Rushmoor Borough Council Council Meeting

Nominations were invited for the election of the Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2022/23.  It was MOVED by Cllr Mrs. D.B. Bedford; SECONDED by Cllr K. Dibble - That Cllr John Henry Marsh be elected Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2023.

RESOLVED: That Councillor JOHN HENRY MARSH be elected Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2023.

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 J.H. MARSH) 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 the Major Ted Benneyworth, as the Mayor’s Chaplain.  Major Benneyworth was from Salvation Army and the Mayor was looking forward to working together with him. 

The Mayor announced that he would be supporting Parity for Disability and Phyllis Tuckwell as his charities for the year ahead.

The Mayor invited nominations for the election of the Deputy Mayor of the Borough. It was MOVED by Cllr Christine Guinness; SECONDED by Cllr Mrs. D.B. Bedford – That Cllr C.P. Grattan be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2023.

RESOLVED: That Councillor CLIVE PATRICK GRATTAN be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2023.

Cllr Grattan 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.  

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 28th April 2021 (copy having been circulated previously) be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record.

The Returning Officer, Mr. P. Shackley, submitted his report on the results of the Borough Council Elections held on Thursday, 5th May 2022 (appended to these minutes).

The Mayor congratulated all Members who had been re-elected and extended a warm welcome to the new councillors:  Cllrs Ade Adeola, Craig Card, Jules Crossley, Peace Essien-Igodifo, Akmal Gani, Stuart Trussler and the Deputy Mayor (Cllr Clive Grattan).

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

The Mayor advised that he would be holding a Banquet on Friday, 10th March 2023 at Princes Hall and two Afternoon Tea events during his Mayoral Year.  He also announced that he would be inviting the Borough’s Ukrainian refugees and their sponsors to a formal welcome at the Council Offices in the near future.

The Mayor reminded Members and guests that a range of events would be  taking place across the Borough the following week to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.   The two civic events were a Beacon Lighting Ceremony followed by firework display at the Wellington Statue in Aldershot on 2nd June and a Platinum Jubilee Thanksgiving Service at the Royal Garrison Church of All Saints on 5th June.

It was MOVED by Cllr M.L. Sheehan; SECONDED by Cllr M.J. Tennant - That Cllr D.E. Clifford be appointed Leader of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2023.  

There voted FOR: 25; AGAINST: 0 and the Motion was DECLARED CARRIED.

It was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford; SECONDED by Cllr P.I.C. Crerar and

RESOLVED: That the Council place on record its appreciation of the excellent service rendered by Councillor Bruce Alfred Thomas as Mayor of the Borough and Mrs Tracey Thomas as Mayoress during the Municipal Year 2021/22.

The Mayor congratulated Mr Thomas and presented him with a framed, illuminated scroll, together with a Past Mayor's Badge and a Past Mayoress’s Badge and bouquet to Mrs Thomas. 

Other Councillors paid tribute to Mr Thomas’ successful Mayoral Year.

In response, Mr Thomas thanked the proposer and seconder for their kind words.  He referred to the amazing year that he and Mrs Thomas had experienced as Mayor and Mayoress and said that it had been an absolute honour for them both. Mr Thomas referred to some particular highlights of the Mayoral Year and was pleased to report that over £10,000 had been raised for his charities (Phyllis Tuckwell and The Vine Centre).

Mr Thomas thanked his Chaplain, Reverend Malcolm Cummins, who had been a great support to him and presented him with a gift in appreciation of his year as Mayor’s Chaplain. 

Mr Thomas thanked his wife, who had been his rock with her support and strength during his Mayoral Year.

It was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford and SECONDED by Cllr M.J. Tennant –

Appointment of Cabinet Portfolio Holders –

That it be noted that the following appointments of Cabinet Portfolio Holders and the Deputy Leader of the Council for the Municipal Year 2022/23 had been made by the Leader of the Council:

Cllr M.L. Sheehan – Deputy Leader and Operational Services

Cllr M.J. Tennant – Deputy Leader and Major Projects and Property

Cllr J.B. Canty – Customer Experience, Digital and Transformation

Cllr Sue Carter – Democracy, Strategy and Partnerships

Cllr A.R. Newell – Planning and Economy

Cllr P.G. Taylor – Corporate Services

Committees –

That the appointments to Committees for the 2022/23 Municipal Year be approved, in accordance with the allocations to achieve political balance indicated below:

          DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT

       Voting Members

          Standing Deputies

NOTE: The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economy to be an ex officio non-voting member of the Development Management Committee. 

          CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, AUDIT AND STANDARDS                  COMMITTEE

          Voting Members       

          Standing Deputies

NOTE:  The Independent Member (Audit) of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee – Mr Tom Davies – is to be a non-voting Member of the Committee.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE –

          Voting Members

          Standing Deputies

          POLICY AND PROJECT ADVISORY BOARD

          Voting Members

          Standing Deputies

(3)    That the appointments of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the following Committees be approved as set out below:

       Development Management

       Chairman                                -              Cllr C.J. Stewart

       Vice-Chairman                      -              Cllr L. Jeffers

       Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards

       Chairman                                -              Cllr P.J. Cullum

       Vice-Chairman                       -              Cllr Jessica Auton

(4)    That the appointment of the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny  Committee and the Policy and Project Advisory Board be approved as set out below:

          Overview and Scrutiny Committee                    Cllr M.D. Smith

          Policy and Project Advisory Board                  Cllr Marina Munro

(5)     That the appointments to the Management Boards for Council Trusts for the Municipal Year 2022/23 be approved as follows, and that each Management Board be authorised to make decisions on behalf of the Council by majority vote:

The Aldershot Recreation Ground Trust

          Cllr Mrs. D.B. Bedford          Cllr K. Dibble           Cllr M.S. Choudhary  

          Standing Deputy:  Cllr Nadia Martin

            King George’s Field, Farnborough Trust

            Cllr C.J. Stewart              Cllr Christine Guinness        Cllr P.G. Taylor  

            Standing Deputy:  Cllr Mara Makunura

            The Alfred Henry Goode Will Trust

            Cllr D.E. Clifford                  Cllr Nadia Martin               Cllr Sophie Porter

There voted FOR: 34; AGAINST: 0 and the Motion was DECLARED CARRIED.