Agenda and minutes

To elect Councillor Eddy Humphreys as Mayor of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

Mister Mayor announced that the first item of business was the election of the Mayor for the ensuing Municipal Year.

It was moved by Councillor Moses and seconded by Councillor Biggs, the Leader Elect of the Council, that Councillor Humphreys be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

There were no other nominations.

RESOLVED that Councillor Humphreys be elected Mayor of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

The retiring Mayor vacated the Chair, and the newly elected Mayor made the Declaration of Office and signed the Acceptance of Office Book. In returning thanks for his election, the Mayor announced “Togetherness” as the theme for his year in office and the Royal British Legion and the Lucy Rayner Foundation as his designated charities.

Former Councillor Brunt expressed the Council’s thanks and appreciation to the retiring Major (Councillor Kelly) and his Consort (Mrs Kelly) for their services during the past Municipal Year.

The Mayoress presented the outgoing Mayor with a medallion, denoting his past office and the outgoing Consort with a badge of office. The outgoing Mayor responded.

To elect Councillor James Baker as Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

It was moved by Councillor (Andrew) King and seconded by Councillor Stevens that Councillor Baker be elected Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

There were no other nominations.

RESOLVED that Councillor Baker be elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

The Deputy Mayor made the Declaration of Office, signed the Acceptance of Office Book, and returned thanks for his election.

Councillor Biggs, the Leader Elect of the Council, expressed the Council’s thanks and appreciation to the retiring Deputy Mayor (Councillor Absalom) for her work during the past Municipal Year. The outgoing Deputy Mayor responded and received a presentation of a wooden shield from the Mayoress.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 30 March 2023.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 30 March 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed.

To receive any apologies for absence.

The Managing Director reported to Council that apologies had been received from Councillors Buttironi, Harper, Hinton and Smith.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest made to the meeting.

The Managing Director shall report that at the election of Borough Councillors, held on 4 May 2023, nine serving Members were re-elected together with the following new Members:

Councillors Eddy Humphreys (Banstead Village), Jed Dwight (Chipstead, Kingswood and Woodmansterne), Della Torra (Earlswood and Whitebushes), Shasha Khan (Hooley, Merstham and Netherne), Jerry Hudson (Horley Central and South), Jason Thorne (Horley East and Salfords), Richard Biggs (Horley West and Sidlow), Ben Green (Lower Kingswood, Tadworth and Walton), Steve Kulka (Meadvale and St Johns), Gemma Adamson (Nork), Jonathan Essex (Redhill East), Mark Smith (Redhill West and Wray Common), Kate Fairhurst (Reigate), James King (South Park and Woodhatch) and Jill Bray (Tattenham Corner and Preston).

The Manging Director reported that at the election of Borough Councillors, held on 4 May 2023, nine serving Members had been re-elected together with six new Members who had been listed in the agenda.

To elect a Leader of the Council.

It was moved by Councillor Avery and seconded by Councillor Lewanski that Councillor Biggs be elected as the Leader of the Council for up to four years, up to and including the 2026/27 Municipal Year, or until his term of office as a Councillor came to an end.

There were no other nominations.

RESOLVED that Councillor Biggs be elected the Leader of the Council for up to four years, up to and including the 2026/27 Municipal Year, or until his term of office as a Councillor came to an end.

a)    To constitute and approve the nominations of Group Leaders for the membership of those Committees subject to political balance

b)    To appoint a Member of the Surrey Police and Crime Panel Joint Committee 2023/24

RESOLVED:

1)    To constitute the Ordinary Committees of the Council and appoint their Membership for 2023/24 as detailed in the agenda.

2)    To appoint Councillor Lewanski as the representative on the Police and Crime Panel Joint Committee for 2023/24 as detailed in the agenda.

To consider any urgent business.

There was no urgent business to be addressed by Council.

The Leader of the Council to move a vote of thanks to Council Employees.

Councillor Biggs, the Leader of the Council, expressed thanks to the Council’s employees for their services during the 2023/24 Municipal Year. It was a  privilege to say thank you to the Council’s amazing staff. Officers were fundamental in delivering the Council’s goals and doing the best for residents. Officers provided Members with the information and advice to best choose how to meet the needs of residents. They ensured that the Council had the resources, skills and tools needed to deliver for the Borough. It was officers who made the real difference. Personal thanks were given to the Planning and Place Delivery Teams as well as Tanya Mankoo-Flatt and her team for their work on the Community Infrastructure Levy Strategic Programme which steered over £16 million towards local projects. Other teams which were mentioned included Fleet, IT, Licensing, Parking, Cleansing and Environmental Health all of which made sure the Borough’s towns and businesses remained safe and pleasant for residents and visitors. Community Partnerships, Housing, Leisure and Intervention, were thanked for supporting residents facing challenging times. Those not directly acknowledged were also thanked for their essential work. New in post, the Leader was reassured knowing that the Council had such a capable, diligent and dedicated cadre of officers providing their support.

The Managing Director responded noting thanks to the Leader for his kind words. Agreement was expressed that all officers were essential. It was a testament to the skills and motivation of officers that the Council was in such a strong position. The last year’s accomplishments were highlighted including delivering a balanced budget without cutting services, helping families and children in need, delivering genuinely affordable new housing for residents along with consistently high-quality services across all key functions. Specific thanks were given to the Community Development Team, Morag Williams and her colleagues, in particular Michael Hill and Daniel Balcombe. The Council had won national awards for its Fraud Service and Southeast in Bloom.  Finally, thanks were given to the Management Team and Heads of Service for their ongoing support in an increasing complex set of circumstance. Gratitude was expressed to all staff members with it acknowledged that by continuing to work together it would be possible to continue to make the Council the best it could be.

e of staff were noted.

To receive any announcements by the Leader of the Council.

The Leader expressed his thanks for the service of retiring Members, Councillors Absalom, Archer, Brunt, Schofield and Turner.

The Leader announced the following Executive positions:

·       Councillor Victor Lewanski: Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Finance, Governance and Organisation

·       Councillor Rod Ashford: Executive Member for Communities, Leisure, and Culture

·       Councillor Hannah Avery: Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services

·       Councillor Andrew King: Executive Member for Commercial & Community Assets

·       Councillor James King: Executive Member for Corporate Policy and Resources

·       Councillor Richard Michalowski: Executive Member for Place, Planning & Regulatory services

·       Councillor Nadean Moses: Executive Member for Environment & Sustainability

·       Councillor Caroline Neame: Executive Member for Housing and Support

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor announced that a calendar of forthcoming events would be published as soon as confirmed. The Civic Service would be held on Sunday 9 July 2023 at Banstead Methodist Church, Banstead. The Reigate and Banstead Volunteer Awards were to be launched in June 2023 and nominations could be made through the Council’s website.