Agenda and minutes

The Retiring Mayor, Councillor Rosemary Absalom, presented her reflections on the Mayoral year 2020/21. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Mayoral year had been unique as much of it had to be conducted remotely, including Remembrance Sunday, and the conferment of Alderwoman Dorothy Ross-Tomlin and Alderman Michael Selby. The Mayor had completed 182 official Mayoral engagements and had raised over £10,000 for the Community Fund for Reigate and Banstead.

The Retiring Mayor endorsed the National Civic Officers’ commendation of the work of the Mayoral Office, and thanked them for their guidance. The Mayor’s Consort, David, and the Reverend Colton, were thanked for their support during the year.

To elect a Mayor for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

Councillor Harrison moved, and Councillor Brunt seconded, that Councillor Jill Bray be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2020/21. With there being no other nominations, the Council duly:

RESOLVED that Councillor Jill Bray be elected Mayor of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

The newly elected Mayor made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and returned thanks for her election. The Leader of the Council expressed the Council’s thanks and appreciation to the retiring Mayor, Councillor Absalom, for her services during the past Municipal Year. The retiring Mayor responded.

To elect a Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

Councillor Brunt moved, and Councillor Kelly seconded, that Councillor Rachel Turner be elected Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2021/22. With there being no other nominations, the Council duly:

RESOLVED that Councillor Rachel Turner be elected Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2020/21.

The newly elected Deputy Mayor made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and returned thanks for her election. The Leader of the Council expressed the Council’s thanks and appreciation to the retiring Deputy Mayor, Councillor Kelly, for his services during the past Municipal Year. The retiring Deputy Mayor responded.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 8 April 2021 .

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 8 April 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed.

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence had been received from Councillor Horwood.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were none.

The Interim Head of Paid Service shall report that at the election of Borough Councillors, held on 6 May 2021, ten serving Members were re-elected together with the following new Members:

Councillors Joseph Booton (Earlswood and Whitebushes); Della Torra (Earlswood and Whitebushes); Mus Tary (Hooley, Merstham and Netherne); James Baker (Horley East and Salfords); Andrew King (Horley East and Salfords); Zelanie Cooper (Lower Kingswood, Tadworth and Walton); Martin Elbourne (Meadvale and St John’s); and Paul Chandler (South Park and Woodhatch).

The Interim Head of Paid Service reported that at the election of Borough Councillors, held on 6 May 2021, ten serving Members were re-elected, together with eight new Members who had been listed on the Summons.

To constitute and receive the nominations of Group Leaders for Membership of those Committees subject to Political Balance.

RESOLVED That the Ordinary Committees of the Council be established for the forthcoming Municipal year and that the Membership of those Committees be appointed in accordance with the nominations of the Group Leaders, as appended to these Minutes.  

To constitute and receive the nominations of Group Leaders for Membership of those Committees and Groups that are not subject to Political Balance, but are formed by convention in accordance with the principle of political balance. 

RESOLVED

1.    That the Membership of the Reigate and Banstead Local Committee of Surrey County Council, be appointed in accordance with the nominations of Group Leaders, as appended to these Minutes. 

2.    That the Governance Task Group for the forthcoming Municipal Year be constituted and the Membership be appointed in accordance with the nominations of Group Leaders, as appended to these Minutes. 

Clerk’s note: Subsequently, the Leader of the Council notified the Proper Officer that Councillor Walsh would replace Councillor J King on the Governance Task Group, in accordance with the process agreed by the Council in November 2016.  

RESOLVED that Councillor Lewanski be appointed as the Council’s representative on the Surrey Police and Crime Panel Joint Committee for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

RESOLVED that:

1.             The Council agree to the appointment of an Independent Member to the Audit Committee in accordance with the role description, skills and knowledge and person specification set out at Appendix 1 of the report; and that the Terms of Reference of the Audit Committee set out in Part 3a (Responsibility for Functions) of the Constitution of the Council be amended to:

2.             Incorporate the inclusion of an Independent Member

3.             Incorporate responsibility for scrutiny of the Treasury Management Strategy and associated reports, and consequentially amend the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Terms of Reference to remove Treasury Management Strategy (para 19 in Table 2 – Council Functions – Part 3a: Responsibility for Functions.

To consider any urgent business.

There was none.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Brunt, expressed his sincere appreciation to Council staff who had risen to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Incident Management Team, and the Directors, had provided the capacity and solutions to enable staff to ensure that the Borough’s most vulnerable people were provided with the support they needed, whilst still maintaining the Council’s critical services. The Leader acknowledged the long-service to the Council of many members of staff, and thanked those staff for their dedication to the Council, and the community.

The Interim Head of Paid Service thanked the Leader for his kind words, and on behalf of the Management Team endorsed the outstanding efforts of the Council’s staff during the coronavirus crisis. The Council’s employees were proud to work for the Council, and had collectively responded to the challenge. The Council would now look to the future, and the Borough would move forward, with Members and Officers continuing to work together in the year ahead.

To receive any announcements by the Leader of the Council.

The Leader of the Council welcomed the eight new Members who had joined the Council and thanked those former Councillors who had retired at the election. The Leader announced that Councillor Neame would join the Executive as Portfolio Holder for Housing and Support, along with Councillor Sachdeva as Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture. In so doing, Councillor Brunt expressed his gratitude to Councillor Michalowski and former Councillor Knight, for their contribution to the Executive.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor made the following announcements:

·       The Mayor’s Charities for 2021/22 would be the YMCA East Surrey; and Age Concern Banstead

·       The Mayor’s Chaplain would be Reverend Des Williamson from St Marks Church, Tattenhams

·       Coffee mornings and afternoon teas would be held in the Mayor’s Parlour in recognition of the contribution made by community volunteers during the pandemic. Councillors were invited to nominate those that they felt were deserving of recognition in their Wards

·       The annual Reigate and Banstead Volunteer Awards would include a new category - Crisis Response Volunteer, in recognition of those that had provided help with food supplies, medicine, befriending, and other support to members of the community.