Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Mayor, Cllr Peter Scollard asked the Chaplain, Mrs Marion Fielder-White to say a prayer for the meeting.

The Chief Executive stated that the Council had instituted an award scheme to recognise and honour individual and collective contributions to community life. Awards were presented by the Mayor to the under-mentioned persons/organisations:-

Dave Parnell

Marie Butler

Maxime Carolan

Elliott Holmes Foundation – (Peter Scutts & Kerry Holmes)

Adrian Flaherty

Graham Broadbent

Andrea Jackova

Michael Cubitt

Riverview Little Knits – (Denise Parris & Wendy Hull)

Janet Yeo

Eileen Perks

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Jo Hart.

No declarations of interest were made.

3.1      The Mayor will call for nominations.

3.2      Members will vote by a show of hands on nominations.

            (Note: Candidates may vote)

3.3      The incoming Mayor will come forward and stand to the right of the Mayor.

3.4      The incoming Mayor will be asked by the Chief Executive to read     aloud the Declaration of Acceptance of Office required by Section 83      of the Local Government Act 1972. The Mayor will then sign the             declaration and the Chief Executive will announce the fact to the      Council.

3.5      The outgoing Mayor will shake the hand of the incoming Mayor         and vacate the Mayoral Chair.

3.6      The entire company will rise and the National Anthem will be             played.

3.7      The company remain standing; the incoming Mayor will retire            together with the outgoing Mayor and the platform party.

3.8      There will be an interval during the robing of the new Mayor.

3.9      The Mayor’s return will be announced and the company asked to     rise. The Mayor will return. The company will remain standing          while the outgoing Mayor is conducted to his seat.

3.10    The Mayor’s installation speech.

3.11    At the conclusion, the Mayor will move “that the best thanks of the   Council be accorded to Peter Scollard for the manner in which he          has carried out the office of Mayor during the past municipal       year”.

3.12    The Leader of the Executive will second the motion.

3.13    The outgoing Mayor will reply.

It was moved by Councillor John Burden and seconded by Councillor Shane Mochrie-Cox that:-

Cllr Gurdip Bungar be elected Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2023/24.

It was resolved unanimously that Cllr Gurdip Bungar be duly elected Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2023/24.

Cllr Gurdip Bungar made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office required by Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Mayor, in giving his acceptance speech, stated that his charities for 2023/24 would be Ellenor, Mencap and Home-Start.

It was moved by Cllr Gurdip Bungar that the best thanks of the Council be accorded to Cllr Peter Scollard for the manner in which he carried out the office of Mayor for the past municipal year.

Cllr Scollard suitably replied and in doing so offered thanks to those who had assisted him during his year in office.

The Mayor will announce that a past Mayor’s Badge will be presented to the outgoing Mayor.

The Worshipful the Mayor presented Cllr Peter Scollard with a Past Mayor’s Badge.

The Mayor will announce that a past Mayoress’s Badge will be presented to the outgoing Mayoress.

The Worshipful the Mayor presented Julie Easy with a Past Mayoress’s Badge.

The Mayor will announce the Mayoress / Mayor’s Escort for the ensuing municipal year.

The Mayor stated that the Mayoress would be Nanjo Bungar and invested her with the Mayoress’s Chain.

The Mayor will announce the Civic Chaplain and invest the incumbent with the Civic Cross.

The Worshipful the Mayor stated that the Civic Chaplain would be Mrs Marion Fielder-White and invested her with the Civic Cross.

8.1      The Mayor will call for nominations.

8.2      Members will vote by a show of hands on nominations.

            (Note: Candidates may vote)

8.3      The incoming Deputy Mayor will come forward and stand to the        right of the Mayor.

8.4      The incoming Deputy Mayor will be asked by the Chief Executive to            read aloud the Declaration of Acceptance of Office required by            Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972. The Deputy Mayor will         then sign the declaration and the Chief Executive will announce the      fact to the Council.

8.5      The Mayor will place the Chain of Office on the incoming Deputy      Mayor and shake his/her hand.

It was moved by Cllr John Burden and seconded by Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox that:-

Cllr Daniel Adewale King be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2023/24.

It was resolved unanimously that Cllr Daniel Adewale King be duly elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal year 2023/24.

Cllr Daniel Adewale King made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office required by Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Deputy Mayor will announce the Deputy Mayoress / Deputy Mayor’s Escort for the ensuing municipal year.

The Deputy Mayor stated that the Deputy Mayoress will be Jokotade Arinola King and invested her with the Deputy Mayoress’s Chain.

Bouquets were presented to the Mayoress, Deputy Mayoress, outgoing Mayoress, outgoing Deputy Mayoress and outgoing Mayor’s consort Mo Trigg.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 11 April 2023 were signed by the Mayor.

To elect a Leader for a four year term of office which ends on the day of the next post-election Annual meeting of Council (under whole Council elections) subject to article 7 (Leader and Cabinet Executive) within the Articles of the Constitution.

Note:

(1)  The Leader will decide upon the size of the Cabinet (subject to a maximum of ten, including the Leader and Deputy Leader) and will appoint Cabinet members from among the serving Councillors.

