Agenda and draft minutes

Annual Council, Council - Thursday, 14th May, 2026 5.00 pm

Venue: Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn

Contact: Email: democratic.services@west-norfolk.gov.uk

Items
No.	Item
C:1	PRAYERS Minutes: Prayers were led by Father Adrian Ling.
C:2	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ayres, Beales, Collingham, Colwell, Humphrey, Parish, Pidcock, Ryves and de Whalley.
C:3	DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PDF 131 KB Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared. A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates. If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed. Minutes: There were none.
C:4	MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS To receive Mayor’s communications and announcements. Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. The Mayor announced that Father Adrian Ling would be leaving King’s Lynn in August after 14 years of serving the community and the church and thanked Father Adrian for his service.
C:5	URGENT BUSINESS To receive any items of business which in the opinion of the Mayor are urgent. Minutes: There was no urgent business.
C:6	ELECTION OF A COUNCILLOR TO HOLD OFFICE AS MAYOR OF THE BOROUGH OF KING'S LYNN AND WEST NORFOLK AND TO BE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2026/2027 Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. Councillor Ring proposed Councillor Bearshaw for the position of Mayor and Chair of the Council for the 2026/2027 Municipal Year. This was seconded by Councillor Squire. Both Members spoke in support of the proposal. RESOLVED: That Councillor Steve Bearshaw be appointed as Mayor and Chair for the 2026/2027 Municipal Year.
C:7	ELECTION OF A COUNCILLOR TO HOLD OFFICE AS DEPUTY MAYOR OF THE BOROUGH OF KING'S LYNN AND WEST NORFOLK AND TO BE VICE-CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2026/2027 Minutes: Click here to view a recording of this item on You Tube. Councillor Blunt proposed Councillor Vivienne Spikings as Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2026/2027. This was seconded by Councillor Sandell. Both Members spoke in support of the proposal. RESOLVED: That Councillor Vivienne Spikings be appointed as Deputy Mayor and Vice Chair of the Council for the 2026/2027 Municipal Year.
C:8	ADMINISTER OATH TO THE MAYOR Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. Councillor Bearshaw read and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and informed the Council that his wife Marisol would be his Consort. Councillor Bearshaw informed the Council that the Mayor’s Chaplain would be Father Adrian Ling, up until he left the area. The Mayor also informed the Council of his appointed Mayor’s Cadets and bestowed badges on the Cadets. The Mayor informed the Council that the Mayor’s Charities would be the Purfleet Trust and Bridge for Heroes.
C:9	ADMINISTER OATH TO THE DEPUTY MAYOR Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. Councillor Spikings read and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and informed the Council that Avril Wright would be her consort for the year.
C:10	CONVEYANCE OF THANKS TO THE RETIRING MAYOR AND MAYORESS Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. Councillor Ring conveyed thanks to the retiring Mayor and consort.
C:11	TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO THE RETIRING MAYOR AND MAYORESS Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. Council was informed that gifts for the outgoing Mayor and consort were placed at the front of the stage. Councillor Bullen thanked Councillors, Officers, the Civics Team and the community for their support during the year.
C:12	REPORT OF THE MONITORING OFFICER PDF 135 KB Additional documents: DRAFT Council Membership 26-27 - for agreement at Annual Council , item C:12 PDF 205 KB Council Body Membership 26-27 - agreed at Annual Council 14.05.26 , item C:12 PDF 206 KB Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. Councillor Ring proposed the report. This was seconded by Councillor Osborne. Councillor Joyce proposed an amendment to the report in that Councillor Spikings be appointed as Chair of the Planning Committee. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Storey, and on being put to the vote was agreed. Council agreed that Councillor Bone would be appointed as Vice Chair of the Planning Committee. RESOLVED: 1. Council approved the proportional allocation of seats as set out in paragraphs 1.3 and 1.4 of the report and reflected in the full Committee Membership list, attached. 2. Council approved the appointment of Chairs and Vice Chairs for the bodies listed in 2.1 of the report, and the appointment of Chairs for the bodies set out in 2.2 of the report and included in the full Committee Membership list, attached. 3. Council agreed that Members appointed to Task Groups and Sub Groups continue to serve until the first meeting of the relevant body, and that Members appointed to Outside Bodies continue to serve until reappointments are made at Full Council in June 2026. 4. To appoint Councillors Beales and Blunt to the Joint Committee. 5. Council approved the proportionality arrangements for Task Groups as set out in Section 5.1 of the report.