Issue - meetings

To elect the Chairman for the 2023/2024 Municipal Year.

Sarah Clarke, Monitoring Officer, in the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, requested nominations for the position of Chairman of Council for the Municipal Year 2023/2024.

Councillor Phil Barnett proposed Councillor Jeremy Cottam be elected Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2023/2024.  This was seconded by Councillor Heather Codling. There were no further nominations.

Councillor Barnett in proposing Councillor Cottam for the role of Chairman stated that it gave him great pleasure to propose Councillor Cottam as Chairman as he had served the local community for decades, be it working in voluntary groups or as a Town Councillor and District Councillor. He had sat on a variety of committees, including chairing some, since he had been elected in 1991. He had driven through several projects since becoming a councillor including the Hungerford, Thatcham and Northcroft Leisure Centres. There was also the Corn Exchange and the handing over of Greenham Common to the Council. When putting yourself forward for public life the support of your family was paramount and his wife, who was in attendance, had been ever present in supporting him. With his experience, especially being a past Chairman, he would be able to carry out this role with an impeccable and impartial way. He commended to Council that Councillor Cottam be elected as Chairman.

Councillor Codling stated that she had known Councillor Cottam since they had both been elected in 1991 and was someone who was always happy to offer assistance and advice. He had vast experience as a councillor at both a district and town level. He had served as Chairman of the Eastern Area Planning Committee as well as being Chairman of Council where he welcomed the Queen and Princess Anne to the district. He ran his own business as well as being community focused such as collecting clothing for Ukrainian refugees. She was honoured to second the proposal.

RESOLVED that Councillor Jeremy Cottam be elected as Chairman of Council for the Municipal Year 2023/2024.

The Chairman signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office. The Chairman thanked the Council for electing him which he regarded as an honour, and he appreciated the confidence and trust placed in him to fulfil the requirements of the new Council.

To elect the Chairman for the 2022/2023 Municipal Year.

The Motion was proposed by Councillor Lynne Doherty and seconded by Councillor Clive Hooker that Councillor Rick Jones be elected Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2022/2023. There were no further nominations.

Councillor Doherty in proposing Councillor Jones for the role of Chairman stated that he had been involved in local politics for many years, firstly at a Parish level where he served as Chairman of Purley-on-Thames Parish Council for nine years. He had gone on to join West Berkshire Council via a by-election in January 2015, a process he successfully repeated in May 2015 when he secured his seat as a Ward Member for Tilehurst and Purley.

Councillor Doherty considered Councillor Jones to be a kind person who always tried to see all points of view and give them the consideration they deserved. During his time on the Council he had been actively involved in the People Directorate, holding Portfolios in adult social care and health and wellbeing. As the Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board Councillor Jones had shown endless patience and open mindedness, traits which Councillor Doherty felt sure would stand him in good stead over the coming year.

Despite stepping down from the Executive in 2019, Councillor Jones had continued to offer support in the health and wellbeing area, most notably through the work he had done promoting meaningful engagement with local communities in the voluntary sector. Councillor Bridgman had also expressed his gratitude to Councillor Jones for the foundation work he had done in setting up the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Councillor Jones had, in the last year, been Chairman of the Licencing Committee, deputy to the Health and Wellbeing Portfolio, and an active member of the Governance and Ethics Committee. Councillor Doherty noted he had done all of this whilst continuing to serve his residents in Tilehurst and Purley and being the Vice- Chairman of Council.

Councillor Doherty had no doubt that Councillor Jones would make an excellent representative for Council as he performed the duties of Chairman over the coming year, and she was sure that Members would welcome him into the role.

Councillor Hooker stated that it gave him great pleasure to second this nomination. He fully endorsed the Leader’s comments regarding Councillor Jones’ qualities and suitability for the role of Chairman. Councillor Hooker noted that Councillor Jones had been exceptional in the role of Vice-Chairman and had fulfilled many obligations on behalf of the Council without question. His personality was one of calmness, fairness, quiet confidence, and he got on well with all people he interacted with. Councillor Hooker felt these were important qualities for the Office. He felt Councillor Jones, when deputising for him, had chaired Council meetings with fairness and neutrality, coupled with a gentle but firm control, and he was confident that Councillor Jones would continue to take that forward over the next twelve months.

RESOLVED that Councillor Rick Jones be elected as Chairman of Council for the Municipal Year 2022/2023.

The Chairman read and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3