Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Tony Anderson, Paul Anderton, Fabiha Askari, Phillip Black, Roger Cleet, Tim Dant, Gina Dowding, Merv Evans, Jason Firth, Jake Goodwin, Colin Hartley, Debbie Jenkins, Sarah Knight, Abi Mills, Faye Penny, Alistair Sinclair, Paul Stubbins, Luke Taylor, Sandra Thornberry, Katie Whearty, David Whitaker, Peter Yates and Joanna Young.

Before starting the meeting, the Mayor took some time to pay tribute to Councillor Janice Hanson, who had passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, 8^th May.

Councillor Hanson’s death had come as a great shock to all who knew her. Janice  served on the City Council for twenty years over two terms of office. She was a Member of Cabinet for several years as well as holding the office of Deputy Leader. As well as her long service to Lancaster City Council, Janice was also a County Councillor for many years and served on Morecambe Town Council.  She would be greatly missed by her fellow Councillors of all political parties.

The Council’s thoughts were with Janice’s  husband John, her son Alex and the rest of her family.

Councillors stood in a minutes silence in her memory.

To give a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor.

A vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor and Mayoress was moved by Councillor Heath and seconded by Councillor Budden.

The proposition was clearly carried when put to the vote.

The retiring Mayor responded to thank his fellow Councillors.

Resolved:

(1)               That the best thanks of the City Council be conveyed to the retiring Mayor, Councillor Mike Greenall for the service rendered to the city during 2021/22 and for presiding over the deliberations of the City Council during that period.

(2)         That the best thanks of the City Council be conveyed to the retiring Mayoress, Mrs Margaret Greenall for the manner in which she performed the many functions in her year of office.

To elect the Mayor of the City Council for the ensuing year.

It was moved by Councillor Greenwell and seconded by Councillor Redfern:

“That Councillor Joyce Pritchard be elected Mayor of the City of Lancaster for the municipal year 2022/23.”

On being put to the vote, the Mayor declared the proposition clearly carried.

Resolved:

That Councillor Joyce Pritchard be elected Mayor of the City of Lancaster for the municipal year 2022/23.

Councillor Pritchard thereupon made and subscribed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office as required by Section 83(3) of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended before the Chief Executive as the proper officer of the Council.

Children from Caton St Paul’s Primary School sang to the Councillors and guests during a short adjournment. The outgoing Mayor, former Councillor Mike Greenall, vacated the Chair, which was taken by the new Mayor.

On taking the Chair, the Mayor thanked her proposer, seconder and all her fellow Councillors for the honour they had paid her. She then presented the retiring Mayor and Mayoress with their past Mayor and Mayoress badges and handed a certificate to the past Deputy Mayor.

To elect a Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year.

Upon the invitation of the Mayor, Councillor Blaikie proposed:-

“That Councillor Ross Hunter be elected Deputy Mayor of the City of Lancaster for the 2022/23 municipal year”.

The proposition was seconded by Councillor Budden. 

On being put to the vote, the Mayor declared the proposition clearly carried.

Resolved:

That Councillor Ross Hunter be elected Deputy Mayor of the City of Lancaster for the 2022/23 municipal year.

Councillor Hunter thereupon made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office as required by Section 83(3) of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended before the Chief Executive as the proper officer of the Council.   

To appoint an Honorary Recorder in accordance with the decision of Council on 16 March 2022 (minute number 142).

It was proposed by Councillor Caroline Jackson and seconded by Councillor Lewis

“That under the powers contained in the Courts Act 1971 and the Local Government Act 1972, His Honour Judge Robert Altham be appointed as Honorary Recorder of the City of Lancaster.”

On being put to the vote, the Mayor declared the proposition clearly carried.

Resolved:-

That His Honour Judge Robert Altham be appointed Honorary Recorder of the City of Lancaster under the powers contained in the Courts Act 1971 and the Local Government Act 1972.

His Honour, Judge Robert Altham, thereupon made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office as required by Section 83 (3) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

The Honorary Recorder expressed his thanks to the Council for the honour bestowed upon him.

The Mayor then invited the retiring Honorary Recorder, His Honour Judge Philip Sycamore, to receive his certificate with the thanks of the Council.

The Mayor thanked all the school children who had attended the meeting and, in particular, Caton St Paul’s Primary School who had given up their time to sing to so beautifully to everyone.