Issue - meetings

The Chairman to make opening remarks.

The Chairman, Councillor Jeremy Cottam, informed that the past Chairman and Vice-Chairman had given their apologies but he had agreed to read the following statement from the outgoing Chairman, Councillor Rick Jones:

 “Members, my apologies for not being with you to open the meeting and take part in the handover ceremony.

Thanks to you all for supporting me as Chairman for the past year. Chairing West Berkshire Council meetings can be interesting, even challenging at times, but also rewarding, and I think we represent our residents well.

Thanks especially to my Vice-Chairman Councillor Alan Law and to Councillor Clive Hooker and former Councillor Graham Pask who have deputised on various occasions. Thanks mostly to Sarah Clarke and her staff, who work tirelessly to make the meetings work and the Chairman’s life feasible. Also to Jake Carpenter, who stepped in to help manage the diary and events. I am most grateful to all.

It was a momentous year to be Chairman of the Council, taking part in unique royal occasions alongside the more usual events. I have also been fortunate to visit, and sometimes help, many voluntary organisations and meet some inspirational people. West Berkshire is a wonderful place to live, where people are glad to help each other in so many ways.   

Good luck to the new Chairman, Councillor Jeremy Cottam, and to all Members, new and old.”

The Chairman welcomed both returning and newly elected Councillors and said he looked forward to working with them over the coming year. He added the importance of continuing the culture of respectful debate within the Chamber.

The Chairman to report on functions attended since the last meeting and other matters of interest to Members.

Councillor Clive Hooker thanked Councillor Rick Jones, the Vice-Chairman, and Mrs Val Jones, the Vice-Chairman’s Lady, for their support over the previous year. Councillor Hooker noted that Councillor Jones had stood in for him on a number of occasions and had done a magnificent job on his behalf in representing the Council. He also thanked Councillor Graham Pask who had stood in for both Councillor Hooker and Councillor Jones due to ill health. Councillor Hooker also expressed gratitude to the Chairman’s Lady, Mrs Christine Hooker, who he said had been a supportive, patient and wonderful companion when accompanying him at many of the civic events he had attended.

Councillor Hooker referred to the gathering in Shaw House in May 2021 to film his and Councillor Jones Declarations of Acceptance of Office and the exchanging of chains. This had later been shown at the Annual Council meeting and was the first time a Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Council had been installed via a video. He explained it had been undertaken in this manner due to the exceptional circumstances caused by the Covid pandemic.

Councillor Hooker thanked Sarah Clarke, the Monitoring Officer, and Shiraz Sheikh, the Deputy Monitoring Officer, for their support, advice and briefings before and during Council meetings. He also thanked Jo Watt, Georgia Marshall and Vicki Yull for managing his diary and providing him with general assistance. Councillor Hooker referred to the change in Chief Executive during his term of office, and wanted to record his thanks to the previous Chief Executive, Nick Carter, for his services to West Berkshire Council.

Councillor Hooker noted that the past year had seen a slow and steady recovery from the Covid pandemic which had been reflected in the reduced number of civic functions he had attended (55 in total). He commented that things had slowly reverted back to some normality, but the pandemic was still impacting on the way the Council operated with many staff continuing to work from home. He noted that most of the Council’s meetings were being broadcast live on YouTube which had encouraged engagement with the public. Councillor Hooker thanked all Council staff for their patience, dedication and commitment through the transition period, and having run the business of Council in an efficient, caring and professional manner for the benefits of all residents in West Berkshire.

Councillor Hooker then referred to the civic functions he had attended during the year, many of which had been managed and staffed by volunteers. He wished to thank them for dedicating their time and commitment to the organisations and charities they had chosen to support. The volunteering theme had been reflected in the Community Champions Award Scheme, with some of the winners having dedicated their lives to organising events to raise large amounts of money to fund their chosen causes.

Since the last Council meeting in March Councillor Hooker had attended eight functions, including the swearing in of the new High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire, Alka Kharbanda, in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1