Agenda and draft minutes

The Worshipful The Mayor of Medway referred to the recent passing of Councillor Phil Filmer.

The Mayor advised that Councillor Filmer was first elected to Medway Council in 2000, having previously been a councillor for Rochester-Upon-Medway City Council from 1991 to 1995. At Medway Council he initially represented the Peninsula, followed by the Cuxton, Halling and Riverside ward since 2023.

Councillor Filmer was a Cabinet Member from 2003 to 2023, initially holding the Highways and Transport Portfolio and then a wider ranging Frontline Services Portfolio from 2005 to 2023.

He was the current Opposition Spokesperson on the Planning Committee, and a member of the Shadow Cabinet, this reflected his long-standing interest in transport, planning and the regeneration of Medway.

Councillor Filmer was also a member of the Rochester Bridge Trust from 2011 before being elected Junior Warden from May 2017 to May 2021, and Senior Warden from May 2021 to May 2023.

At the Mayor’s invitation, Councillors Fearn, Hubbard, Sands, Lammas, Doe, Maple and Perfect gave tributes to Councillor Filmer.

A minute’s silence was held in memory of Councillor Filmer.

Councillor Price, supported by Councillor Mandaracas, proposed the nomination of Councillor Hamandishe to the Office of Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year.

On being put to the vote, Councillor Hamandishe was duly elected to the Office of the Mayor of Medway.

Councillor Howcroft-Scott, supported by Councillor Field, proposed the nomination of Councillor Jackson to the Office of Deputy Mayor of Medway for the forthcoming municipal year. Councillor Jackson was duly appointed to the Office of Deputy Mayor.

A musical interlude followed.

The newly elected Mayor made the declaration required by law and signed the declaration of acceptance of office. The Mayor also accepted the ceremonial sword and silver oar as symbols of his office as Constable of Rochester Castle and Admiral of the water of Medway from Sheerness to Hawkwood respectively.

The newly appointed Deputy Mayor made the declaration required by law and signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

The Chief Executive read a message of congratulation to the new Mayor that had been received from Lieutenant General Sir Chris Tickell KBE for and on behalf of the Chief Royal Engineer.

The newly elected Mayor then addressed the Council and announced that his nominated charities would be Wisdom Hospice, Chatham Royal Marine Cadets, Legend on the Bench and Sunlight Development Centre.

The Mayor announced that his fiancée, Vicky, would be the Mayoress and that daughters, Armaris and O’nai, would act as consorts when the Mayoress was unavailable. The Deputy Mayor’s consort would be Rachel Jackson and Kurtis Shand would provide support when Rachel was unavailable.

Councillor Etheridge, supported by Councillor Fearn, proposed a vote of thanks to Councillor Clarke in his capacity as the outgoing Mayor.

The outgoing Mayor and the past Mayoress, Mrs Mandy Clarke, were each presented a past Mayoral badge. The outgoing Mayor responded to the vote of thanks.

Flowers were presented to the outgoing Mayoress and the outgoing Deputy Mayoress.

Decision:

a)    The Council elected Councillor Hamandishe to the Office of the Mayor of Medway for the 2026/2027 municipal year.

b)    The Council appointed Councillor Jackson to the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Medway for the 2026/2027 municipal year.

The Mayor announced that the Reverend Canon Gordon Giles had accepted an invitation to act as his Chaplain for the forthcoming year, with support from Medway Interfaith throughout the year. The Mayor presented Canon Giles a scroll.

A musical interlude followed.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Crozer, Shokar and Williams. 

Apologies were also received from Honorary Alderman Glyn Griffiths.

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct. Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 5.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.  

There were none.

This report sets out the position regarding the overall allocation of seats on Committees. The Council is asked to approve the recommendations in paragraph 1.1 relating to Committees and other bodies to be appointed for 2026/2027 and a programme of meetings.

The Council is also asked to make recommendations to the Joint Meeting of Committees, which will take place immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Council, in respect of the appointment of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of Committees and the establishment and membership of sub-committees.

Background:

This report set out the position regarding the overall allocation of seats on Committees. The Council was asked to approve the recommendations in paragraph 1.1 of the report relating to Committees and other bodies to be appointed for 2026/2027 and a programme of meetings.

The Council was also asked to make recommendations to the Joint Meeting of Committees, which would take place immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Council, in respect of the appointment of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of Committees and the establishment and membership of sub-committees, as set out in recommendation 1.2 of the report.

