Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Town Mayor for 2024/25.

Cllr Fairclough proposed, and Cllr Mirylees seconded, Cllr Brodie Mauluka as Mayor for 2024-25.

In proposing Cllr Fairclough said the current Mayor would be a hard act to follow after three years of selfless service but Cllr Mauluka was used to stepping out on a big stage and would do so in his own style. Cllr Mauluka may take a more laid back approach but his demeanour should not deceive you as he cares passionately about people and  causes and about Farnham.  A fitting theme for his tenure could be “A Mayor that will make a difference”.

Cllr Mirylees endorsed nomination having got to know Cllr Mauluka by saying simply he was a good musician and a good person and would make an excellent Mayor.

There being no other nominations, it was RESOLVED nem con that Cllr Brodie Mauluka be Mayor of Farnham for 2024-25.

The outgoing Mayor, Cllr Earwaker, invested Cllr Mauluka with the Mayoral Chain and Badge of Office.

To receive the Mayor’s Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Cllr Mauluka made his declaration of acceptance of office and commenced his duties as Mayor.  He said it was an honour to have been elected as the Mayor of Farnham.  He thanked councillors for their faith in him and would serve them and the people of Farnham to the best of his ability in the year ahead. He recounted the story of when, in 2022,  he was playing music at the farmers’ market he joked with the Mayor saying that one day he would be wearing his badge.  The Mayor encouraged him to stand as a councillor and a year after becoming a councillor he was humbled to be elected Mayor.

The Mayor said he learned to play the guitar at the age of ten and was lucky to join a youth club and have many opportunities with some positive influences that inspired him to become a youth worker for over twenty years in Hampshire.

For this reason, he was going to continue to support young people during his year of office commenting that “it takes a village to support a child”.   He had chosen two organisations: 40 Degreez and the very important work they do in Farnham; and also a new local charity Charlie’s Promise’ which is dedicated to helping the fight against the growing issue of knife crime in Surrey in memory of Charlie Cosser.  It will educate and support young people to make right choices and decisions in life, to keep themselves and others safe.

In concluding, the Mayor said he knew the year ahead would be tough…but also good.  Cllr Alan Earwaker had been an excellent mayor, and he would be a hard act to follow but with his support, and the support of his Mayoress Caroline and Council it was going to be a good year and he was very much looking forward to being Mayor.

The Mayor presented the badge of office of Mayoress to his wife, Mrs Caroline Mauluka.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies had been received from Mrs Michaela Martin and Mr Tim Woodhouse.

To receive from members, in respect of any items included on the agenda for this meeting, disclosure of any disclosable pecuniary or other interests, or of any gifts and hospitality, in line with the Town Council’s Code of Conduct.

NOTES:

(i)              The following councillors have made a general non-pecuniary interest declaration in relation to being councillors of Waverley Borough Council: Cllrs David Beaman, Alan Earwaker, George Murray, Tony Fairclough, George Hesse, Andrew Laughton, Mark Merryweather, Kika Mirylees, John Ward, and Graham White.

(iii)        The following councillor has made a general non-pecuniary interest declaration in relation to being a councillor of Surrey County Council: Cllr Michaela Martin;

(iv)        Members are requested to make any declarations of interest, on the form attached, to be returned to customer.services@farnham.gov.uk by 5pm on the day before the meeting.

Members are reminded that if they declare a pecuniary interest they must leave before any debate starts unless dispensation has been obtained.

There were no disclosures of interest relating to items on the agenda.

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the Farnham Town Council meeting held on April 25th 2024 at Appendix A.

The Minutes of the Farnham Town Council Meeting held on Thursday 25^th April 2024 were agreed as a correct record for the signature of the Mayor.

To elect the Deputy Town Mayor for the municipal year 2024-25.

Cllr Laughton proposed, and Cllr Jackman seconded, that Cllr George Murray be elected Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2024-25.

Cllr Laughton congratulated the Mayor on his election and said he was delighted propose Cllr Murray and his wife Jacoba as Deputy Mayor and Mayoress.  He had a lifetime experience in the hospitality sector and with his wife had successfully set up and run a coffee shop in Lion and Lamb Yard.  As well as being a Town Councillor, Cllr Murray was also on the Executive of Waverley Borough Council.  With his enthusiasm to helping Farnham residents and further improving our beautiful town, Cllr Laughton had no hesitation in proposing Cllr Murray as Deputy Mayor.  Cllr Jackman said he was happy to second and that with his background, there was no-one better to support Cllr Mauluka in his term of office.

There being no other nominations, it was RESOLVED unanimously that Cllr George Murray be Deputy Mayor for 2024-25.

To receive the Deputy Mayor’s Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Having received the badge of office, Cllr Murray made his declaration of acceptance of office and thanked his proposer and seconder for their kind comments.  He hoped he would live up to expectations and looked forward to supporting the Mayor and Mayoress in the year ahead.

The Mayor presented Mrs Jacoba Murray with the badge of office of Deputy Mayoress.

