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Minutes

Full Council on Monday, the 9th May 2022 at Wallingford Town Hall at 7.30pm

PRESENT

The Chairman, Councillor Marcus Harris

Councillors Beauchamp. Cattermole. Gibbon, Holder, Kidley, Lester, McGregor, Whelan

Town Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer: Michelle Taylor

Local Government Officer: Jacqui Coker

Events Officer: Suzanne Symons

Meetings Officer: Luke Whitcomb

High Steward, Ken Lester

District Councillor, George Levy

Serjeant of the Mace, Dave Turner

Reverend David Rice

Four members of the public were present

The meeting opened with prayers led by Reverend David Rice

1/22.   ELECTION OF THE MAYOR

(a) It was proposed by Councillor Cattermole, and seconded by Councillor Kidley, and

RESOLVED THAT Councillor Marcus Harris be re-elected Mayor of Wallingford for the  ensuing Municipal Year 2022-2023.

(b) The Council voted for the motion.

(c) Mayor Councillor Harris subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

2/22.   APOLOGIES

Councillors Beatty, Hendrie, Holford, Hughes, Keats-Rohan, and Sinkinson, and Councillor Newcombe was not present.

3/22.   ADMISSION OF THE PUBLIC

It was proposed by Councillor Cattermole and seconded by Councillor Kidley, and

RESOLVED THAT there were no reasons to exclude the public from this meeting.

4/22.   DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

A Councillor with voting rights who has a disclosable pecuniary interest or another interest as set out in the Council’s Standing Orders Code of Conduct (Item 7) in a matter being considered at a meeting is subject to statutory limitations or restrictions under code of conduct and his right to participate and vote on the matter (guidelines are available at the meeting and all Councillors have received a copy prior to the meeting).  Information for each Member was available at the meeting.

No interests were declared.

5/22.   PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – NOTIFIED AND IMPROMPTU

No members of the public wished to participate.

6/22.   APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEE AND OUTSIDE BODIES

The Mayor reported that this item would be deferred to the next meeting of the Full Council.

7/22.   STANDING ORDERS/FINANCIAL REGULATIONS/TERMS OF REFERENCE

It was proposed by Councillor Kidley and seconded by Councillor Beauchamp, and

RESOLVED THAT the Standing Orders/Financial Regulations/Terms of Reference as circulated with the agenda, be approved and adopted (Terms of Reference for each Committee to be approved at each relevant first Committee meeting.

8/22.   ASSET REGISTER

It was proposed by Councillor Holder and seconded by Councillor Gibbs, and

RESOLVED THAT the Property Asset Register be accepted and approved.

Consideration of the General Asset Register was deferred to the next meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

9/22.   TOWN COUNCIL’S INSURANCE

It was proposed by Councillor Lester and seconded by Councillor Whelan that the Town Council’s Insurance had been reviewed and renewed for the 2022/23 financial year.

10/22. VOTE TO THANKS TO THE CHAIRMAN FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2021-22

It was proposed by Councillor Lester and seconded by Councillor Whelan, and

RESOLVED THAT after a vote of thanks to the Mayor Councillor Harris, the Town’s Seal will be used on an engrossment which will be presented at a later date.

The engrossment will read:

THAT this Council do place on record its sincere thanks to Councillor Marcus Harris for services rendered as Mayor of the Town during the past year and do assure him that his attention to the many duties of office and his constant concern for the welfare of its inhabitants both young and old during a further pandemic year have   earned the high esteem and appreciation of his fellow Members of Council and the inhabitants of the town.

11/22. MAYOR’S RESPONSE ON THE 2021-22 MUNICIPAL YEAR

The Mayor thanked the Council, and in particular paid tribute to the support of the Deputy Mayor Councillor Beauchamp and the work of the Council’s staff.  He set out  his priorities for the ensuing Municipal Year, 2022-23.

12/22. THE MAYOR’S CONSORT

The Mayor presented Mrs Lucy Harris with her Badge of Office for the ensuing     Municipal Year.

13/22. APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY MAYOR

It was proposed by Councillor Kidley and seconded by Councillor Whelan, and

RESOLVED THAT Councillor Daniel Beauchamp be appointed Deputy Mayor for the ensuing Municipal Year. The Mayor presented Councillor Beauchamp with his Badge of Office. The Deputy Mayor’s Consort would be presented with her Badge of Office on Mayor’s Sunday.

14/22. APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR’S CHAPLAIN

The Mayor announced that Reverend David Rice had been appointed as Mayor’s Chaplain.  He thanked Reverend Rice, who was due to retire towards the end of 2022, for his many years of service to the community, and presented him with the badge of office.

15/22. APPOINTMENT OF THE MAYOR’S CADET

The Mayor, Councillor Harris, thanked his 2021/22 cadet, Corporal Izzy Ambler, for her service, and announced that Corporal Rebecca Katt had been appointed as Mayor’s Cadet for the ensuing Municipal Year. The Mayor presented Corporal Katt with her badge of office.

16/22. APPOINTMENT OF BRIDGE CHAMBERLAIN

It was proposed by Councillor Whelan and seconded by Councillor Kidley, and

RESOLVED THAT the Mayor, Councillor Harris, be appointed Bridge Chamberlain for the ensuing Municipal Year.

Councillor Whelan read out to the Meeting some of the historical context for the Bridge, the Bridge Trust, the Chamberlain and the Bridgemen.

17/22. APPOINTMENT OF BRIDGEMEN

It was proposed by Councillor Whelan and seconded by Councillor Gibbon, and

RESOLVED THAT Councillors Hughes and Kidley be appointed Bridgemen for the ensuing Municipal Year.

18/22. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

  • Upgrade to consumer unit in Town Hall
  • Staff team building/volunteer days
  • Music in the Castle Gardens
  • Community Emergency Plan
  • Market Place poles
  • Triangle space adjacent to Kinecroft
  • Councillor Beatty to report back after liaison with Arts and Development Officer
  • Jubilee update
  • Wallingford Town Signs
  • Elections 2023 – Councillor McGregor
  • Estates Portfolio Review
  • Renaming and reshuffling of Committees to establish the Estates Committee
  • Alderman Emeritus (To consider making new appointments)

The meeting ended at 8.23pm