Councillor Peake, supported by Councillor Kemp, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decisions:

1)      The Council:

a)      Agreed the establishment of Committees, their size and the allocation of seats to political groups,as set out in Appendices A and B to the report, together with terms of reference as set out in the Council’s constitution.

b)      Agreed the appointment of members to each Committee, as set out in Appendix B to the report, including the appointment of voting and non-voting co-optees on Committees as listed.

c)      Agreed to decommission the School Transport and Curriculum Appeals Committee.

d)      Agreed the appointments and nominations to Joint Committees, outside bodies and other bodies, as set out in Appendix C to the report.

e)      Agreed the timetable of meetings for the 2026/2027 municipal year, as set out in Appendix D to the report.

f)       Agreed to delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with Group Whips, to vary the schedule of meetings during the 2026/2027 municipal year as required, on the basis set out in paragraph 5.4 of the report.

g)      Noted the allocation of motions for the 2026/2027 municipal year, as set out in paragraph 6.5 of the report.

2)             The Council recommended to the Joint Meeting of Committees:

a)      The appointment of Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons of committees (excluding the Health and Wellbeing Board), as set out in Appendix B to the report).

b)      The establishment of sub committees (with terms of reference as set out in the Council’s Constitution) and scrutiny task group, their size, the allocation of seats to political groups and memberships, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

c)      That the requirement for political balance should be waived in respect of Licensing Hearing Panels and Licensing 1982 Act Hearing Panels and that the process for selection of the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Panel Members for these Panels should be as set out in Appendix B to the report.

This report advises the Council of the Members of the Cabinet for 2026/2027, as appointed by the Leader of the Council, and their portfolios, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

It also sets out appointments and nominations made by the Leader to Executive outside bodies, as set out in Section F of Appendix C to Agenda item 7, and the delegation of executive functions to officers agreed by the Leader as set out in Appendix B, which also incorporates the scheme of officer delegations for matters which are not the responsibility of the Cabinet and have to be agreed by the Council.

Background:

This report advised the Council of the Members of the Cabinet for 2026/2027, as appointed by the Leader of the Council, and their portfolios, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

It also set out appointments and nominations made by the Leader to Executive outside bodies, as set out in Section F of Appendix C to Agenda item 7, and the delegation of executive functions to officers agreed by the Leader as set out in Appendix B, which also incorporated the scheme of officer delegations for matters which were not the responsibility of the Cabinet and had to be agreed by the Council.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Maple, supported by the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Murray, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decisions:

a)    The Council noted the details of those appointed by the Leader to serve as Deputy Leader and Members of the Cabinet and the extent of their individual portfolios, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

b)    The Council noted the appointments and nominations to executive bodies, as set out in section F of Appendix C to agenda item 7 (Establishment of Committees, Appointments and Schedule of Meetings 2026/2027).

c)    The Council noted the delegations to officers agreed by the Leader in relation to executive functions, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

d)    The Council agreed to the delegation of non-executive functions to officers, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

At the conclusion of the Annual Meeting there will be a brief Joint Meeting of Committees. 

Joint Meeting of Committees (except Health and Wellbeing Board):

Agenda

(1)  Election of Chairperson.

(2)  Record of the meeting - to agree that the Chairperson signs the record of this meeting outside the meeting.

(3)  Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and other significant interests.

(4)  To appoint Committee Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons as set out in Appendix B to agenda item 7 on the Annual Meeting of Medway Council agenda.

(5)  To agree the establishment, allocation of seats to political groups and membership of Sub-Committees, as set out in Appendix B to agenda item 7 on the Annual Meeting of Medway Council agenda.

Discussion:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Maple, supported by the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Perfect, proposed a vote of thanks to staff.

The Leader thanked staff for their work. He said that staff would do everything they could to support the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process and that hard working Council staff made a daily difference delivering for the people of Medway. Whatever the outcome was of the LGR process, the Council would work with partners to ensure staff were supported.

Responding on behalf of opposition Councillors, the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Perfect, thanked staff for their dedication and commitment and work to make Medway a better place to live. He gave particular thanks to the Chief Executive, to the People Directorate, the Child Friendly Medway Team and to support services, such as Democratic Services, Legal Services and Procurement.

Responding to the vote of thanks on behalf of Council staff, the Chief Executive thanked Members for their heartfelt appreciation of staff across the Council. He said that Medway was blessed with a highly talented, dedicated and committed workforce and teams of staff.

Relationships between Members and officers were strong and positive across the Council. These were founded upon the values and behaviours of the Council which were Proud to be Medway, Respectful, Ambitious, Trusted, Caring and Collaborative.

Decision:

The Council agreed that a vote of thanks be given to staff.