To receive the Vote of Thanks for the retiring Town Mayor Cllr Alan Earwaker.

Cllr Merryweather proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor, Cllr Alan Earwaker, which was seconded by Cllr Hesse. 

Cllr Merryweather said it was an honour to propose the vote of thanks.  In the 40 years since 1984 Farnham Town Council Council had now had 33 Mayors, of which - excluding Alan Earwaker - six had served two terms and of them only two of those consecutively. Alan’s name stands out on the Mayoral board as a record of not only three terms but three consecutive terms. 

During his term of office, the Council has achieved regional and national recognition including Council of the Year in 2021; the Hale Chapels Conversion, and for continuing successes in the “In Bloom” awards.  Alan was also Farnham’s focal point in times of extraordinary national events with the passing of Queen Elizabeth and the Coronation of King Charles, and he also hosted the visit of the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to plant the 70th tree in the town’s new Queen’s Jubilee Avenue.

Alan Earwaker was first made Mayor in 2021 just as the nation was starting to emerge from the battering of Covid lockdowns.  He adapted his role to support the community where it needed it most and, supported by Claire and Alison, attending a rapidly expanding number of community events as well as those organised by the council.

Alan’s skills have all been put to good use chairing full Council meetings firmly but always accompanied with tangible compassion, fairness and modesty.  In addition, he has also always diligently attended other meetings and, in his spare time, serving the community in his other private voluntary and charitable roles.

Alan Earwaker will quite rightly be remembered as a truly outstanding Mayor.

In seconding the vote of thanks Cllr Hesse endorsed everything that had been said.  Cllr Earwaker was handing over a heavy chain and he looked forward to working with him as fellow Castle Ward councillors.

Past Town Mayor’s Badge to be presented to Cllr Alan Earwaker and Past Town Mayoress’s badge to Mrs Alison Watts.

The Mayor presented Cllr Alan Earwaker with a Past Mayor’s Badge and Mrs Alison Watts with a Past Mayoress’s Badge.

Cllr Earwaker thanked Cllr Merryweather for his kind words.  He said it had been a privilege and honour to serve the people of Farnham.  His first theme after covid was “Working together with the community – reviving Farnham’ and this has happened.  One of the successes has been Farnham Surrey and Waverley working together with the local MP on the Farnham Infrastructure Programme. In the past year the focus had been on working together with the community supporting young people and there had been great success in working together with youth organisations.  The Council had added £90k to support young people in this year’s budget.  They had such a tough time during covid, this could not be a one-off.  The new Mayor has so much experience in working with young people that this initiative would continue for the rest of the Council.

Cllr Earwaker said being Mayor was all about teamwork.  He paid tribute to the Town Clerk and to the former Mayor, Pat Evans for their personal support.  He also thanked Jenny de Quervain for keeping the Mayor and the diary in order and all the staff at FTC who had done a brilliant job.  He said Farnham was very privileged to have a fantastic team and also an incredible number of voluntary and community organisations and hundreds of volunteers without who FTC could not do what it does.

Finally, the retiring Mayor thanked his fellow councillors for their support and giving him the opportunity to serve the community as Mayor for three terms.  He wished the new Mayor and Mayoress every success in the year ahead.

In accordance with Standing Order 4.1, a Leader or Spokesperson for the Council can be appointed at the Annual Council Meeting but if no appointment is made, the role of Spokesperson for the Council will be undertaken by the Lead Member of the Strategy and Resources Working Group. 

Cllr Ward proposed, seconded by Cllr Hesse, that Cllr Graham White be appointed as Leader of the Council for 2024-25.  Cllr Ward explained that at one time the Council did not have a Leader but had a Spokesperson.  As the Council grew, it became more of a leadership role. Cllr White had taken on the role with a new Council in 2023, supported by Cllr Beaman, but now was the time to revert to a solo Leader and he was confident Cllr White was the right person having shown his dedication to the role and Council.

There being no other nominations it was RESOLVED unanimously that Cllr White be appointed as Leader of the Council for 2024-25.

Cllr White thanked Cllr Ward and Hesse for proposing and seconding and thanked Cllr Earwaker and Cllr Beaman and the Town Clerk for their unlimited support in the previous year and Council for their trust and support in electing him for a second year which would again be collaborative in style aiming for consensus.

To appoint the Town Council’s representative on the Farnham Infrastructure Programme Board 2024-25.

Cllr White proposed, seconded by Cllr Dickson that Cllr David Beaman continue to lead on the Farnham Infrastructure Programme in the year ahead. 

It was RESOLVED unanimously that Cllr Beaman would be the Town Council representative on the Farnham Infrastructure Programme Board, along with the Town Clerk.

To agree the date of the next meeting as 13 June 2024.

The Town Mayor will close the meeting and invite Members and invited guests to stay for light refreshments.

Members noted that the next Council Meeting would take place on Thursday 13^th June at 6pm.