Agenda and minutes

It was proposed by Councillor Steven McCormick, seconded by Councillor Chris Ames and resolved by the Council:

That Councillor Rob Geleit be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

a)            Vote of Thanks to the retiring Mayor

b)            Presentation of badge to the retiring Mayor and gift to the Mayoress

c)            Retiring Mayor’s retiring address

The retiring Mayor will vacate the Chair and, with the consent of the Council, will leave the Hall with the Dias Party and the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress elect.

On returning to the Hall, the newly elected Mayor will take the Chair.

d)            Declaration of Acceptance of Office by the newly elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

It was proposed by Councillor Phil Neale, seconded by Councillor Alex Coley and resolved by the Council:

That Councillor Steve Bridger be elected Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

It was proposed by Councillor Christine Cleveland that a vote of thanks be recorded to the Outgoing Mayor, Councillor Clive Woodbridge. Accordingly, it was resolved:

That the Council place on record its high appreciation of the excellent and devoted service rendered by Councillor Clive Woodbridge during his term of office as Mayor.

The Chief Executive, on behalf of Members of the Council, presented a Badge of Office to Councillor Clive Woodbridge in recognition of his services to the Office of Mayor and the Council’s Badge to Mrs Mary Woodbridge in recognition of her services as Mayoress. The gifts were acknowledged by Councillor Woodbridge who spoke of his privilege and pleasure to have been Mayor of the Borough, thanking all who had helped him during his term of office.

(The retiring Mayor, Councillor Clive Woodbridge, thereupon vacated the Chair and the newly elected Mayor, Councillor Rob Geleit, took the Chair)

Councillor Rob Geleit and Councillor Steve Bridger made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office as Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively.

The Mayor spoke in acknowledgement of his election, announcing that he had selected the following organisations to help as his chosen charities:

·                     Love Me Love My Mind

·                     Age Concern Epsom

·                     Citizens Advice Epsom and Ewell

To receive declarations of the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made by Councillors regarding items on the agenda.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 18 April 2023.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 18 April 2023 were agreed as a true record and the Mayor was authorised to sign them.

The purpose of this report is to seek the Council’s approval of the Constitution.

The Council received a report seeking approval of the Constitution.

Following consideration, it was resolved by majority vote in favour to:

(1)          Approve the Constitution of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.

To note the allocation of seats on Committees and Advisory Panels, approve the appointments to Committees and Advisory Panel and the appointments of Chairs and Vice Chairs to such.

The Council considered a report seeking approval of the allocation of seats on Committees and Advisory Panels; the appointments to Committees and Advisory Panels and the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

Following consideration, it was resolved unanimously that the Council:

(1)          Noted the allocation of seats based on political balance and proportionality;

(1)          Allocated seats on the Committees and Advisory Panels in accordance with the wishes of the political groups set out in Appendix 1 to the report and detailed below;

(2)          Appointed Chairs and Vice Chairs in light of the nominations received as set out in Appendix 1 to the report and detailed below.

(3)          Appointed all members of Council as substitutes for their group members on committees, where the group member is unable to attend a meeting.

Audit and Scrutiny Committee (8): Steve Bridger (Chair),Robert Leach (Vice Chair),Chris Ames, Rachel King, James Lawrence, Jan Mason, Phil Neale, Chris Watson.

Community and Wellbeing Committee (8): Clive Woodbridge (Chair), Bernice Froud (Vice Chair), Kate Chinn, Shanice Goldman, Alison Kelly, Rachel King, Lucie McIntyre, Darren Talbot.

Environment (8): John Beckett (Chair), Liz Frost (Vice Chair), Arthur Abdulin, Tony Froud, Steven McCormick, Julie Morris, Kieran Persand, Kim Spickett.

Crime and Disorder Committee (5): Alex Coley (Chair), Shanice Goldman, James Lawrence, Darren Talbot, Alan Williamson.

Licensing and Planning Policy Committee (8): Steven McCormick (Chair), Peter O’Donovan (Vice Chair), Steve Bridger, Shanice Goldman, Julie Morris, Phil Neale, Kieran Persand, Clive Woodbridge.

Licensing Sub Committee Panel: Steven McCormick, Peter O’Donovan, Steve Bridger, Neil Dallen, Julian Freeman, Shanice Goldman, Kieran Persand, Phil Neal.

