Agenda and minutes

The Council to consider the election of the Mayor for the municipal year 2023-24. 

At its meeting on 6 December 2022, the Council approved, subject to the outcome of the Borough Council elections, the nomination of Councillor Masuk Miah as Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2023-24.

Upon the motion of Councillor Julia McShane, seconded by Councillor Angela Goodwin, the Council unanimously

RESOLVED: That Councillor Masuk Miahbe elected Mayor for the municipal year 2023-24.

Dennis Booth vacated the chair.

Having been invested with the Mayoral robes and Chain of Office, Councillor Masuk Miah made the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office and took the Oath of Allegiance. The Mayor then took the chair.

The Mayor asked the Council to record their appreciation of services rendered by the retiring Mayor, Dennis Booth over the past municipal year and invested him with the past Mayor’s badge.

The Council to consider the appointment of the Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2023-24. 

At its meeting on 8 February 2023, the Council approved, subject to the outcome of the Borough Council elections, the nomination of Councillor Nigel Manning as Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2023-24.

Although the Council, at its meeting on 8 February 2023, had approved the nomination of Councillor Nigel Manning as Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2023-24, he had not been re-elected to the Council at the Borough Council elections on 4 May 2023.

Accordingly, the Council was invited to consider nominations for the appointment of the Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2023-24. 

Upon the motion of Councillor George Potter, seconded by Councillor Vanessa King, the Council

RESOLVED: That consideration of the appointment of Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2023-24 be deferred to the Selection Council Meeting to be held on Wednesday 17 May 2023.

To receive apologies for absence from councillors, honorary freemen and honorary aldermen.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Sallie Barker MBE, Phil Bellamy, Joss Bigmore, James Brooker, Amanda Creese, Matt Furniss, Tom Hunt, and Joanne Shaw, and from Honorary Aldermen Catherine Cobley, Sarah Creedy, Jayne Marks, Tony Phillips and Lynda Strudwick.

To receive and note any disclosable pecuniary interests from councillors. In accordance with the local Code of Conduct, a councillor is required to disclose at the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) that they may have in respect of any matter for consideration on this agenda.  Any councillor with a DPI must not participate in any discussion or vote regarding that matter and they must also withdraw from the meeting immediately before consideration of the matter.

If that DPI has not been registered, the councillor must notify the Monitoring Officer of the details of the DPI within 28 days of the date of the meeting.

Councillors are further invited to disclose any non-pecuniary interest which may be relevant to any matter on this agenda, in the interests of transparency, and to confirm that it will not affect their objectivity in relation to that matter.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To confirm the minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the Council held on 22 March 2023.

The minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the Council held on 22 March 2023 were confirmed as a correct record.  The Mayor signed the minutes.

To receive any communications which the Mayor may desire to lay before the Council.

The Mayor made the following announcements:

(a)    Civic Service – 14 May 2023

The Mayor invited councillors to accompany him to the Civic Service at Holy Trinity Church, High Street, Guildford at 11.30am on Sunday 14 May 2023. 

(b)    Selection Council Meeting – 17 May 2023

         The Mayor also reminded councillors that there would be a meeting of the Council at 7pm on Wednesday 17 May 2023 to consider, among other things, the election of the Leader of the Council for the four-year term of the Council, and appointment of committees, and appointment of committee chairmen for the municipal year 2023-24.

(c)    Honorary Recorder – His Honour Judge Robert Fraser

The Mayor informed the Council that the Honorary Recorder, His Honour Judge Robert Fraser, had indicated his wish to retire as Resident Judge at Guildford Crown Court at the end of June.   His retirement as Resident Judge meant that he would also retire as Honorary Recorder of this Borough.  On behalf of the Council, the Mayor expressed the Council’s thanks and good wishes to His Honour Judge Robert Fraser, who had served with distinction as Honorary Recorder since July 2017.  The Mayor presented a small gift to His Honour Judge Robert Fraser.

(d)    Retirement of the Sword Bearer and Macebearer

The Mayor also announced the retirement of Sword Bearer, Joe Monaghan and Macebearer, Tony Muldoon, both of whom had been Council employees for many years, but following their retirement had continued to serve the borough in these ceremonial roles. On behalf of the Council, the Mayor expressed the Council’s thanks and appreciation for their long service. 

To receive the report of the Returning Officer upon the election of Borough Councillors held on Thursday 4 May 2023 (to follow).

The Council received the report of the Returning Officer upon the results of the Election of Borough Councillors held on Thursday 4 May 2023, for the wards of the Borough of Guildford as set out in the Appendix hereto.

The Mayor to announce the appointment of Chaplain for the municipal year 2023-24.

The Mayor announced the appointment of Mohammed Redowan Ahmed, Imam of Guildford Central Mosque, as his Chaplain.

To appoint the Honorary Remembrancer for the Borough for the municipal year 2023-24.

Upon the motion of the Mayor, Councillor Masuk Miah, seconded by Councillor George Potter, the Council unanimously

RESOLVED: That Mr Matthew Alexander be appointed Honorary Remembrancer for the municipal year 2023-24.