Nominations will be sought orally from those present at the meeting. Voting will be by way of a show of hands unless at least 10 Members request the holding of a secret ballot.
Minutes:
The Chairman, Councillor Richard Britton, welcomed all those present to the meeting and gave an address, as outgoing Chairman of Council, thanking the officer, councillors and his wife for supporting him in the role.
The Chairman also took the opportunity to make the following announcements:
Outgoing Councillors – Acknowledgement Of Service
It was noted that at the last council meeting, the meeting acknowledged those councillors who had let it be known they would not be standing for re-election, and that it had now been confirmed that the following members did not seek re-election:
Chris Auckland, Rosemary Brown, Chris Caswill, Jamie Capp, Charles Howard, Keith Humphries, Julian Johnson, Simon Killane, Jemima Milton, Bill Moss, Helen Osborn, Mark Packard, Linda Packard, Nina Phillips and Dick Tonge;
And the following members were not returned:
Desna Allen, Glenis Ansell, Nick Blakemore, Terry Chivers, Dennis Drewett, Peter Edge, John Knight, Magnus Macdonald, Alan Macrae, Howard Marshall, David Pollitt, Sheila Parker, Ian Tomes and Ian West.
The Chairman paid tribute to their hard work and the contribution they made to wiltshire and the communities they represented.
The Chairman also took the Opportunity Of Welcoming The 29 New Councillors On The Council. Councillors:
Philip Alford, Ben Anderson, Ian Blair-Pilling, Derek Brown, Clare Cape, Pauline Church, Jane Davies, Matthew Dean, Peter Fuller, Sarah Gibson, Gavin Grant, David Halik, Deborah Halik, Ross Henning, Darren Henry, Sven Hocking, Ruth Hopkinsin, Tony Jackson, Johnny Kidney, Edward Kirk, Jim Lynch, Brian Mathew, Nick Murry, Ashley O’neill, Stewart Palmen, Andy Phillips, Tom Rounds, Hayley Spencer and Robert Yuill.
Engagements
The Chairman drew the meeting’s attention to engagements undertaken, including:
• The Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain Western Section’s Annual Luncheon, Swindon
• Nadder Centre Campus Opening, Tisbury.
• Young Voice of Trowbridge Competition, John of Gaunt School.
• B.E.M. Medal Presentation Ceremony, Bowood House.
• Visit Of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales to Wadworth Brewery, Devizes.
• High Sheriff’s Reception, The Members’ Room, County Hall.
• Amesbury Mayor’s Civic Service, St. Mary & St. Melor Church, Amesbury.
• Service For The Rule Of Law, Salisbury Cathedral.
• Mayor of Warminster’s Civic Service, St. Denys (Minster) Church, Warminster.
• Salisbury City Council Mayor Making Ceremony.
• Salisbury City Council Annual Mayoral Civic Service And Luncheon.
Death Of Retired Councillors
The Chairman drew the meeting’s attention to following deaths of retired Councillors:
Mr. Charles Winchcombe, who represented Devizes as a county councillor and was a former mayor of Devizes, died on 26th March, 2017. Mr. Winchcombe served 30 years as a town councillor and was also a member of Kennet District Council.
Col. Michael Mounde, M.B.E. (Re), who Died On 2nd March, 2017, was a West Wiltshire District Councillor for 10 Years. He Was also chairman of the Heart Of Wessex (Formerly Sowing Seeds) local action group which covers south Wiltshire And South Somerset, and of the Warminster and Villages Development Trust.
The Chairman then sought nominations for the position of Chairman of Council for 2017/18.
Councillor Alison Bucknell was proposed by Councillor Jerry Kunkler and seconded by Councillor Stuart Wheeler.
There being no further nominations it was;
Resolved
That Councillor Alison Bucknell be elected Chairman of Wiltshire Council for the municipal year 2017/18.
The Chairman subsequently read out and signed the declaration of acceptance of office of Chairman of the Council witnessed by the Monitoring Officer.
Councillor Alison Bucknell in the Chair