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New Forest Borough Council
Councillors: 48
Wards: 28
Committees: 14
Meetings (2026): 60
Meetings (2025): 80

Meeting

Council - New Forest

Minutes
Pending
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Monday, 18th May 2026
6:30 PM
End:
Monday, 18th May 2026
10:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed; Annual Council
Date:
18 May 2026
Location:
Council Chamber - Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA
Meeting Attendees
Cllr Geoffrey Blunden photo
Committee Member
Cllr Geoffrey Blunden

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Hilary Brand photo
Committee Member
Cllr Hilary Brand

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Cllr Mark Clark photo
Committee Member
Cllr Mark Clark

Liberal Democrat

Apologies

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Cllr Steve Clarke photo
Committee Member
Cllr Steve Clarke

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Colm McCarthy photo
Committee Member
Cllr Colm McCarthy

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Cllr Kate Crisell photo
Committee Member
Cllr Kate Crisell

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Sean Cullen photo
Committee Member
Cllr Sean Cullen

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Cllr Jack Davies photo
Committee Member
Cllr Jack Davies

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Cllr Steve Davies photo
Committee Member
Cllr Steve Davies

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Philip Dowd photo
Committee Member
Cllr Philip Dowd

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Cllr Barry Dunning photo
Committee Member
Cllr Barry Dunning

Reform UK

Absent

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Cllr Jacqui England photo
Committee Member
Cllr Jacqui England

Independent

Present, as expected

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Cllr Allan Glass photo
Committee Member
Cllr Allan Glass

Conservative

Apologies

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Cllr David Harrison photo
Committee Member
Cllr David Harrison

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Cllr Matthew Hartmann photo
Committee Member
Cllr Matthew Hartmann

Conservative

Apologies

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Cllr David Hawkins photo
Committee Member
Cllr David Hawkins

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr John Haywood photo
Committee Member
Cllr John Haywood

Labour and Co-operative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Jeremy Heron photo
Committee Member
Cllr Jeremy Heron

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr David Millar photo
Committee Member
Cllr David Millar

Liberal Democrat

Apologies

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Cllr Nigel Linford photo
Committee Member
Cllr Nigel Linford

Independent

Present, as expected

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Cllr Patrick Mballa photo
Committee Member
Cllr Patrick Mballa

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Cllr Ian Murray photo
Committee Member
Cllr Ian Murray

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Alan O'Sullivan photo
Committee Member
Cllr Alan O'Sullivan

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Steve Rippon-Swaine photo
Committee Member
Cllr Steve Rippon-Swaine

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Adam Parker photo
Committee Member
Cllr Adam Parker

Green

Present, as expected

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Cllr Neville Penman photo
Committee Member
Cllr Neville Penman

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Dan Poole photo
Committee Member
Cllr Dan Poole

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Barry Rickman photo
Committee Member
Vice-Chairman of Council
Cllr Barry Rickman

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Derek Tipp photo
Committee Member
Cllr Derek Tipp

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Alex Wade photo
Committee Member
Cllr Alex Wade

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Cllr Malcolm Wade photo
Committee Member
Cllr Malcolm Wade

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Cllr Christine Ward photo
Committee Member
Cllr Christine Ward

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Phil Woods photo
Committee Member
Cllr Phil Woods

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Cllr Richard Young photo
Committee Member
Cllr Richard Young

Reform UK

Apologies

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Officer
Chief Executive
Kate Ryan

In attendance

Officer
Principal Democratic Services Officer
Karen Wardle

In attendance

Cllr John Sleep photo
Chairman
Cllr John Sleep

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Caroline Rackham photo
Committee Member
Cllr Caroline Rackham

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Cllr Janet Richards photo
Committee Member
Cllr Janet Richards

Green

Present, as expected

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Cllr John Adams photo
Committee Member
Cllr John Adams

Conservative

Apologies

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Cllr Alan Alvey photo
Committee Member
Cllr Alan Alvey

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Officer
Democratic ICT Officer
Daniel Reynafarje

In attendance

Officer
Assistant Director - Strategy and Engagement
Matt Wisdom

In attendance

Cllr Neil Tungate photo
Committee Member
Cllr Neil Tungate

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Alvin Reid photo
Committee Member
Cllr Alvin Reid

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Dave Penny photo
Vice-Chairman
Chairman of Council
Cllr Dave Penny

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Peter Armstrong photo
Committee Member
Cllr Peter Armstrong

Independent

Present, as expected

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Cllr Jill Cleary photo
Committee Member
Leader of the Council
Cllr Jill Cleary

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Cllr Stephanie Osborne photo
Committee Member
Cllr Stephanie Osborne

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Cllr Joe Reilly photo
Committee Member
Cllr Joe Reilly

Independent

Present, as expected

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Cllr Michael Thierry photo
Committee Member
Cllr Michael Thierry

Non-aligned

Present, as expected

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Officer
Interim Strategic Director of Place, Operations and Sustainability
Tracey Coleman

In attendance

Officer
Sara Hamilton

In attendance

Officer
Chief Operations Officer and Deputy Chief Executive
Richard Knott

In attendance

Officer
Strategic Director Housing and Communities
Sophie Sajic

In attendance

Officer
Democratic Services Officer
Joe Tyler

In attendance

Agenda
0 Apologies
1 Minutes
To confirm the minutes of the meeting(s) held on 13 April 2026 as a correct record.
Attachments:
2 Declarations of Interests
To note any declarations of interests made by members in connection with an agenda item. The nature of the interests must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.
3 Vote of Thanks to the Outgoing Chairman
4 Outgoing Chairman's Statement
The Chairman will address the Council, after which he and his consort will be presented with badges of their past offices.
5 Election of Chairman
To elect a Chairman of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting in 2027.

Cllr Penny is the Council’s nomination for the ensuing year.
6 Address by the Chairman
The newly elected Chairman will address the Council.
7 Appointment of Vice-Chairman
To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting in 2027.

Cllr Rickman is the Council’s nomination for the ensuing year.
8 Allocation of Seats and Appointments To Committees and Panels
To agree the allocation of seats to the political groups on those Committees and Panels to which the political balance rules apply and to approve the appointment of Members to Committees and Panels.
9 Meeting Dates
To note the following schedule of Council meetings for the remainder of the 2026/27 municipal year, all commencing at 6.30 pm:

· 13 July 2026

· 14 September 2026

· 12 October 2026

· 14 December 2026

· 22 February 2027

· 12 April 2027

· 17 May 2027 (Annual Meeting)
10 Any Other Items Which the Chairman Decides Are Urgent
Previous Meetings
Meeting

18th May 2026

Council

Meeting

13th Apr 2026

Council

Meeting

26th Feb 2026

Council

Meeting

15th Dec 2025

Council

Meeting

3rd Nov 2025

Council

Meeting

13th Oct 2025

Council

Meeting

25th Sep 2025

Council

Meeting

15th Sep 2025

Council

Meeting

28th Aug 2025

Council

Meeting

14th Jul 2025

Council

Future Meetings
Meeting

13th Jul 2026

Council

Meeting

14th Sep 2026

Council

Meeting

12th Oct 2026

Council

Meeting

14th Dec 2026

Council

Meeting

22nd Feb 2027

Council

Meeting

12th Apr 2027

Council

Meeting

17th May 2027

Council

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