Agenda and draft minutes

The Mayor received apologies for absence from Councillors Helen Abrahams, Daniel Humphreys and Claire Hunt.

To elect the Mayor of the Borough until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2025.            

The Mayor to declare their acceptance of office.

It was proposed by Councillor Sophie Cox and seconded by Councillor Noel Atkins that Councillor Ibsha Choudhury be elected to serve as Mayor for the coming year. 

Resolved that Councillor Ibsha Choudhury be elected Mayor of the Borough of Worthing for the 2024/25 Municipal Year.

There was an adjournment whilst the newly elected Mayor received the Insignia.

Councillor Ibsha Choudhury returned to the Chamber and made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office and then addressed the Council.  

(The Mayor, Councillor Ibsha Choudhury, in the Chair)

To receive nominations for and appoint a Deputy Mayor for 2024/25 who will be Mayor from May 2025.

The Deputy Mayor to declare their acceptance of office.

Councillor Cathy Glaynn-Davies proposed that Councillor Helen Abrahams be appointed to serve as Deputy Mayor in 2024/25, the proposal was seconded by Councillor Hilary Schan.

Resolved that Councillor Helen Abrahams be appointed as Deputy Mayor for the 2024/25 Municipal Year.

To receive and note the Return of Persons Elected at the 2 May 2024 Borough Council elections.

The Council noted the Returning Officer’s return of persons elected in the Borough Elections held on 2 May 2024.

Members and Officers must declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to any business on the agenda. Declarations should also be made at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. 

If in doubt, contact the Legal or Democratic Services representative for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2024, copies of which have been previously circulated.

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2024 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Mayor.

A vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor was proposed by the Mayor, seconded by Councillor Dan Hermitage and it was unanimously

Resolved that the Council placed on record its sincere thanks to Councillor Jon Roser for the fine manner in which he upheld the tradition of the Office of Mayor of the Borough, for his service to the community of Worthing, for the fair business like way in which he presided over the meetings of the Council.

The Mayor presented the outgoing Mayor with his Past Mayor insignia.

To consider any items the Mayor considers to be urgent.

There were no urgent items.

The Mayor welcomed all newly elected councillors around the chamber and advised that there were no announcements from either the Mayor or the Head of Paid Service.

To elect the Leader of the Council for a term not exceeding four years; the person elected will serve as Leader for the remainder of their term of office as Councillor.

It was proposed by Councillor Sophie Cox and seconded by Councillor Andy Whight that Councillor Dr Beccy Cooper be elected Leader of the Council. 

Following a vote, the Council approved the proposal. 

Resolved that Councillor Dr Beccy Cooper be the Leader of the Council for the period of her term of office as Councillor; namely to the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2028.

To receive any announcements from the Leader.

The Leader addressed the Council, confirming the membership and portfolio responsibilities of the Cabinet and the supporting policy advisers - details of which are appended in Appendix B.

To consider a report by the Director for Sustainability & Resources, attached as item 12. 

(Details of the nominated committee memberships will be published to the website when they are received from each of the Political Groups)

Before the Council was a report by the Director for Sustainability and Resources, copies of which had been distributed to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 12. 

The report outlined a number of decisions required by Council to ensure that the decision making structure for 2024/25 was determined according to the Council’s Constitution.

It was noted that an updated Appendix B had been circulated in advance of the meeting detailing the nominations for Committee Memberships from each of the political groups and the chair and vice-chair nominations. 

The Mayor sought nominations for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) and the Worthing Overview & Scrutiny Committee (OSC). Councillor Kevin Jenkins proposed Councillor Heather Mercer as Chair of both JOSC and OSC and Councillor Elizabeth Sparkes as Vice-Chair of JOSC and OSC.  

The recommendations outlined in the report and the additional nominations, were proposed by Councillor Dr Beccy Cooper and seconded by Councillor Kevin Jenkins. 

Council unanimously approved the recommendations following a vote. 

Resolved 

That the Council

      i.        noted the decision making structure of the Council and the political balance of the Council as detailed in paragraphs 4.1, 4.2 and Appendix A;

     ii.        appointed to the Committees in accordance with the wishes of the Political Groups on the Council, as detailed in Appendix B (attached);

    iii.        agreed that the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Committees, nominated on the night and detailed in Appendix B (attached), be appointed until the Annual Meeting of the Council in May 2025;

   iv.        in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 38, the Council noted the appointment of the Leader of the Conservative Group on the Council, as the Leader of the Main Opposition.