Meeting Details

It was PROPOSED by Councillor Scordis, seconded by Councillor Dundas and supported by Councillors Goss and Goacher and:-

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that Councillor Michael Lilley be elected as Mayor of the City of Colchester for the ensuing municipal year.

Councillor Lilley took the customary oath and signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

Councillor Lilley then took the Chair and returned thanks for his election.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 26 February 2025 and 17 March 2025 be confirmed as a correct record.

It was PROPOSED by Councillor King and seconded and supported by Councillors J. Young, Dundas and Kirkby-Taylor and:-

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that the best thanks of the Council were due and were hereby recorded to Councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell for the admirable manner in which she had discharged the responsible duties of the Mayoralty during her period of office and that a transcript of this resolution under the Common Seal be furnished to her.

The Mayor announced that he would be supporting the following charities:-

Colchester Foodbank
Level Best Enterprises
Open Road
Underdog Crew Studios
The Not Forgotten

The Mayor’s Chaplain would be the Reverend Terry Walker.

RESOLVED that the meeting be adjourned until 11.45 in the Council Chamber.

Sir Bob Russell addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 6(1) to offer his congratulations to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.  He explained that Councillor Ellis could be the last full-term Mayor of Colchester, if local government reorganisation went ahead. Colchester had had some form of self-governance since 1139 and was the oldest surviving borough in Essex. It was understood that consideration was being given to proposals that would see Colchester merge with additional areas as well as Tendring and Braintree, which would lead to an area with a population greater than the 500,000 set out in the government guidance. Support was expressed for the role of town and parish councillors, and if local government reorganisation went ahead, Colchester would need a parish council to enable some form of self-government to continue.  The United Kingdom had the most centralised form of government in Europe and bigger local government did not necessarily mean better local government. 

Councillor King, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, responded. The Council was closely monitoring the position in respect of local government reorganisation, but there had been no material change from the position agreed by Full Council at its meeting on 17 March. The interests of the city were paramount and there was an opportunity to explore self-governance for non parished areas.  There was a desire to keep City Status, and this had happened elsewhere. The Council was doing its best to act in the city’s best interests, and he would seek to keep both members and the public informed. 

Barry Gilheany of RAMA addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 6(1) to raise concerns about the impact the status of No Recourse to Public Funds on its clients.  This meant that many of its clients could find that they had no right to work, no right to benefits, no right to free medical treatment and no access to housing.  The problem was particularly acute for victims of domestic abuse. Individuals married to British partners and residing in the UK on a spousal visa often faced challenges after the end of a relationship. These individuals, often women with children, were unable to access public funds as they did not qualify for legal aid.  Consequently, they could not seek assistance from refuges or night shelters without help from specialist charities such as RAMA . If RAMA did not address the needs of such vulnerable people they could end up as victims of  exploiters and abusers. As a city working towards Sanctuary status and home to Colchester against Modern Slavery and as a Council working towards DAHA (Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance) accreditation, it was important that support was provided where it would have maximum impact and not when people reached crisis point.  Details of a case study illustrating these issues was provided. 

Councillor King, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, responded and thanked Mr Gilheany for his concern and for highlighting these issues.  He would share details of the case highlighted with the new Portfolio Holder for Communities and Colchester’s Member of Parliament as there were issues for both central and local government to address. The Council would look at how it supported those who supported others and see if it could provide extra capacity to RAMA to help it deal with such cases. 

RESOLVED that the appointment of Councillor J. Young as Deputy Leader of the Council, the appointment of Cabinet members and the allocation of responsibilities of Portfolio Holders, as set out in the Supplementary Information for the meeting, be noted. 

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUS) that:-

(a)  In accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 the number of seats, group representation and membership of the Governance and Audit Committee, Licensing Committee, Local Plan Committee, Planning Committee, and Scrutiny Panel (including the Crime and Disorder Committee) for the ensuing municipal year be as set out in the Supplementary Information for the meeting. 

(b) In accordance with the provisions of section 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 the appointments to the Environment and Sustainability Panel for the ensuing municipal year would not be on a Group basis and membership be as set out in the Supplementary Information for the meeting.

(c) The membership of the Independent Remuneration Panel be as set out in the Supplementary Information for the meeting.

RESOLVED that that the Council hereby records its grateful thanks to the late former Councillor Mannion for the public service rendered by him to the City during his period of office as a Councillor and that a transcript of this resolution be furnished under the Common Seal of the City as a permanent record of the appreciation of the Council.