7th May 2026 (appended to these minutes).

 

The Council placed on record its thanks and appreciation for the service and dedication given to the Council and the Borough by Cllrs Jules Crossley, A.H. Gani, C.P. Grattan, Nadia Martin and S. Trussler who had been unsuccessful in being re-elected and Cllrs Abe Allen, Peace Essien-Igodifo, M.D. Smith and Jacqui Vosper who did not seek re-election.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

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

 

·       Rotary’s Kids Day Out on 10th June;

·       The Lord Lieutenant’s Reception for New Mayors and Council Chairmen at Serles House on 22nd June; and

·       National Armed Forces Day on 27th and 28th June.

 

The Mayor also advised that he was planning some charity fundraising events including a Civic Dinner in March 2027.

To consider the nominations and appoint the Leader of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting in 2027. Cllr Gareth Williams has been nominated by the Labour Group.

 

It was MOVED by Cllr Sophie Porter; SECONDED by Cllr Julie Hall - That Cllr Gareth Williams be appointed Leader of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2027.  

 

There voted FOR: 18; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAIN: 14 and the Motion was DECLARED CARRIED.

 

(1)          To note the appointment of the Deputy Leader and the following councillors as Cabinet Portfolio Holders for the Municipal Year 2026/27, as made by the Leader of the Council:

 

Cllr Sophie Porter	Deputy Leader and Healthy Communities & Active Lives
Cllr Gaynor Austin	Finance and Resources
Cllr Keith Dibble	Housing, Planning & Property
Cllr Christine Guinness	Pride in Place / Neighbourhood Services
Cllr Julie Hall	Economy, Skills and Regeneration

 

(2)          To consider and approve the Appointments to Committees for the Municipal Year 2026/27 as follows in accordance with the allocations to achieve political balance indicated:

 

DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

 

Voting Members:

           

Labour: 4	Conservative: 3	Reform: 2	Others: 1	Ind. 1
Cllr Thomas Day	Cllr Peter Cullum	Cllr Kevin Betsworth	Cllr Calum Stewart	Cllr Becky Williams
Cllr Dhan Sarki	Cllr Mara Makunura	Cllr Dave Bell
Cllr Nicky Slater	Cllr Steve Masterson
Cllr Ivan Whitmee
Standing Deputies:
Labour:	Conservative:	Reform:	Others:
Cllr Sarah Spall	Cllr Jib Belbase	Cllr Sharon Harvey	Cllr Craig Card
Cllr Alex Crawford		Cllr Rob Matthews	Cllr Leola Card

 

 

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

 

 

AUDIT AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

 

Voting Members

 

Labour: 5	Conservative: 3	Reform: 1	Others: 2
Cllr Alex Crawford	Cllr Peter Cullum	Cllr Ian Simpson	Cllr Craig Card
Cllr Thomas Day	Cllr Paul Taylor		Cllr Thomas Mitchell
Cllr Bill O’Donovan	Cllr Martin Tennant
Cllr Dhan Sarki
Cllr Sarah Spall
Standing Deputies:
Labour:	Conservative:	Reform:	Others:
Cllr Nicky Slater	Cllr Sue Carter	Cllr Sharon Harvey	Cllr Leola Card
Cllr Ivan Whitmee		Cllr Kevin Betsworth	Cllr Calum Stewart

 

 

 

LICENSING AND COPORATE BUSINESS COMMITTEE

 

Voting Members

 

Labour: 5	Conservative: 3	Reform: 2	Others: 1
Cllr Alex Crawford	Cllr Sue Carter	Cllr Dave Bell	Cllr Craig Card
Cllr Lisa Greenway	Cllr Peter Cullum	Cllr Kevin Betsworth
Cllr Rhian Jones	Cllr Steve Masteron
Cllr Bill O’Donovan
Cllr Sarah Spall
Standing Deputies:
(not licensing hearings)
Labour:	Conservative:	Reform:	Others:
Cllr Uttar Gurung	Cllr Paul Taylor	Cllr Sally McGuinness	Cllr Leola Card
Cllr Mike Roberts		Cllr Ian Simpson	Cllr Calum Stewart

 

 

 

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITEE

 

Voting Members

           

Labour: 5	Conservative: 3	Reform: 2	Others: 1
Cllr Uttar Gurung	Cllr Ade Adeola	Cllr Sally McGuinness	Cllr Halleh Koohestani
Cllr Bill O’Donovan	Cllr Steve Harden	Cllr Kevin Betsworth
Cllr Mike Roberts	Cllr Gareth Lyon
Cllr Nicky Slater
Cllr Sarah Spall
Standing Deputies:
Labour:	Conservative:	Reform:	Others:
Cllr Alex Crawford	Cllr Mara Makunura	Cllr Sharon Harvey	Cllr Craig Card
Cllr Lisa Greenway	Cllr Martin Tennant	Cllr Rob Matthews	Cllr Leola Card

                                                           

 

 

POLICY AND PROJECT ADVISORY BOARD

 

Voting Members

           

Labour: 5	Conservative: 2	Reform: 2	Others: 2
Cllr Thomas Day	Cllr Ade Adeola	Cllr Sharon Harvey	Cllr Leola Card
Cllr Lisa Greenway	Cllr Jib Belbase	Cllr Rob Matthews	Cllr Calum Stewart
Cllr Uttar Gurung
Cllr Rhian Jones
Cllr Mike Roberts
Standing Deputies:
Labour:	Conservative:	Reform:	Others:
Cllr Dhan Sarki	Cllr Mara Makunura	Cllr Dave Bell	Cllr Craig Card
Cllr Ivan Whitmee	Cllr Steve Masterson	Cllr Kevin Betsworth	Cllr Halleh Koohestani

                                                           

 

(3)             To  ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.