Agenda and draft minutes

Annual Council, Council - Thursday, 15th May, 2025 5.00 pm

Venue: Assembly Room, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn PE30 5DQ. View directions

Contact: Sam Winter, Democratic Services Manager 616327

Items
No.	Item
C:1	PRAYERS Minutes: Prayers were led by Rev Canon Ling.
C:2	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ayres, Collingham, Collop, Hodson and Ryves.
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: There were none.
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 2025/2026 Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. Councillor Beales proposed Councillor Andy Bullen for the position of Mayor and Chair of the Council for the 2025/2026 Municipal Year. This was seconded by Councillor Long. Both Members spoke in support of the proposal. RESOLVED: That Councillor Andy Bullen be appointed as Mayor and Chair for the 2025/2026 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 2025/26 Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. Councillor Bone proposed Councillor Steve Bearshaw as Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2025/2026. Councillor Ring seconded the proposal. Both Members spoke in support of the proposal. RESOLVED: That Councillor Steve Bearshaw be appointed as Deputy Mayor and Vice Chair of the Council for the 2025/2026 Municipal Year.
C:8	ADMINISTER OATH TO THE MAYOR Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. Councillor Bullen read and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and informed the Council that his sister Jane would be his Consort. Councillor Bullen informed the Council that the Mayor’s Chaplain for the year would be Father Adrian Ling. 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 Swan Project and 42 King’s Lynn Air Cadets.
C:9	ADMINISTER OATH TO THE DEPUTY 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 would be his Deputy Mayoress.
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 proposed a conveyance of thanks to the retiring Mayor and Mayoress.
C:11	TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO THE RETIRING MAYOR AND MAYORESS AND RECEIVE RESPONSE Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. Council was informed that gifts and flowers for the outgoing Mayor and Mayoress were placed at the front of the stage. Councillor Bland thanked Councillors, Council Officers, the Civics Team and the community for their support during the year. He presented retiring Mace Bearer Roy Williamson with a retirement gift and thanked him for his service.
C:12	PROPORTIONAL ALLOCATION OF SEATS PDF 182 KB To agree proportional allocation of seats with regard to the following Council Bodies in the Constitution in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (as amended by subsequent legislation), and in accordance with Section 16 of that Act, to appoint members to serve on them (a full membership list will be made available at the meeting): - Appointments Board /Investigating & Disciplinary Committee - Licensing Committee - Licensing and Appeals Board - Planning Committee - Standards Committee - Audit Committee Policy Review and Development Panels: - Corporate Performance - Environment and Community - Regeneration and Development Additional documents: Council Membership 25-26 AGREED AT ANNUAL COUNCIL May 2025 , item C:12 PDF 279 KB Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. RESOLVED: The Committee Membership sheet which was tabled at the meeting (and attached) was agreed by Council.
C:13	APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRS AND VICE-CHAIRS PDF 280 KB Appointment of Chairs and Vice Chairs of the following bodies: - Appointments Board - Planning Committee - Licensing Committee - Licensing and Appeals Board - Standards Committee Appointment of Chairs of the following Bodies (Vice Chairs will be appointed at the first meeting of the Body) - Audit Committee - Corporate Performance Panel - Environment and Community Panel - Regeneration and Development Panel Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. RESOLVED: Chairs and Vice Chairs were appointed as set out in the Council Body Membership sheet which was tabled at the meeting (a copy is also attached).
C:14	MEMBERSHIP OF SUB GROUP/TASK GROUPS To agree that any members previously appointed to a sub group/task group continues to serve until the first meeting of their appointing body in the new Municipal year. Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. RESOLVED: That any members previously appointed to a sub group/task group continue to serve until the first meeting of their appointing body in the new Municipal Year.
C:15	OUTSIDE BODY MEMBERSHIP That any Member appointed to an outside body the previous year continue to serve until 15 July 2025 Cabinet or 31 July 2025 Council, whichever is appropriate. Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. RESOLVED: That any Member appointed to an outside body the previous year continues to serve until the Cabinet meeting on 15 July 2025 or the Council meeting on 31 July 2025, as appropriate.
C:16	PROPORTIONALITY OF TASK GROUPS To agree the following: Task Groups with 10 Members – 4 Independent P’ship, 3 Conservative, 1 Labour, 1 Progressive, 1 Reform Task Groups with 9 Members – 4 Independent P’ship, 3 Conservative, 1 Labour and 1 Reform or 1 Progressive Task Groups with 7 Members – 3 Independent P’ship, 3 Conservative, 1 Labour Task Groups with 5 Members – 2 Independent P’ship, 2 Conservative, 1 Labour Minutes: Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube. RESOLVED: The following allocation for Task Groups was agreed: Task Groups with 10 Members – 4 Independent Partnership, 3 Conservative, 1 Labour, 1 Progressive, 1 Reform Task Groups with 9 Members – 4 Independent Partnership, 3 Conservative, 1 Labour and 1 Reform or 1 Progressive. Task Groups with 7 Members – 3 Independent Partnership, 3 Conservative, 1 Labour Task Groups with 5 Members – 2 Independent Partnership, 2 Conservative, 1 Labour.