Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors: Bland, Barrington-King, Fairweather, Goodship, Hall, Holden, Johnson, McMillan, March, Opara, and White

To receive any declarations of interest by members in items on the agenda. For any advice on declarations of interest; please contact the Monitoring Officer before the meeting.

No declarations of pecuniary or significant other interest were made. 

To elect the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for the municipal year 2023/24.

Councillor Warne Moved, and Councillor Chapelard Seconded, that Councillor Patterson be elected Mayor.

The Deputy Mayor took a vote on the motion by affirmation.

RESOLVED – That Councillor Patterson be elected Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year from 24 May 2023 to the date of the Annual Meeting in 2024.

Following the declaration, the meeting adjourned whilst the Mayor was robed and received the chain of office.

On the resumption of the meeting Councillor Patterson returned thanks for his election and announced that the Mayor’s Charity would be MTW NHS trust Charity and Paddock Wood Community Advice Centre.  The Rev. Dr Jeremy Ive, vicar of Capel United Church would be the Mayor’s Chaplain.

The Mayoress, Mrs Sandra Patterson, received her badge of office.

To appoint the Deputy Mayor of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council of the municipal year 2023/24.

Councillor Sankey moved, and Councillor Chapelard seconded, that Councillor Nicholas Pope be appointed Deputy Mayor.

The Mayor took a vote on the motion by affirmation.

RESOLVED – That Councillor Pope be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year from 24 May 2023 to the date of the Annual Meeting 2024.

Councillor Pope made the declaration of acceptance of office.

Following the declaration, the Deputy Mayor was robed and received the chain of office.

The Deputy Mayor’s Mayoress, Mrs Ingrid Pope, received her badge of office.

Councillor Pope returned thanks for his appointment.

To note the names of each of the persons elected Borough Councillor as set out in the associated notice.

The Chief Executive, as Returning Officer for the 4 May 2023 Borough Elections, submitted the return of persons elected to the Borough Council as set out in the agenda report.

To consider and, if thought fit, to approve the recommendations set out in the report.

Councillor Chapelard moved, and Councillor Warne seconded, the recommendations set out in the report which were published as a supplement to the agenda.

Councillor Chapelard advised members that there had been some changes to the appointments to committees since the May elections, which had resulted in changes to his Cabinet, which were tabled at the meeting, and all changes would be given effect after the meeting through the normal process.

The Mayor took a vote on the motion by affirmation.

RESOLVED

1.    That the allocation of seats to committees, as set out Appendix A of the report, be approved;

2.    That the appointments to the committees, as set out at Appendix B to the report, be approved; and

3.    That the appointments to Cabinet portfolios, as set out in at Appendix C to the report, be noted.

To consider any other items which the Mayor decides are urgent, for the reasons to be stated, in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business.

To authorise the Common Seal of the Council to be affixed to any contract, minute, notice or other document arising out of the minutes, or pursuant to any delegation, authority or power conferred by the Council.

RESOLVED – That the Common Seal of the Council be affixed to any contract, minute, notice or other document arising out of the minutes or pursuant to any delegation, authority or power conferred by the Council.

To note that the date of the next meeting is 5 July 2023.

The next scheduled meeting is on Wednesday 5 July 2023.