Meeting documents

Annual Council
Tuesday, 15 May 2007

annual council

MINUTES of the Meeting held at The Wyvern Hall, Central Avenue, Sittingbourne on Tuesday 15th May 2007 from 7:00 pm to 8:28 pm.

Present: Councillor John Morris (Mayor), Councillor Alan Willicombe (Deputy Mayor), Councillors Dave Banks, Barnicott, Bobbin, Chris Boden, Monique Bonney, Bowles, Mike Brown, Simon Clark, Jackie Constable, Mick Constable, Mike Cosgrove, Cindy Davis, Duncan Dewar-Whalley, Mark Ellen, Fentiman, David Garside, Sandra Garside, Sue Gent, Brenda Hammond, Nicholas Hampshire, Harrison, Lesley Ingham, Gerry Lewin, Elvina Lowe, Mulhern, Prescott, Kenneth Pugh, Gareth Randall, David Simmons, Ben Stokes, Manuella Tomes, Roger Truelove, Anita Walker, Nick Williams, Jean Willicombe, Worrall, Gemma Wray and John Wright.

Officers Present: Mrs Bescoby and Elliott, Misses Davies, Hammond, Mackenzie and Waltham and Messrs Milne, Radford and Russell.

Apologies: Councillors John Disney, Mike Haywood, Pat Sandle, Brenda Simpson, Adam Tolhurst, Tovey and Ghlin Whelan.

1  

change in the order of business

The Mayor advised that the order of business had been altered to that printed on the agenda, and was shown in the programme which had been tabled.

 
2  

prayers

The meeting opened with Prayers from Reverend Nick Finlay.

 
3  

presentation to honorary aldermen

Councillor Bowles proposed and Councillor Gerry Lewin seconded that Donald Jordan be awarded the title of Honorary Alderman.

Councillor Brenda Hammond proposed and Councillor Elvie Lowe seconded that David Manning be awarded the title of Honorary Alderman.

Councillor Harrison proposed and Councillor Mark Ellen seconded that Jennie Ronan be awarded the title of Honorary Alderman.

Councillor Elvie Lowe proposed and Councillor Mike Brown seconded that Brian Woodland be awarded the title of Honorary Alderman.

Upon being put to the vote and agreed unanimously, the Mayor presented Donald Jordan, Jennie Ronan and Brian Woodland with scrolls to reflect this honour and they gave a short speech in recognition of this award. As Dave Manning was unable to attend, Councillor Elvie Lowe accepted the scroll on his behalf.

RESOLVED:

(1) That this Council, in pursuance of Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, confers upon Donald Jordan, David Manning, Jennie Ronan and Brian Woodland the title of Honorary Alderman, in recognition of the valuable service given to the Council by them as past Members of the Council.
 
4  

presentation to past members

The Mayor presented scrolls to Christine Coles, Adrian Crowther and Martin Goodhew in recognition of them completing at least one full term of office. As Stuart Davidson and Fiona Gowdy were unable to attend the meeting, scrolls would be passed on to them.

 
5  

presentation of charity cheques

The Mayor presented cheques to charity representatives from the following organisations: Demelza Hospice Care for Children; Local Macmillan Cancer Support and SSAFA Forces Help, Sheppey (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association).
He advised that he had already presented a cheque to the Jefferson Day Centre, Kent Oncology, Maidstone Hospital, as a representative was unable to attend the meeting. Each cheque was for £1500.

 
6  

election of the mayor

Councillor Harrison proposed and Councillor Roger Truelove seconded that Councillor Jackie Constable be elected as Mayor for the forthcoming year 2007/2008.

Councillor Ken Pugh proposed and Councillor Ben Stokes seconded that Councillor John Morris be elected as Mayor for the forthcoming year 2007/2008.

Upon being put to the vote, Councillor John Morris was elected as Mayor. Councillor John Morris made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and gave thanks for being elected as Mayor for a second year.

RESOLVED:

(1) That Councillor John Morris be elected as Mayor for the municipal year 2007/2008.
 
7  

election of deputy mayor

Councillor Bowles proposed and Councillor Barnicott seconded that Councillor Alan Willicombe be elected as Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2007/2008. On being agreed, Councillor Alan Willicombe made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and was presented with his badge of office. The Mayoress, Councillor Jean Willicombe, was presented with her badge of office and flowers.

At this point in the meeting, there was a short adjournment to reflect the end of the current civic year and the start of the new term of office.

RESOLVED:

(1) That Councillor Alan Willicombe be elected as Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2007/2008.
 
8  

vote of thanks to the retired deputy mayor

Councillor Barnicott proposed and Councillor Cindy Davis seconded a vote of thanks to Adrian Crowther for his work as Deputy Mayor. The Mayor presented Adrian Crowther with a scroll in recognition of this and he gave a short speech thanking Members for the opportunity to carry out this role.

 
9  

vote of thanks and the forthcoming mayoral year

Councillor Mike Cosgrove proposed and Councillor Sue Gent seconded a vote of thanks to the Mayor for his hard work in the previous year, reflecting on the role of Mayor as ambassador for Swale and the amounts he had raised for his charities.

The Mayor thanked Members for their support and for agreeing for him to continue for another year. He was very pleased to have raised over £6000 for his charities and reflected on the friendships he had made over the year; support from all the political groups on the Council and staff at the Council. In particular he thanked the Mayors PA, the Assistant to the Chief Executive, his Cadets, the Mayor's Chauffeur and his wife and Mayoress and presented gifts to those present.

The Mayor then outlined the forthcoming mayoral year and advised that he would continue his work with youngsters. The Charities he had chosen to support were the Local Macmillan Cancer Support, the Swale Youth Development Fund, Kent Music School and the BRFM Local radio station.

 
10  

appointment of the mayor's cadets

The Mayor advised that he was pleased to re-appoint Cadet Sargeant Ben Jones of Sittingbourne Army Cadet Unit and appoint Leading Cadet Jake Firth of the Sittingbourne Sea Cadet Unit as his Cadets.

He advised that his other cadet, Cadet Sargeant Jim Baker of the Sittingbourne Army Cadet Unit, could not continue as he was joining the army and wished him well.

 
11  

appointment of the mayor's chaplain

The Mayor announced that he had appointed Reverend Nick Finlay as his chaplain for the municipal year 2007/2008.

 
12  

adjournment of meeting

The Mayor adjourned the meeting until the following evening at 7pm and invited Members and guests for refreshments.

 
All Minutes are draft until agreed at the next meeting of the Committee/Panel

View the Agenda for this meeting

 

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