Planning Committee (10): Humphrey Reynolds (Chair), Steven McCormick (Vice Chair), Kate Chinn, Neil Dallen, Julian Freeman, Jan Mason, Bernie Muir, Phil Neale, Peter O’Donovan, Clive Woodbridge.

Strategy and Resources Committee (8): Neil Dallen (Chair), Hannah Dalton (Vice Chair), Chris Ames, Shanice Goldman, Graham Jones, Alison Kelly, Robert Leach, Alan Williamson.

Shareholder Sub-Committee (5): To be appointed by the Strategy and Resources Committee.

Standards and Constitution Committee (6): Liz Frost (Chair), Hannah Dalton (Vice Chair), Chris Ames, James Lawrence, Robert Leach, Chris Watson.

Financial Policy Panel (6): Neil Dallen (Chair), John Beckett, Hannah Dalton, Alison Kelly, Steven McCormick, Clive Woodbridge.

Health Liaison Panel (6): Christine Cleveland (Chair), Chris Ames, Liz Frost,  Bernice Froud, Bernie Muir, Kim Spickett.

Human Resources Panel (6): Christine Cleveland (Chair), Chris Ames, Neil Dallen, Robert Leach, Phil Neale, Kieran Persand.

Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee (3): Julian Freeman, Christine Howells, Tony Froud.

Surrey Police and Crime Panel (1): Alex Coley

This report seeks appointments to representation on external bodies.

The Council received a report seeking appointments to representation on external bodies. The following matter was considered:

a)            Ballots. The Council undertook a ballot for all vacancies for which the number of nominations exceeded the number of available places, as set out in the agenda. At the invitation of the Mayor, the Chief Executive informed the Council that the results of the ballots were as follows:

·         Age Concern (Epsom and Ewell) – General Committee (2 vacancies):

o   Councillor Arthur Abdulin 21 votes (APPOINTED)

o   Councillor Steven McCormick 22 votes (APPOINTED)

o   Councillor Bernie Muir 3 votes

·         Central Surrey Community Action (1 vacancy):

o   Councillor Steven McCormick 20 votes (APPOINTED)

o   Councillor Bernie Muir 3 votes

·         Committee of Management of Local Citizens Advice Bureau (2 vacancies):

o   Councillor Robert Leach 20 votes (APPOINTED)

o   Councillor Steven McCormick 23 votes (APPOINTED)

o   Councillor Bernie Muir 5 votes

·         Epsom and Walton Downs Conservators (6 vacancies):

o   Councillor Christine Cleveland 24 votes (APPOINTED)

o   Councillor Liz Frost 24 votes (APPOINTED)

o   Councillor Bernice Froud 24 votes (APPOINTED)

o   Councillor Steven McCormick 24 votes (APPOINTED)

o   Councillor Kieran Persand 4 votes

o   Councillor Kim Spickett 24 votes (APPOINTED)

o   Councillor Clive Woodbridge 20 votes (APPOINTED)

·         Surrey Environment Partnership (1 vacancy):

o   Councillor John Beckett 16 votes (APPOINTED)

o   Councillor Kieran Persand 3 votes

Following consideration, it was resolved unanimously:

That the Council:

(1)      Appointed representatives to the external bodies and inter authority partnerships set out in Appendix 1 to the report and detailed below;

(2)      Appointed the Member Champions set out in Appendix 1 to the report and detailed below;

(3)      Noted the Officer/Member Working Groups appointed by Committees set out in Appendix 1 to the report and detailed below.

Following a recruitment exercise carried out with six other surrey borough councils, to seek the formal appointment of the council’s statutory independent persons for a four year term expiring in May 2027.

The Council received a report seeking the formal appointment of the council’s statutory independent persons for a four year term expiring in May 2027.

Following consideration, it was unanimously agreed to:

(1)      Appoint the following as Independent Persons for a four-year term of office expiring in May 2027:

·                     Andrea Armstrong

·                     Vivienne Cameron

·                     Jane Clarke

·                     Bill Donnelly

·                     John Smith

To approve a programme of ordinary meetings of the Council for the year.

The Council received a report requesting it to approve a programme of ordinary meetings of the Council for the year.

Following consideration, it was resolved unanimously:

(1)          That the Council approved the programme of ordinary meetings for the year