Agenda and draft minutes

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

That Councillor Steve Bridger be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2024/25.

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 Neil Dallen, seconded by Councillor Shanice Goldman and resolved by the Council:

That Councillor Robert Leach be elected Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2024/25.

It was proposed by Councillor Chris Ames that a vote of thanks be recorded to the Outgoing Mayor, Councillor Rob Geleit. Accordingly, it was resolved:

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

The Chief Executive, on behalf of Members of the Council, presented a Badge of Office to Councillor Rob Geleit in recognition of his services to the Office of Mayor and the Council’s Badge to Ms Thomasina Tanner in recognition of her services as Mayoress. The gifts were acknowledged by Councillor Geleit 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 Rob Geleit, thereupon vacated the Chair and the newly elected Mayor, Councillor Steve Bridger, took the Chair)

Councillor Steve Bridger and Councillor Robert Leach 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:

·                     Epsom and Ewell Phab

·                     Puffins

·                     Ruxley Foundation

To receive declarations of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or other registrable or non-registrable 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 16 April 2024.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 16 April 2024 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 unanimously 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 2024/25 Municipal Year.

Following consideration, it was resolved unanimously that the Council:

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

(2)          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;

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

(4)          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): Steven McCormick (Chair), Phil Neale (Vice Chair), Chris Ames, Alex Coley, Graham Jones, James Lawrence, Jan Mason, Alan Williamson.

Community and Wellbeing Committee (8): Clive Woodbridge (Chair), Bernice Froud (Vice Chair), Rob Geleit, Graham Jones, Alison Kelly, Rachel King, Humphrey Reynolds, Kim Spickett.

Environment (8): Liz Frost (Chair), Alan Williamson (Vice Chair), Arthur Abdulin, Christine Cleveland, Tony Froud, Jan Mason, Julie Morris, Kieran Persand.

Crime and Disorder Committee (5): Shanice Goldman (Chair), Tony Froud, Christine Howells, James Lawrence, Alan Williamson.

Licensing and Planning Policy Committee (10): Peter O’Donovan (Chair), Neil Dallen (Vice Chair), Robert Leach, Rob Geleit, Shanice Goldman, Julie Morris, Phil Neale, Kieran Persand, Humphrey Reynolds, Clive Woodbridge.

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

Strategy and Resources Committee (8): Neil Dallen (Chair), Hannah Dalton (Vice Chair), Kate Chinn, Alex Coley, Alison Kelly, Robert Leach, Lucie McIntyre, Phil Neale.

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

Standards and Constitution Committee (6): Hannah Dalton (Chair), Rachel King (Vice Chair), Chris Ames, John Beckett, James Lawrence, Robert Leach.

Financial Strategy Advisory Group (6): Neil Dallen (Chair), Hannah Dalton, Liz Frost, Alison Kelly, Peter O’Donovan, Clive Woodbridge.

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

Human Resources Panel (6): Phil Neale (Chair), Chris Ames, Bernice Froud, Kieran Persand, Kim Spickett, Chris Watson.

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

Surrey Police and Crime Panel (1): Shanice Goldman

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 a vacancy 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:

·         Epsom and Ewell Community Safety Partnership (1 vacancy):

o   Councillor Shanice Goldman 26 votes (APPOINTED)

o   Councillor Bernie Muir 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)      Delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee, the authority to determine and submit the nomination of a councillor to the vacancies advised by the Surrey Leaders’ Group should more than one candidate be put forward in relation to the particular vacancy;

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

This report presents Grant Thornton’s 2022/23 Annual Report to members.

The Council received a report presenting Grant Thornton’s 2022/23 Annual Report.

Councillor Steven McCormick MOVED and Councillor Hannah Dalton SECONDED the recommendation in the report.

Upon being put the recommendations were unanimously CARRIED.

Accordingly, it was resolved to:

(1)      Receive the Auditor’s Annual Report;

(2)      Note the management responses to the auditor’s recommendations at Appendix 1 to the report.

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.