Cllr Thornton proposed and Cllr Perry Cole seconded that Cllr Alan Layland be elected Chairman of the Council for the next municipal year.

Cllr Leaman proposed and it was duly seconded that Cllr Clayton be elected Chairman of the Council for the next municipal year.

The motions were put to the vote and it was

Resolved: That Cllr Layland be elected Chairman of the Council for the municipal year, 2023/24.

Cllr Layland made the declaration of acceptance of office and took the chair. The new Chairman thanked the Council for his election and expressed his appreciation for the many good wishes he had received. 

Councillors expressed their sincere thanks to the outgoing Chairman, Mrs Avril Hunter, for her service to the Council and to the District and to Allan Hunter, in his role as Chairman’s consort. Members expressed their appreciation. The new Chairman presented a gift and the past Chairman’s badge and shield to Mrs Hunter, and a gift to Mr Hunter.

In response to the thanks expressed, Mrs Hunter thanked Cllr Layland for his support as her Vice Chairman, and offered particular thanks to her husband.

Cllr Layland announced that his Consort for the year would be his wife, Mrs Lyn Layland and presented her with the badge of office and flowers. He announced that Reverend Anne Bourne, Parish of St Luke’s, would be his Chaplain and invested her with the Chaplain’s cross.

Cllr Thornton proposed and Cllr Perry Cole seconded that Cllr Laurence Ball be elected Vice Chairman of the Council for the ensuing municipal year.

Resolved: That Cllr Ball be appointed Vice Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2023/24.

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

The Chairman moved that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 25 April 2023, be approved and signed as a correct record.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 25 April 2023, be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There were no additional declarations of interest.

The Chairman announced that he had chosen two charities to support this year. The first being Sevenoaks Area Dementia Friendly Community. As Vice Chairman, he got to see the work the charity undertook and he looked forward to supporting them even more this year.

The second charity, was the Eden Valley Museum Trust. A local museum, at the heart of the community in Edenbridge and was run primarily by volunteers.

Resolved: That the Returning Officer’s report be noted.

Cllr Perry Cole proposed, and it was duly seconded that Cllr Thornton be elected as Leader of the Council for the next four years.

Resolved: That Cllr Thornton be elected Leader of the Council for the next four years.

Resolved: That the delegations of executive functions and appoints to the Cabinet, be noted.

Cllr Thornton proposed, and Cllr Perry Cole seconded that the delegations to Committees and Officers, and delegations of executive functions by the Leader of the Council be agreed.

Resolved: That the delegations to Committees (Parts 3 – 12 of the Constitution) and the delegations to Officers (Part 13 of the Constitution) be agreed.

Resolved: That the Council’s policy framework as set out in Appendix F of the Constitution, be noted.

Cllr Thornton moved, and Cllr Perry Cole seconded and it was unanimously

Resolved:  That

a)       the political balance of the Council be noted as: 33 Conservative; 14 Liberal Democrat; 4 Green and 3 Independent;

b)    the following political groupings be noted: 33 Conservative Group; 14 Liberal Democrat Group; 4 Green Group; 2 Sevenoaks Independent Group, leaving 1 ungrouped; and

c)    the allocation of seats as set out in the Appendix to the report be agreed.

Cllr Thornton proposed and Cllr Perry Cole seconded that the appointments of Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and Membership of Committees for the municipal year 2023/24 as detailed in the appendix to the report, be approved.

The Chairman opened the item for debate and it was moved and duly seconded that Cllr Leaman be appointed Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee. Cllr Streatfeild spoke to his amendment stating that best practice guidance suggested that an opposition Member should chair a scrutiny committee to enable better scrutiny of the Executive.

The amendment was put to the vote and was lost.

Debate continued on the original motion.

The motion was put to the vote.

Resolved: That the appointments of Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and membership of Committees for 2023/24, be approved.

Cllr Thornton moved and Cllr Perry Cole seconded that the amended calendar of meetings for the municipal year 2023/24, be confirmed. 

Resolved:  That the amended Calendar of ordinary meetings for the municipal year 2023/24 be confirmed.

Cllr Thornton moved and Cllr Perry Cole seconded that the appointment of representatives on outside organisations for the municipal year 2023/24 be agreed.

Resolved:  That the appointments to other organisations for the municipal year 2023/24 be confirmed.

It was moved by Cllr Thornton and duly seconded by Cllr Reay that the following a favourable local Referendum result, the Sevenoaks Town Neighbourhood Development Plan 2020-2028, be made and the Development Plan Decision Statement be published.

A Member spoke to the motion expressing his thanks for the plan coming through and for the cross party working to give the Town protection. He encouraged other Towns and Parishes to also do the same.

Resolved: That

a)   following a favourable local Referendum result, the Sevenoaks Town Neighbourhood Development Plan 2020-2038, incorporating the Examiner’s modifications, as presented to local Referendum, be “made” (adopted) with immediate effect and form part of the Council’s Development Plan, to help determine planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area; and

b)   The Sevenoaks Town Neighbourhood Development Plan Decision Statement (post-Referendum) shown at Appendix A, be published.

Councillor Thornton moved and Cllr Perry Cole Seconded that the Quercus 7 Ltd Shareholder Agreement and Quercus Housing Ltd Guarantor Agreement be noted.

Resolved: That the Quercus 7 Ltd Shareholder Agreement and Quercus Housing Ltd Guarantor Agreement be noted.

The report was noted.