Annual Council Meeting, Council - Tuesday, 25th May, 2021 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

Cllr  D.E. Clifford will move and Cllr P.I.C. Crerar will second:

“That Councillor BRUCE ALFRED THOMAS be elected Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2022.”

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 Tracey Thomas as Mayoress and Reverend Malcolm Cummins as the Mayor’s Chaplain.

Nominations were invited for the election of the Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2021/22.  It was MOVED by Cllr D.E.Clifford; SECONDED by Cllr P.I.C. Crerar - That Cllr Bruce Alfred Thomas be elected Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2022.

RESOLVED: That Councillor BRUCE ALFRED THOMAS be elected Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2022.

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 B.A. THOMAS) IN THE CHAIR

The Mayor expressed his pride at 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.  He then proceeded to signify the appointment of his wife, Mrs Tracey Thomas, as the Mayoress.  He said he could not have achieved the honour of becoming Mayor without the support of his wife and that they would be supporting eachother on this new challenge in his Mayoral Year. The Mayor also signified the appointment of the Reverend Malcolm Cummins, as the Mayor’s Chaplain.  Reverend Cummins was from the New Testament Church of God in Aldershot and the Mayor was looking forward to working together with him. 

The Mayor announced that he would be supporting the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice and The Vine Centre as his charities for the year ahead.

The Mayor promised to do his very best in his new role as first citizen of the  Borough of Rushmoor, of which he was very proud to be an elected member.

To record the Council’s appreciation of the excellent service rendered by Councillor Mohammad Salim Choudhary as Mayor and Mrs Gul Choudhary as Mayoress during the Municipal Year 2020/21. An illuminated scroll shall be presented, together with a Past Mayor’s Badge, to Councillor Choudhary and a Past Mayoress’ Badge to Mrs Gul Choudhary.

It was MOVED by Cllr P.G. Taylor; SECONDED by Cllr K. Dibble and

RESOLVED: That the Council place on record its appreciation of the excellent service rendered by Councillor Mohammed Salim Choudhary as Mayor of the Borough and Mrs Gul Choudhary during the Municipal Year 2020/21.

The Mayor congratulated Cllr Choudhary and drew attention to the framed, illuminated scroll, together with a Past Mayor's Badge and a Past Mayoress’s Badge that were on display for both Cllr and Mrs Choudhary.

In response, Cllr Choudhary thanked Cllrs Taylor and Dibble for their kind words.  Cllr Choudhary spoke of the very different past year due to the Covid pandemic.  It had proved to be a challenging year for everyone.  Sacrifices had been made by the community and many businesses.  Sadly, there had been loss and grief in the community, including the death of long-standing colleague, Cllr Frank Rust who had passed away in 2020. 

Cllr Choudhary referred to a year of chairing full Council meetings remotely via Microsoft Teams with decision-making enabled remotely via new legislation.  He thanked officers for implementing measures to help residents and businesses and working with partner organisations to keep the community safe.  He also referred to the positive contribution that local authorities made in strengthening local communities. 

Cllr Choudhary thanked the NHS, key workers, community groups and volunteers who had continued to keep services available and had kept support centres open, such as The Source, Step by Step, Rushmoor Voluntary Services and the Vine Centre and charity fundraisers who had continued to devote their time to raising funds that benefitted people’s lives and had played a key part in supporting the local community through prescription runs, shopping and other help for vulnerable residents and being available to chat over the phone with the isolated and lonely. 

Cllr Choudhary referred to the engagements he had attended during his Mayoral Year, the theme for his time as Mayor – health and wellbeing and the work of the charities he had supported: Broadhurst Welcome Home Community Ltd and Parity for Disability.  He was pleased to report that his Charity Committee had raised around £10,000 in support of his charities.  He expressed gratitude to his Charity Committee, chaired by Mr Terry Owens, for their work during the year. 

Cllr Choudhary thanked Reverend George Newton for his support, counsel and words of wisdom during his time as Mayor’s Chaplain.  He also thanked the team of officers who had assisted him during his Mayoral Year. 

He concluded by thanking his wife and family for their continued support and encouragement during his 29 years of being a councillor. 

Cllr S.J. Masterson will move and Cllr K.H. Muschamp will second:

“That Councillor JOHN HENRY MARSH be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2022.”

On his election, Councillor Marsh will make his 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 S.J. Masterson; SECONDED by Cllr K.H. Muschamp – That Cllr J.H. Marsh be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2022.

RESOLVED: That Councillor JOHN HENRY MARSH be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2022.

Cllr Marsh then made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office.   

The Deputy Mayor thanked his proposer and seconder for their kind words and the Council for the confidence placed in him.   He pledged his support to the Mayor in the coming year.  

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the meeting of the Council held on 22nd April, 2021(copy Minutes herewith).

It was MOVED by Cllr K.H. Muschamp; SECONDED by Cllr P.G. Taylor and

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council on 22nd April 2021 (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 6th May 2021 (copy attached).

The Returning Officer, Mr. P. Shackley, submitted his report on the results of the Borough Council Elections held on Thursday, 6th May 2021 (appended to these minutes).

The Mayor congratulated all Members who had been re-elected and extended a warm welcome to the new councillors:  Cllrs Jessica Auton, Jib Belbase,  Michael Hope, Sarah Spall and Nem Thapa.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

The Mayor advised the Council that he proposed to hold a number of events during his Mayoral Year.  These would include two afternoon tea events and a Charity Ball in March 2022.

To consider nominations and appoint the Leader of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting in 2022. Cr. D.E. Clifford has been nominated by the Conservative Group.

It was MOVED by Cllr M.J. Tennant; SECONDED by Cllr K.H. Muschamp - That Cllr D.E. Clifford be appointed Leader of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2022.  

There voted FOR: 23; AGAINST: 0 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 2021/22, as made by the Leader of the Council:

(2)            To consider and approve the Appointments to Committees for the Municipal Year 2021/22 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 C.J. Stewart

Nominated Vice-Chairman           -         Cllr L. Jeffers

Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards

Nominated Chairman                   -         Cllr Sue Carter

Nominated Vice-Chairman           -         Cllr P.J. Cullum

(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 J.B. Canty

(5)            To consider and approve the appointments to the Management Boards for the Municipal Year 2021/22:

The Aldershot Recreation Ground Trust

King George’s Field, Farnborough Trust

          The Alfred Henry Goode Will  ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.