Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations.

To elect the Mayor of the Borough for the ensuing year.

(The Local Government Act 1972 provides that they Mayor shall be elected annually by the Council from among the Councillors of the borough.)

The Mayor invited nominations for the post of Mayor of Camden for the Municipal Year 2024/25.  Councillor Frondigoun nominated Councillor Khatoon and made a short speech in support of the nomination.  Councillors Simon and Adams both seconded the nomination and made short speeches in support.

As there were no other nominations for Mayor, it was

RESOLVED –

THAT Councillor Samata Khatoon be elected Mayor of the Borough for the ensuing year.

Councillor Khatoon was duly invested, and made and signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

The Mayor announced that her Consort would be her husband, Mohammed Saj, and her escorts would be her brothers Mohammed Gazi and Soyodur Rahman, her sister Momota Khatoon, her son Takbeer Khan, her daughter Rowza Khan, Esther Caplin, Maureen Robinson, Munadia Hussain Khan, Faiz Rahman, Councillor Ajok Athian, Councillor Lotis Bautista, Councillor Richard Cotton, Councillor Edmund Frondigoun, Councillor Liam Martin-Lane and Councillor Shah Miah.

The Mayor then addressed the Council.

The Mayor to announce the appointment of the Deputy Mayor.

The Mayor announced that she was pleased to appoint Councillor Eddie Hanson to fill the office of Deputy Mayor.  Councillor Hanson was duly appointed.

Councillor Hanson announced that his Deputy Mayoress would be his partner Kimberley Taylor and his escorts would be Karis Hanson, Kaleb Hanson, Eleah-Grace Hanson, Councillor Nasrine Djemai, Councillor Lorna Greenwood, Councillor Nanouche Umeadi, Councillor Lloyd Hatton, Councillor James Slater, Councillor Matt Cooper, Councillor Anna Burrage, Councillor Camron Aref-Adib, Elizabeth Gordon, Millicent Hanson, Joan Munro and Mary Ryan.

Vote of thanks to the past Mayor.

Councillor Wright moved a vote of thanks to the Retiring Mayor, which was seconded by Councillors Dixey and Stark.

Councillor Rahman then addressed the Council.

Councillor Linda Chung

The Mayor advised that Councillor Chung was unwell and, on behalf of the Council, sent best wishes to her for a speedy recovery.

Gio Spinella

Councillor Gould paid tribute to Gio Spinella following his recent resignation from the Council.  Councillors Adams and Simon also said a few words in recognition of Mr Spinella’s contribution during his time on the Council.

Frognal by-election

The Chief Executive announced that, following the by-election on 2^nd May 2024, Steve Adams was elected as ward councillor for Frognal ward.

Apologies for absence and any other communications.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ali, Chung, De Ayala Parker, Fulbrook, Harrison, Kirk and Vincent.

To receive notification of the names of the Cabinet and their portfolios, and to receive notification of the names of the Leaders of the opposition groups.

The Leader of the Council addressed the meeting and informed the Council that she intended to appoint the following Cabinet Members:-

Cabinet Member for Safer Communities – Councillor Pat Callaghan

Cabinet Member for Better Homes – Councillor Sagal Abdi-Wali

Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care – Councillor Anna Wright

Cabinet Member for Finance and Cost of Living – Councillor Richard Olszewski

Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families – Councillor Marcus Boyland

Cabinet Member for Young People and Culture – Councillor Sabrina Francis

Cabinet Member for New Homes, Jobs and Community Investment – Councillor Danny Beales

Cabinet Member for Voluntary Sector, Equalities and Cohesion – Councillor Nadia Shah

Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden – Councillor Adam Harrison

The Deputy Leaders of the Council would be Councillors Pat Callaghan and Adam Harrison.

Councillor Dixey advised the Council that the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group would be Councillor Simon and the Deputy Leader would be Councillor Jirira. 

Councillor Stark advised the Council that the Leader of the Conservative Group would be Councillor Adams and the Deputy Leader would be Councillor Parkinson. 

Report of the Borough Solicitor

This annual report outlines the requirements relating to the establishment of Council bodies within the Constitution for the 2024/25 municipal year. It asks the Council to establish these bodies, agree their terms of reference and appoint Members to them, including the Chairs (and, where shown, Vice-Chairs). It also asks the Council to agree some minor changes to the Constitution and to confirm the meeting dates for the 2024/25 municipal year.

The Mayor drew the Council’s attention to the report published on the agenda and to the papers circulated earlier in the day and tabled at the meeting which contained the nominations to committees and sub-committees.

On being put to the vote, it was unanimously

RESOLVED –

(i)           THAT the establishment of the bodies, their size and terms and reference and meeting dates for the 2024/25 municipal year be agreed as set out in Appendices A and B of the report;

(ii)          THAT those nominated by the political groups as set out in the updated version of Appendix C circulated on the supplementary agenda and tabled at the meeting, including Chairs and Vice-Chairs where shown, be appointed for the 2024/25 municipal year;

(iii)         THAT the Constitution shall remain unchanged other than those amendments considered by the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee and those reviewed by the Democratic Review Group and detailed in section 7 of the report, and is otherwise confirmed as currently published;

(iv)         THAT the arrangements for delegations to officers be agreed as set out in Appendix A of the report; and

(v)          THAT authority be delegated to the Borough Solicitor to make and publish an amended Constitution following the changes made pursuant to (iii) above.