Cllr. Fleming proposed and Cllr. Mrs. Davison seconded that Cllr. Mrs. Dee Morris be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing municipal year.

Resolved: That Cllr. Mrs. Morris be elected Chairman of the Council for the municipal year, 2012/13.

Cllr. Mrs. Morris then made the declaration of acceptance of office and took the chair.  The new Chairman thanked the Council for her election and expressed her appreciation for the many good wishes she had received.  She announced that her Escort for the year would be her husband, Mr. Ray Morris, and presented him with his badge of office.

The new Chairman led the Council in expressing thanks to the outgoing Chairman, Cllr. Bob Orridge, for his service to the Council and to the District. This was strongly supported by other Members who commented on Cllr. Orridge’s exemplary service as Chairman and support of local voluntary organisations.  The new Chairman presented Cllr. Orridge with a plaque of the official badge, the past Chairman’s badge and Civic Shield, and a past Chairman’s Escort badge and flowers to Mrs. Orridge.

In response Cllr. Orridge commented on the many events he had attended during the year and thanked Members and Officers for their support. He offered particular thanks to his wife and personal assistant Margaret Hagger who was retiring after working for the District Council for twenty four years, inviting all present to attend her retirement celebration at noon the next day.

Cllr. Fleming proposed and Cllr. Mrs. Davison seconded that Cllr. Alan Pett be elected Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing municipal year.

            Resolved:      That Cllr. Pett be appointed Vice-Chairman of the        Council for the municipal year, 2012/13.

Cllr. Pett then made the declaration of acceptance of office and expressed his thanks to the Council for his appointment.

The Chairman of the Council then presented the new Vice-Chairman’s Escort, Mrs. Sylvia Eccles, with her badge of office.

The Chairman proposed that the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 24 April 2012 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Resolved:      That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 24 April 2012 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record       .

No declarations of interest were made.

The Chairman proposed to send the following loyal greetings to Her Majesty the Queen in her Diamond Jubilee year, on behalf of the District Council:

‘To her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.

Your Majesty,

The Chairman, on behalf of the Councillors and residents of the District of Sevenoaks, sends loyal greetings and congratulations to Your Majesty on the occasion of the Diamond Anniversary of your accession to the throne.

For 60 years Your Majesty has given dedicated service to the people of this country and the commonwealth. You have provided a matchless example of devotion to public service.

Throughout your reign you have been supported by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and we send him our warmest thanks and greetings.

Your Majesty has reigned for 60 years of unprecedented change. The people of Sevenoaks look forward to many more years of your wisdom and guidance in the times ahead.’

The Chairman announced that she intended to help promote the London 2012 Olympics especially as the Paralympic Road Cycling events were being held at Brands Hatch.  In light of this she would actively help promote cycling within the District including safe cycling, bicycle recycling, swap shops and maintenance workshops.

In light of recent guidance she would not be having prayers and therefore not appointing a Chaplain.

Whist there was no longer fundraising events held she would continue in her own support of a local charity called the ‘Happy Club’ for the disabled.

The theme of her year as Chairman would be ‘fun,’ even in these frugal times with no place for extravagance she planned to enjoy her year and encouraged everyone to do the same.

(To follow)

Cllr. Fleming proposed and Cllr. Mrs. Davison seconded that the appointments of Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and Membership of Committees for the ensuing municipal year and recommendation as detailed in the papers tabled at the meeting, be approved.

Resolved:      That

a)    the Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and membership of Committees for the municipal year 2012/13 be approved, as set out in Appendix A to these minutes; and

b)    authority be delegated to the Leader of the Council to rotate/amend the District Council Membership of the Locality Board, as appropriate.

Cllr. Fleming proposed and Cllr. Mrs. Davison seconded that the delegations to Committees and Officers be agreed and that the delegations of executive functions by the Leader of the Council, and appointments to the Cabinet and the composition of the Cabinet Portfolios attached to the minutes at Appendix B be noted.

Resolved:     

(a)       that the delegations to Committees and Officers be approved; and

(b)       that the appointments to the Cabinet and delegations of executive functions for 2012/13 made by the Leader, as set out in Appendix B to     these minutes, be noted.

Cllr. Fleming moved and Cllr. Mrs. Davison seconded that the Calendar of Meetings for ensuing Municipal Year, be agreed.  It was noted that there was a discrepancy between the number of meetings scheduled and the Scheme of Delegations, which would be clarified.    

Resolved:        That the Calendar of Meetings for the ensuing Municipal Year 2012/13, be agreed subject to investigation into compliance with the Scheme of Delegations.

(To follow)

Cllr. Fleming moved and Cllr. Mrs. Davison seconded that the appointment of representatives on outside organisations for the ensuing Municipal Year be as set out in the papers tabled at the meeting.  It was noted that the representation on the Kent County Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee was conducted on a rotational basis and there was no official representation on the committee this municipal year.

Resolved:      That the appointment of representatives on Outside Organisations for 2012/13 as amended, as set out in Appendix C to these minutes, be approved.

The report was noted.