Meeting documents

To receive any communication or other business brought forward by the direction of the Chair of the Council

The Chair of Council referred to the events detailed on the Chair’s Information Sheet No. 16, circulated and published with the agenda. He also paid tribute to the former Chair of Council Nigel Taylor and to the former Vice Chair, Councillor Peter Clayton who had had to take on more duties when the Chair had become very unwell.

 

The Chair paid tribute to a number of former Councillors who had not been re elected at the elections on 5 May 2022.

The Chair of Council referred to the events detailed on the Chair’s Information Sheet No. 16, circulated and published with the agenda. He also paid tribute to the former Chair of Council Nigel Taylor and to the former Vice Chair, Councillor Peter Clayton who had had to take on more duties when the Chair had become very unwell.

 

The Chair paid tribute to the 14 County Councillors who had not been re-elected at the elections on 5 May 2022:

 

Cllr John Thorne – Blackdown and Neroche

First elected – 2017

Years served as a County Councillor – 5

Highlights – Member on various Committees and recently served as Chair of the Pensions Committee.

 

Cllr William Wallace – Blackmoor Vale

First elected – 2005

Years served as a County Councillor – 17

Highlights – Served as Chair of Council from 2017-2018. Cabinet Member and most recently served as Chair of the Constitution and Standards Committee.

 

Cllr Dave Loveridge – Bridgwater East and Bawdrip

First elected – 1989

Years served as a County Councillor – 33

Highlights – Served as a Member of Scrutiny Committees, most recently served as Vice Chair of the Regulation Committee, Constitution and Standards Committee and Regulation Committee.

 

Cllr Clare Paul – Curry Rivel and Langport

First elected – 2017

Years served as a County Councillor - 5

Highlights – Served as Cabinet Member, Chair of the Audit Committee and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board. 

 

Cllr John Clarke – Frome North

First Elected – 2017

Highlights – Served as a Member of the Council and Regulation Committee. 

 

Cllr David Huxtable – King Alfred

First elected – 1985

Years served as a County Councillor – 37

Highlights – Served as a Cabinet Member for 13 years and Chair of the Audit and Resources Committee for several years.

 

Cllr Gemma Verdon – Martock

First elected – 2017

Years served as a County Councillor – 5

Highlights – Served as Junior Cabinet Member and Vice Chair of the Audit Committee.

 

Cllr Neil Bloomfield – Martock

First elected – 2017

Years served as a County Councillor – 5

Highlights – Served as Vice Chair of the Audit Committee.

 

Cllr John Parham – Mendip South

First elected – 2013

Years served as a County Councillor – 9

Highlights – Served as a Junior Cabinet Member and recently as Chair of the Regulation Committee.

 

Cllr Rod Williams – Rowbarton and Staplegrove

First elected – 2017

Years served as a County Councillor – 5

Highlights – Served on Children and Families Scrutiny Committee as Vice Chair and Chair of Somerset Armed Forces Community Covenant Partnership.

 

Cllr David Hall – Somerton

First elected – 2009

Years served as a County Councillor – 13

Highlights – Served as a Cabinet Member for 12 years.

 

Cllr Terry Napper – Street

First elected – 2009

Years served as a County Councillor – 13

Highlights – Served on Scrutiny Committees and Regulation Committee.

 

Cllr Giuseppe Fraschini – Taunton North

First elected – 2017

Years served as a County Councillor – 5

Highlights – Served as a junior Cabinet Member and member of Scrutiny Committees.

 

Cllr James Hunt – Upper Tone

First elected – 2013

Years served as a County Councillor – 9

Highlights – Served as a Member of Scrutiny Committees and the Audit and Pensions Committees.

 

The Chair then outlined his priorities for the forthcoming year and his plans to establish closer links with the four District Council Chairs. He will also be writing to Her Majesty the Queen, via the Lord Lieutenancy’s office, passing on the Council’s congratulations and thanks on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee. 

 

The Council received and noted the report.