Minutes – Annual Meeting of Council (Mayor Making) – 15 May 2019

The minutes of this meeting are presented below.

You can also download a PDF copy of the minutes here: Minutes – Annual Meeting of Council (Mayor Making) – 15 May 2019

MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICHESTER HELD IN THE ASSEMBLY ROOM, THE COUNCIL HOUSE, NORTH STREET, CHICHESTER ON WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2019 AT 6.00PM

PRESENT:

• The Mayor (Councillor M Bell), Councillors Apel, Barrie, Carter, Dignum, Gaskin, Gershater, Harry, C Hughes, J Hughes, K Hughes, Joy, Norrell, Plowman, Scicluna, Sharp

APOLOGIES:

• Councillors Bowden and Lishman

IN ATTENDANCE:

• Town Clerk, Mayor’s Chaplain, Macebearer

1. ELECTION OF MAYOR 2019/2020

The Mayor, Councillor Martyn Bell, in the Chair for this item only.

It was moved by Councillor Apel and seconded by Councillor Dignum and unanimously RESOLVED that Councillor Richard Plowman be and is hereby elected Mayor of the City until the date of the next Annual Meeting and that the allowance to be paid to him be at the rate of £4,000 per annum (exclusive of additional allowances already approved).

The new Mayoress, Mrs Lynne Plowman, was invested with her Chain of Office by the retiring Mayoress, Mrs Toom Bell. 

2. DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE BY THE MAYOR

Councillor Plowman in the Chair.

Councillor Plowman having been invested with the Chain of Office and presented with the Mayor’s Ring and Gold Snuff Box then made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.        

3. APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY MAYOR 2019/20

It was moved by Councillor Scicluna, seconded by Councillor K Hughes and unanimously RESOLVED that Councillor John Hughes be and is hereby appointed Deputy Mayor of the City until the date of the next Annual Meeting.

The Deputy Mayor’s Badge and Walking Stick were presented to Councillor J Hughes and the Deputy Mayor’s Consort Badge was presented to Mrs Cherry Hughes.      

4. ELECTION OF BAILIFF 2019/2020

It was moved by Councillor C Hughes, seconded by Councillor Sharp and unanimously RESOLVED that Councillor Julian Joy be elected Bailiff of the City until the date of the next Annual Meeting.

The Bailiff’s Badge of Office and Walking Stick were presented to Councillor Joy.

5. MINUTES OF COUNCIL

It was moved by the Mayor, duly seconded and RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 24 April 2019 and the Minutes of the Council-in-Committee meeting held on 8 May 2019, having been printed and circulated be approved, adopted and signed as a correct record.

6.  LOCALISM ACT 2011 – THE GENERAL POWER OF COMPETENCE

The Town Clerk referred to his report appended to the agenda. 

RESOLVED that Chichester City Council continues to meet the eligibility criteria to exercise the General Power of Competence until the date of the next Annual Meeting of the Council in an Election Year.

7. MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Mayor informed Council that Canon David Nason would be his Mayor’s Chaplain until the date of the next Annual Meeting and that the Mayoral Charities for the year would be The Dears Almshouse Trust and Dementia Support (Sage House).    

He explained that it was planned to build 4 more Almshouses in Chichester and that he hoped to be able to support this project with the aid of the Mayoral Charity.  He said that his mother had suffered from vascular dementia and again hoped that his Mayoral Charity would be able to assist with fundraising for this very worthwhile cause.   

8. VOTE OF THANKS TO THE RETIRING MAYOR

The Mayor proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor and paid tribute to all the good work that he and the retiring Mayoress had undertaken in raising the profile of the City.   He referred to some memorable events including Bernstein 100, Priory Park 100, and the Holocaust Memorial Opera (PUSH) performed in the House of Commons.  It had also been a privilege to meet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their first visit to Chichester last year.         

He said that it had been a memorable year for them both and on behalf of the people of Chichester gave heartfelt warmest thanks. 

The retiring Mayor and Mayoress were presented with their Past Mayor’s Badge and Past Mayoress Badge by the Mayor.

Councillor Bell said he and his wife had had a very enjoyable year meeting the many people in the community and had felt humbled by those who gave so much of their time for others.  He gave thanks to the Mayor for his comments and thanks to the Deputy Mayor, Mayor’s Chaplain, Mayoral Administrative Assistant and the Town Clerk and his team for their work in supporting him during the year.  He also thanked Cllr Clare Apel for Chairing the Fundraising Committee in support of his Mayoral Charities. 

Councillor Bell presented a cheque in the sum of £6,006.76 to Sophie Hull of The Oxmarket Gallery and another cheque in the sum of £6,006.76 to Hilary Bartle of Stonepillow. 

9. COMMON SEAL

RESOLVED that the Common Seal be affixed to any documents necessary to give effect to the resolutions passed at this meeting.     

The meeting closed at 6.30pm and would be followed by a Special Meeting of Council