Issue - meetings

It was noted that it was the Council’s normal practice for the nominees for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the next succeeding municipal year to absent themselves from the meeting for consideration of this item of business.  As the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Marsha Moseley (who was in the chair for the meeting in the absence of the Mayor), would have to leave the meeting, the Council

RESOLVED: That Councillor Gordon Jackson be elected chairman of the meeting for this item of business.

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Marsha Moseley and Councillor Dennis Booth both left the meeting.

Councillor Jackson in the chair.

The Council considered a report on nominations received for election of Mayor and appointment of Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2021-22.  The Executive had also considered the report at its meeting on 24 November 2020, and had commended the nominations of Councillors Moseley and Booth respectively for Mayor and Deputy Mayor in 2021-22.

Upon the motion of the Leader of the Council, Councillor Joss Bigmore, seconded by the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Caroline Reeves, the Council

RESOLVED:

(1)    That the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Marsha Moseley be nominated for the Mayoralty of the Borough for the 2021-22 municipal year.

(2)    That Councillor Dennis Booth be nominated for the Deputy Mayoralty of the Borough for the 2021-22 municipal year.

Reason:

To make early preparations for the selection of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2021-22.

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Marsha Moseley and Councillor Dennis Booth both returned to the meeting.

Decision:

That the Executive recommends to full Council on 8 December 2020:

(1)        That the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Marsha Moseley be nominated for the Mayoralty of the Borough for the 2021-22municipal year.

(2)        That Councillor Dennis Booth be nominated for the Deputy Mayoralty of the Borough for the 2021-22 municipal year.

Reason:

To make early preparations for the selection of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2021-22.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None

The Council would be asked at its meeting on 8 December to consider nominations for the Mayoralty and Deputy Mayoralty of the Borough for the municipal year 2021-22.

In February this year the Council had agreed to nominate Cllr Dennis Booth as Deputy Mayor for 2020-21. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Government passed Regulations that permitted councils to continue with appointments that would otherwise have to be made at an annual meeting until the next annual meeting in 2021. Following consultations with Cllrs Billington, Moseley, and Booth and political group leaders, the Council agreed on 19 May that Cllrs Billington and Moseley would continue in their respective roles as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Guildford for the municipal year 2020-21.

Councillor Andrew Gomm had formally nominated the current Deputy Mayor, Councillor Marsha Moseley for the Mayoralty of the Borough for 2021-22. The Council will therefore be requested to consider formally that nomination.

Following an invitation to Group leaders to submit nominations for the Deputy Mayoralty for 2021-22, the Executive noted that the only nominee was Councillor Dennis Booth.

The Executive

RECOMMEND (to Council 8 December 2020):

(1)        That the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Marsha Moseley be nominated for the Mayoralty of the Borough for the 2021-22 municipal year.

(2)        That Councillor Dennis Booth be nominated for the Deputy Mayoralty of the Borough for the 2021-22 municipal year.

Reason:

To make early preparations for the selection of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2021-22.