Agenda and minutes

Councillor Gray paid tribute to Chris Botten for his work as Chair of the Council during 2023/24 and for his 27 years’ service as a District Councillor (1996 - 2015 and 2016 - 2024). Chris Botten responded by thanking all concerned for the support he had received during the previous municipal year.

The Council proceeded with the election of a Chair for 2024/25. Councillor Sue Farr was nominated by Councillor Sayer and seconded by Councillor Crane.

            R E S O L V E D – that Councillor Sue Farr be elected Chair of the Council for 2024/25.

Councillor Sue Farr then took the Chair and thanked Members for appointing her.

The Council proceeded with the election of a Vice-Chair for 2024/25. Councillor Blackwell was nominated by Councillor Sue Farr and seconded by Councillor Sayer.

            R E S O L V E D – that Councillor Blackwell be elected Vice-Chair of the Council for 2024/25.

The Chair welcomed the new Members who had joined the Council following the District elections on the 2^nd May, namely Councillors Chris Bassett, Ashleigh Bolton, Louise Case (in her absence), Deano Cline, Julie Duggan, Richard Fowler, Ben Horne, Peter Killick, Liz Lockwood, Richard Mark, James Rujbally, Ankita Sharma, Deborah Sherry, Sarah Sowambur and Robin Spencer.

The Chair also advised that, during the year ahead, she would seek to raise funds for her two chosen charities, namely:

·         Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex; and

·         the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on the 18^th April 2024 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

R E S O L V E D – that the reports of the following meetings be received:

Audit & Scrutiny Committee – 11^th April 2024 

Planning Committee – 16^th April 2024.

Members considered a report to enable the Council to appoint its committees for the 2024/25 Municipal Year, including the allocation of seats in accordance with political balance requirements.

            R E S O L V E D – that the Council’s committees for 2024/25, and the number of seats allocated to each committee, be as per Appendix A.

A list of proposed appointments, agreed as far as possible by Group Leaders, will be circulated prior to the meeting.

A list of proposed appointments to outside bodies was considered.

Votes were taken in respect of:

·         Gatwick Airport outside bodies, namely Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee, Gatwick Noise and Track Monitoring Advisory Group, Gatwick Airport Noise Management Board (Community Forum); and Gatwick Airport Noise Management Board (Executive). Councillor Lockwood (with Councillor Allen as the substitute) and Councillor Sir Nicholas White (with Councillor Smith as the substitute) had been nominated. The vote was in favour of Councillor Sir Nicholas White as the principal member and Councillor Smith as the substitute.

·         Tandridge Health & Wellbeing Board. Councillors Case, Cline and Evans had been nominated for two seats. The vote was in favour of Councillors Case and Evans.

     R E S O L V E D – that the appointments to outside bodies, attached at Appendix B, be agreed.

One spokesperson from each of the other political groups will have the right of reply.

In accordance with Standing Order No 6 (2), Councillor Sayer, in her capacity as Leader of the Residents’ Alliance minority administration, made a policy statement covering the 2024/25 Municipal Year.

Councillors Gray, Bloore and Allen responded as Leaders of the Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Independent Groups respectively.