Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were submitted from Councillors Parry Batth, Chris Bowring, David Chopping, Gary Cowan, John Halsall, Pauline Helliar-Symons, Emma Hobbs, Philip Houldsworth, John Kaiser, Dianne King, Abdul Loyes, Julian McGhee-Sumner, Ian Pittock, Chris Singleton, Wayne Smith, Paul Swaddle and Simon Weeks.

To receive any declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest received.

To answer any public questions

A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for members of the public to ask questions submitted under notice.

The Council welcomes questions from members of the public about the item included within the agenda.

Subject to meeting certain timescales, questions can relate to general issues concerned with the work of the Council or an item which is on the Agenda for this meeting.  For full details of the procedure for submitting questions please contact the Democratic Services Section on the numbers given below or go to www.wokingham.gov.uk/publicquestions

There were no public questions submitted.

In accordance with the Protocol for the Appointment of Honorary Aldermen of Wokingham Borough Council, as agreed at the Annual Council meeting held on 19 May 2016, a nomination has been received for past Member of Council Robert (Bob) Wyatt to be conferred the title of Honorary Alderman.

Council is therefore asked to consider this nomination and whether to confer the title of Honorary Alderman on Mr Wyatt.

RECOMMENDATION:

That Council in sincere appreciation of the distinguished public service rendered by him to the Borough of Wokingham does hereby admit Mr Robert John William Wyatt to be an Honorary Alderman of the Borough of Wokingham in recognition of his untiring service over a period of 22 years to the people of the Borough, and particularly to those of the Wescott Ward, on Committees of the Council, to local organisations and in the offices of Chairman and Mayor.

The Council considered the report which recommended the appointment of ex-Councillor Bob Wyatt as an Honorary Alderman, as set out in the Agenda.

It was proposed by Oliver Whittle and seconded by Pauline Jorgensen that the recommendation contained within in the report be agreed.

A large number of Members made speeches in support of the appointment of ex-Councillor Wyatt as an Honorary Alderman which included memories of his time on the Council and the work he had carried out for residents in the Wescott ward and the charities and other organisations he had been involved in.  The Mayor also read out a number of statements from Members who were unable to attend the meeting.

Upon being put to the vote it was:

RESOLVED:  That Council in sincere appreciation of the distinguished public service rendered by him to the Borough of Wokingham does hereby admit Mr Robert John William Wyatt to be an Honorary Alderman of the Borough of Wokingham in recognition of his untiring service over a period of 22 years to the people of the Borough, and particularly to those of the Wescott Ward, on Committees of the Council, to local organisations and in the offices of Chairman and Mayor.

Following the resolution Alderman Wyatt addressed Council and thanked Members for their kind words and for the appointment which he was very surprised and honoured to have bestowed on him.