Agenda and draft minutes

To receive and note apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Wann and Warters.

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

(Please see attached sheet for further guidance.)

There were no declarations of interest.

To appoint a Lord Mayor for the 2026/27 Municipal Year.

Councillor Runciman moved, Councillor Perrett seconded, and Council unanimously

Resolved: That Councillor Margaret Wells be elected Lord Mayor of the City of York for the 2026/27 municipal year.

Councillor Margaret Wells signified Acceptance of the Office of the Lord Mayor of the City of York, subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance and took the Oath of Allegiance.

To appoint a Sheriff for the 2026/27 Municipal Year.

Councillor Mason moved, Councillor Fenton seconded, and Council unanimously

Resolved: That Geoff Cossins be elected Sheriff of the City of York for the 2026/27 municipal year.

Geoff Cossins signified Acceptance of the Office of the Sheriff of the City of York, subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance and took the Oath of Allegiance.

To appoint a Deputy Lord Mayor for the 2026/27 Municipal Year.

Councillor Wells as Lord Mayor moved, Councillor Orrell seconded, and Council unanimously

Resolved: That Councillor Martin Rowley BEM be appointed Deputy Lord Mayor for the 2026/27 municipal year.

Councillor Martin Rowley BEM made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of the Office of Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of York and took the Affirmation of Allegiance.

The Sheriff advised Council that Jessica Fry had been chosen to serve as Under Sheriff during this year of office, and thanked her

for undertaking this service to the city.

Councillor Whitcroft moved, Councillor Orrell seconded, and Council unanimously

Resolved: That Council express its sincere thanks to the outgoing Lord Mayor, Councillor Martin Rowley BEM, and Lord Mayor’s Consort, Elizabeth Rowley, for their services to the city during the 2025/26 municipal year.

Councillor Douglas moved, Councillor Mason seconded, and Council unanimously

Resolved: That Council express its sincere thanks to the outgoing Sheriff, Paul Doughty, and Sheriff’s Consort, David Smith, for their services to the city during the 2025/26 municipal year.

To receive a report which asks Council to;

i)              Agree the allocation of seats in accordance with the arrangements set out in Annex A;

ii)             Agree the delegation of approval of future changes to group allocations to the Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer;

iii)           Note the Leader of the Council has been elected for a term of four years from 2023 to 2027;

iv)           Note the Executive appointments and respective portfolios;

v)             Note the group nominations to Committees and other bodies, as well as appointments to Chairs and Vice-Chairs, as set out in this report and its annexes, together with details of any nominations and appointments which may be circulated prior to the meeting, in light of the Council’s duty to give effect to group nominations;

vi)           Waive political balance requirements in respect of the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation place; and

vii)         Note the allocation of motions for consideration at Ordinary Full Council meetings for the period 2026-2027 as set out in Annex C.

Councillor Douglas moved, and Councillor Kilbane seconded, the

recommendations in respect of allocations to seats, appointments,

and other matters, as set out in the report of the Director of

Governance.

On being put to the vote, the recommendations were declared CARRIED unanimously and it was

Resolved:

i)              Agrees the allocation of seats in accordance with the

arrangements set out in Annex A;

ii)             Agrees the delegation of approval of future changes to

group allocations to the Director of Governance and

Monitoring Officer;

iii)           Notes the Leader of the Council has been elected for a

term of four years from 2023 to 2027;

iv)           Notes the Executive appointments and respective

portfolios;

v)       Notes the group nominations to Committees and other

bodies, as well as appointments to Chairs and Vice Chairs, as set out in this report and its annexes, together

with details of any nominations and appointments which

may be circulated prior to the meeting, in light of the

Council’s duty to give effect to group nominations;

vi)           Waives political balance requirements in respect of the

Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation place; and

vii)         Notes the allocation of motions for consideration at

Ordinary Full Council meetings for the period 2026-2027

as set out in Annex C.

Reason: To fulfil the Council’s statutory and constitutional

requirements.

Any other business which the Chair considers urgent under the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no urgent items of business.