Agenda and minutes

The Worshipful the Mayor will welcome everyone to the meeting and will advise all present of the premises evacuation procedure in the event of an emergency.

The Worshipful the Mayor welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised all present of the premises evacuation procedure in the event of an emergency.

The Mayor will invite nominations for the office of Mayor.

Councillor Jim Beall will propose and Councillor Eileen Johnson will second that Councillor Bob Cook be elected Mayor.

The motion(s) will be put to the meeting.

The appointed Mayor will read and sign the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

The Mayoral Party will then retire.

The Mayoral Party will return to the stage.

The Retiring Mayoress will invest the Incoming Mayoress with the Chain of Office.

Moved by Councillor Jim Beall and seconded by Councillor Eileen Johnson, that Councillor Bob Cook be appointed Mayor for the Municipal Year 2026/2027.

RESOLVED that Councillor Bob Cook be appointed Mayor for the Municipal Year 2026/2027.

The Mayor will invite nominations for the office of Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Jim Beall will propose and Councillor Lisa Evans will second that Councillor Marilyn Surtees be appointed Deputy Mayor.

The motion(s) will be put to the meeting.

The appointed Deputy Mayor will read and sign the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

The Mayor will invest the Deputy Mayor with the Chain of Office and the Mayoress will invest the Mayor’s Consort with the Chain of Office.

Moved by Councillor Jim Beall and seconded by Councillor Lisa Evans, that Councillor Marilyn Surtees be appointed Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2026/2027.

RESOLVED that Councillor Marilyn Surtees be appointed Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2026/2027.

The Mayor will address the meeting and thank the Council for his appointment.

The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Bob Cook, returned thanks for his appointment and addressed the meeting regarding his ambitions for the year ahead.

The Deputy Mayor will address the meeting and thank the Council for her appointment.

The Deputy Mayor returned thanks for her appointment.

Councillor Lynn Hall will propose and Councillor Tony Riordan will second a vote of thanks to the retired Mayor for the admirable way in which he has discharged his duties during his term of office.

Moved by Councillor Lynn Hall and seconded by Councillor Tony Riordan, that a vote of thanks be extended to the retired Mayor for the admirable way in which he has discharged his duties during his term of office.

RESOLVED that thanks be extended to the retired Mayor for the admirable way in which he has discharged his duties during his term of office.

The Worshipful the Mayor presented the retired Mayor and Mayoress with Medallions and a commemorative album.

The Retired Mayor will address the meeting.

The Retired Mayor addressed the meeting to reflect on his year in office.

The Retired Mayor will recognise the achievements of those who have been successfully nominated for a Mayor’s Civic Award.

·         Young Person Award – Ariadne Goldsmith

·         Service to the Community Award – Individual – Janet Hodgson

·         Service to the Community Award – Groups and Organisations – Hope Cancer Community Group

·         Service to the Community Award – Business – Choco-Latte

·         Health and Wellbeing Award – Stockton Volunteer Driver Service

·         Green Award – Bright Minds, Big Futures

·         Mayor’s Special Award – Olga Maloney

The Retired Mayor recognised the achievements of those who had been successfully nominated for a Mayor’s Civic Award:

·         Young Person Award – Ariadne Goldsmith

·         Service to the Community Award – Individual – Janet Hodgson

·         Service to the Community Award – Groups and Organisations – Hope Cancer Community Group

·         Service to the Community Award – Business – Choco-Latte

·         Health and Wellbeing Award – Stockton Volunteer Driver Service

·         Green Award – Bright Minds, Big Futures

·         Mayor’s Special Award – Olga Maloney

-       Moses Project

-       Butterwick Hospice

A presentation was made to the Mayor’s Charities.

The Retired Mayor presented Brian and Stella Jones from The Moses Project  and Amanda Baker and Helen Shaw from Butterwick Hospice with cheques for £20,054.84 raised during his civic year.

The Retired Mayor will recognise the contribution of long serving staff by presenting them with a certificate of achievement.

The Retired Mayor recognised the special contribution of a unique group of staff who had all achieved 25 years’ service as a Local Government employee:

-           Rachel Douglas

-           Colin Dyball

-           Derek Hall

Colin Dyball was in attendance at the meeting and the Retired Mayor invited him to come to the stage to receive his long service certificate.

The Retired Mayor will present the retired Deputy Mayor with a Silver Salver to thank him for his role as Deputy Mayor.

On behalf of the Council, the retiring Mayor presented a silver salver to the retiring Deputy Mayor for his services during 2025/26.

Reverend Paul Neville will present the Bible to the Mayor.

Reverend Paul Neville presented the Bible to the Worshipful the Mayor.

Floral arrangements were presented to the Mayoress, the retired Mayoress and the Deputy Mayor.

The Mayor will move, for approval, the Council’s Constitution.

The Council’s Constitution is available to view on the Council’s website at:-

Constitution

Council was invited to approve the Council's Constitution. Members had been provided with a link to the Constitution.

RESOLVED that the Council's Constitution be agreed.

To agree to Meetings of the Council being held at 6.00pm (except where otherwise stated) during the Municipal Year on the following dates:-

20 May 2026

22 July 2026

23 September 2026

18 November 2026

20 January 2027

24 February 2027 (Special - MTFP)

17 March 2027

26 May 2027 (Annual Meeting - 11.00 am)

RESOLVED that meetings of the Council be held at 6.00pm (except where otherwise stated) during the Municipal Year on the following dates:

20 May 2026

22 July 2026

23 September 2026

18 November 2026

20 January 2027

24 February 2027 (Special - MTFP)

17 March 2027

26 May 2027 (Annual Meeting - 11.00 am)

The Leader of the Council will address the meeting and will announce her Cabinet Members for 2026/27.

The Leader announced her Cabinet for the Municipal Years 2026/27:

·         Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources and Transport – Councillor Paul Rowling

·         Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care – Councillor Pauline Beall

·         Cabinet Member for Children and Young People – Councillor Clare Besford

·         Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture – Councillor Nigel Cooke

·         Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing – Councillor Richard Eglington

·         Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety – Councillor Norma Stephenson

No changes were proposed to Committee appointments.

The Mayor will sign the Corporate Parenting Pledge on behalf of the Council, accepting Members’ role as Corporate Parents.

The Worshipful the Mayor signed the Corporate Parenting Pledge on behalf of the Council accepting all Members’ role as Corporate Parents.

The Worshipful the Mayor closed the meeting and invited guests to the civic reception.