(2)  The Leader will appoint the Deputy Leader from among the Cabinet members.

(3)  The Leader will confirm the arrangements in respect of the executive delegations.

It was moved by Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox and seconded by Cllr Lenny Rolles that:–

Cllr John Burden be elected as Leader of the Executive for the term of four years in accordance with Section 44A of the Local Government & Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

The motion was put to the meeting and declared to be carried.

The Council noted the arrangements put in place for the Cabinet and the names of the Members that would comprise the Cabinet:-

Cllr John Burden (Leader)

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox (Deputy Leader) - Strategic Environment Portfolio

Cllr Emma Morley - Operational Services Portfolio

Cllr Jenny Wallace - Housing Services Portfolio

Cllr Lauren Sullivan - Community & Leisure Portfolio

Cllr Narinderjit Singh Thandi - Performance and Administration Portfolio

Cllr Lenny Rolles will be undertaking a non-Cabinet position and will chair the ‘Special Cabinet Advisory Committee’ which will oversee activities such as Commercial Activities, Property Investment, Climate Change and Outside Bodies and Partnerships.

13.1     To review the representation of the political groups on the following:-

Planning Committee

Licensing Committee

Finance and Audit Committee

Overview Scrutiny Committee

Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee

Appointments Board

Standards Committee

Appeals Sub-Committee

Appointments Panel

Hackney Carriage Sub-Committee

Licensing Panel

13.2     Subject to the review, to determine the allocations of seats thereon to the Political Groups.

13.3     Subject to the Service Manager (Communities) receiving notification of each         Group’s wishes in relation to the appointment of Members to those seats, to    appoint the Council’s Committees as identified in 13.1 above.

1.         Having reviewed the representation of the political groups on Council Committees and Boards, that the allocation of seats thereon to the political groups be determined as follows:-

Planning Committee                                                  9 Members

Labour Group                                      5 seats
Conservative Group                           4 seats

Licensing Committee                                                15 Members

Labour Group                                      8 seats
Conservative Group                            7 seats

Finance and Audit Committee                                 9 Members

Labour Group                                      5 seats
Conservative Group                            4 seats

Overview Scrutiny Committee                                 9 Members

Labour Group                                      5 seats
Conservative Group                            4 seats

Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee               15 Members

Labour Group                                      8 seats
Conservative Group                            7 seats

Appointments Board                                                 15 Members

Labour Group                                      8 seats
Conservative Group                            7 seats

Standards Committee                                               9 Members

Labour Group                                      5 seats
Conservative Group                            4 seats

Appeals Sub-Committee                                          3 Members

Labour Group                                      2 seats
Conservative Group                            1 seat

Appointments Panel                                                  3 Members

Labour Group                                      2 seats
Conservative Group                            1 seat

Hackney Carriage Sub-Committee                          3 Members

Labour Group                                      2 seats
Conservative Group                            1 seat

Licensing Panel                                                         3 Members

Labour Group                                      2 seats
Conservative Group                            1 seat

2.            That each political group may appoint substitute Members for all of the above Committees and Boards in accordance with Procedural Rule 7.

To appoint Members together with the Chairs and Vice-Chairs (where required) to the following Committees and Boards:-

Planning Committee

Licensing Committee

Finance and Audit Committee

Overview Scrutiny Committee

Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee

Appointments Board

Standards Committee

Appeals Sub-Committee

Appointments Panel

Hackney Carriage Sub-Committee

Licensing Panel

Joint arrangements with other local authorities:-

Joint Transportation Board

South Thames Gateway Building Control Joint Committee

1.         That the Committees and Boards of the Council be appointed as set out below so as to give effect to the wishes of the political groups as notified to the Service Manager (Communities) and that the Chairs and Vice-Chairs be as shown.

Planning Committee – 9 Seats

Licensing Committee – 15 Seats

Finance and Audit Committee – 9 Seats

Overview Scrutiny Committee – 9 Seats

Crime and Disorder Committee – 15 Seats

Appointments Board – 15 Seats

Standards Committee – 9 Seats

Appeals Sub-Committee – 3 seats

Hackney Carriage Sub-Committee – 3 seats

Appointments Panel (3 seats) - The panel’s membership is drawn from available Appointments Board Members and will consist of two Labour Members and one Conservative Member. 

Licensing Panel (3 seats) - The panel’s membership is drawn from available Licensing Committee Members and will consist of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

To make appointments to outside bodies.

That appointments to outside bodies be made in accordance with the following list:-

To re-affirm the scheme of delegation relating to the Council’s functions other than Cabinet functions. An electronic link to Annex 1 of the Constitution herewith:-

Document (1c)Annex 1 - Responsibility of Functions - Gravesham Borough Council

That the Council reaffirms the scheme of delegations relating to the Council’s functions, other than Cabinet functions, contained within Annexes 1.2, 1.3, 1.13, 1.14 and 1.15 of the Constitution.

To approve the timetable of meetings for the forthcoming municipal year.

That the timetable of meetings for the forthcoming municipal year be adopted.

To consider any questions submitted under the Council Procedure Rules from members of the public (Rule 13) or Members of the Council (Rule 14).

No questions had been received.