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Annual Meeting (Mayor Making) 5th May 2021 - Minutes

WALLINGFORD TOWN COUNCIL

M I N U T E S of the Virtual TEAMS meeting of Full Council on Wednesday, the 5th May 2021 at 7:30 p.m

PRESENT

The Chairman, Councillor Rob McGregor, Councillors Beatty, Beauchamp, Cattermole, Harris, Holder, Holford, Keats-Rohan, Kidley, Lester, Newcombe

District Councillor George Levy

Responsible Finance Officer: Michelle Taylor

Senior Officer in Attendance: Tracey Collins

Administration Officers: Jacqueline Newport and Emilie Perry

Approximately 12 members of the public present

 

1/21.   ELECTION OF THE MAYOR

(a) It was proposed by Councillor Beatty, and seconded by Councillor Beauchamp, and

RESOLVED THAT Councillor Marcus Harris hereby be elected Mayor of Wallingford for the ensuing Municipal Year 2021-2022.

(b) The Council voted for the motion.

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

Councillors Beatty, Beauchamp and McGregor congratulated the new Mayor and wished him all the best for his term in office.

2/21.   APOLOGIES

The Town Clerk, Paula Lopez, Councillors Hughes, Sinkinson and Wilder, Reverend David Rice

3/21.   ADMISSION OF THE PUBLIC

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

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

4/21.   DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

A Councillor with voting rights who has a disclosable pecuniary interest or another interest as set out in our Council’s Standing Orders Code of Conduct (Item 13) 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.

5/21.   PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – NOTIFIED AND IMPROMPTU (Total 15 Minutes)

No members of the public wished to participate.

After a prompt from Councillor Lester, Mayor Councillor Harris referred back to item item 1(c) of the Agenda and made his declaration of acceptance of office, then proceeded to item 1(d) and addressed the meeting as Mayor.

The Mayor thanked The Town Clerk for all of her work, welcomed Emilie Perry to the Council and read some of Wallingford’s history to the meeting.

6/21.   APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES AND OUTSIDE BODIES

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

RESOLVED THAT Councillors Beatty and Newcombe were appointed to the Finance  and Properties Committee, Councillors Whelan and Holder were appointed to the         Parks, Gardens, Allotments and Open Spaces Committee. Councillor Cattermole asked to be appointed to the Personnel Committee; Councillor McGregor was nominated     by Councillor Kidley and appointed to the Personnel Committee, with support  from the Mayor. It was also carried that Councillors Kidley and Beauchamp  were appointed to the Bull Croft Trust Working Party, Councillor Holder was appointed to the Communications Working Party, and Councillor Holder was appointed to the Riverside Working Party.

7/21.   STANDING ORDERS/ FINANCIAL REGULATIONS/ TERMS OF REFERENCE

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

RESOLVED THAT the minor amendment to the Standing Orders/Financial Regulations/Terms of Reference was approved and adopted (Terms of Reference for each Committee to be approved at each relevant first Committee meeting).

8/21.   ASSET REGISTER

  1. i) In accordance with Audit Requirements, the Responsible Finance Officer reported that the Asset register has been changed to remove the Bull Croft Recreation Rooms.

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

RESOLVED THAT in accordance with Audit Requirements the Property Asset Register was adopted by Councillors.

  1. ii) The Responsible Finance Officer reported that the general asset register is a work in progress and will be presented to Council at a later (currently unknown) date.

– Noted

9/21.   TOWN COUNCIL’S INSURANCE

The Responsible Finance Officer reported to the Council that the insurance has been renewed for a further year from the 1st April 2021 (contract for three years). – Noted

10/21. VOTE OF THANKS TO THE RETIRING CHAIRMAN

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

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

The engrossment will read:-

THAT this Council records its sincere thanks to Councillor Rob McGregor for the excellent manner in which he has performed his duties as Chairman of Wallingford Town Council during 2020/2021’s pandemic year. The exemplary manner in which he carried out his duties as Chairman has gained the high esteem of both Members of the Council and the residents of Wallingford.

Councillors thanked Councillor McGregor for the exemplary and professional manner in which he carried out his duties as Chairman.

11/21. RETIRING CHAIRMAN’S REPLY

Councillor McGregor thanked the Council and stated that he hopes to contribute for as long as he can.

12/21. THE MAYOR’S CONSORT

Mayor Councillor Harris gave Mrs. Lucy Harris her Badge of Office as Mayor’s Consort for the ensuing Municipal Year.

13/21. APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY MAYOR

It was proposed by Mayor Councillor Harris, seconded by Councillor Lester and

RESOLVED THAT Councillor Daniel Beauchamp be appointed Deputy Mayor for the ensuing Municipal Year.

The Deputy Mayor and his consort will be presented with their Badges of Office at Mayor’s Sunday on the 15th August 2021

14/21. APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR’S CHAPLAIN

Mayor Councillor Harris thanked Reverend David Rice for his many years of  wonderful service as Mayor’s Chaplain.

Mayor Councillor Harris announced the appointment of Reverend Kevin Beer as his   new Mayor’s Chaplain.

15/21. APPOINTMENT OF BRIDGE CHAMBERLAIN

It was proposed by Councillor Keats-Rohan, seconded by Councillor Kidley and

RESOLVED THAT Mayor Councillor Marcus Harris be Bridge Chamberlain for the ensuing Municipal Year. The motion vas voted for by the Council.

Councillor Keats-Rohan read out to the Meeting some of Wallingford’s vast and rich  history, including the Bridge, the Bridge Trust, Bridgemen, and the origin of the    Chamberlain.

16/21. APPOINTMENT OF BRIDGEMEN

The retiring Bridgemen were Councillors Dolton and Hughes.

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

RESOLVED THAT Councillors Hughes and Kidley be appointed Bridgemen for the ensuing Municipal Year. The Council voted for the motion.

17/21. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Appointment of the Mayor’s Cadet

The Mayor’s Chaplain Reverend Kevin Beer said some prayers

The meeting ended at 20:31

2021-05-06 – Council                                                                                     Chairman