For details of the Order of Proceedings please see page 7

The Mayor, Councillor Luxton, welcomed everyone to the Annual Meeting and gave a brief résumé of her year of office.

Councillor Luxton commenced by stating that it had been such an honour and joy to serve the residents of the Royal Borough as Mayor over that last 12 months and that she had enjoyed the last year immensely.  Councillor Luxton commented that she would cherish the time that she held the office of Mayor and she hoped that she had made the Borough proud. 

Councillor Luxton commented that it was with a little sadness and great relief that she was handing over the mayoral chain to her successor.  Councillor Luxton advised that she had been delighted and humbled to experience at first hand the generosity of members of the local community and that, together with her consort, had met a large number of volunteers, without whom many local charities and good causes would not be able to function. 

Councillor Luxton commented upon the numerous local voluntary groups that were making life better for the residents of the Royal Borough and the many individuals in the Borough who were helping others that were less fortunate than themselves.  She advised that that it had been a pleasure to meet hundreds of local people ranging from young persons to senior citizen and to listen to their stories and to learn more about them.

Councillor Luxton commented upon her delight to have raised funds for her chosen charity, the Household Cavalry Foundation and stated that she had been overwhelmed by the support shown for the events that she had hosted in aid of the Foundation.  She thanked those that had helped her organise those events, in particular Alan Carr, Jacqui Fletcher, Helen Francis and Martine Curzon.

Councillor Luxton stated that she was pleased that the War Horse Memorial had progressed so far during my Mayoral year and that the official launch of the project had been at her Charity Ball earlier that month.  She explained that the project would provide ongoing fundraising in support of the armed forces and other associated charities and that she looked forward to following its progress over the next 12 months. 

Councillor Luxton thanked her Deputy Mayor, Councillor John Lenton, and his wife Margaret, for their support and wished them well for the forthcoming year.  She also thanked her fellow councillors for all their support and her husband Ian and her family for their support, love and patience throughout the year.  Councillor Luxton also thanked the Mayoral team for looking after her, in particular the Mayor’s Officers Mark, Tom and David, who had taken the stress out of driving to and from mayoral engagements.

In conclusion, Councillor Luxton presented a cheque for £30,000 to Lieutenant Colonel Giles Stibbe, Director of Household Cavalry Foundation, which represented the money that has been raised during the year in support of her chosen Charity.  Lieutenant Colonel Giles Stibbe briefly addressed the meeting to thank the Mayor for raising the funds for the Foundation and commented upon the Household Cavalry’s long association with the Royal Borough and the support that the regiment received locally.

The Mayor also advised that, separate to her fundraising activity, she was making a personal donation to the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service and the Windsor Homeless Project and presented a cheque for £8,000 and £1,000, respectively, to Fiona Devine and Sally Wright on behalf of those charities.

THE MAYOR INVITED NOMINATIONS FOR THE ELECTION OF THE MAYOR OF THE ROYAL BOROUGH FOR 2017/2018.

In proposing Councillor John Lenton for the position of Mayor, Councillor Dudley advised that Councillor Lenton had been educated at Bournemouth School and the London School of Economics and had started work as an economist and management consultant before moving into financial consultancy, setting up Avocet Finance Limited which specialised in niche areas of Equipment Finance.

Councillor Dudley stated that Councillor Lenton had been active in politics since he joined the Young Conservatives and had been the Chairman of the Birmingham Bow group, had been a member of various national policy committees and, following his move to Rolls Royce in Derby, had chaired the Belper Conservative Association.

Following his election as a Royal Borough Councillor in 2007, John had chaired the Royal County of Berkshire Pension Fund, which was administered by the Royal Borough on behalf of the 6 Berkshire unitary authority councils and 217 other public sector bodies. Under his stewardship the Fund had become recognised as a prestige fund, winning at least 9 national and international awards and was the first Local Government Fund to arrange longevity insurance. Councillor Dudley advised that he had the pleasure of working with Councillor Lenton on the Fund and stressed Councillor Lenton’s dedication towards the protection of the pension assets of all the thousands of scheme members.

Councillor Dudley advised that Councillor Lenton had been a valuable and dedicated member of the administrations since 2007.  He had been vice chairman of the Windsor Rural Development Control Panel, for 3 years had been a Director of Windsor Housing and was currently a member of the Adult Services and Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel and the Berkshire Fire Authority, being Vice Chairman of two of its four sub-committees. Councillor Dudley also advised that Councillor Lenton had been Chairman of the Aviation Forum and had led the campaign against the proposed third Heathrow runway option, which would devastate Wraysbury and nearby surrounding villages.

Councillor Dudley commented that Councillor Lenton had been married to Margaret for 49 years, had lived in Wraysbury for 29 years and had one son, Philip, who was a chartered accountant and director at Deloitte and past President of the Windsor St. George Rotary Club.

Councillor Dudley explained that that Councillor Lenton and Margaret Lenton had worked tirelessly with the National Magna Carta 800 committee to develop local and national commemoration events and they had done an absolutely wonderful job to make it the celebration it deserved to be. 

Councillor Dudley advised that Councillor Lenton would have the full support of his wife Margaret, the former Principal of Slough Grammar School and their son Philip and Daughter in Law, Nina and that both Councillor Lenton and Margaret were looking forward to supporting residents of all ages, businesses and charities in the Royal Borough, in particular the many invaluable voluntary organisations that now help so many residents.

In conclusion, Councillor Dudley stated that Councillor Lenton had previously been an excellent Deputy Mayor and no doubt would be an excellent Mayor.

Councillor Bicknell announced that it gave him great pleasure to second the motion that Councillor Lenton be appointed Mayor and commented upon Margaret’s many qualities and the support that she would provide to Councillor Lenton as Mayoress.

Councillor Bicknell advised that Margaret had been born in Rugby and had worked hard at her education and had secured a history degree. Councillor Bicknell explained that Margaret started her working life as a solicitor, before moving into banking and finally becoming a teacher. He advised that for 22 years she had been the head teacher at Slough Grammar School, which under her leadership more than doubled its pupil numbers.

Councillor Bicknell advised that Margaret had been a local magistrate, a Governor of Churchmead School and a fellow of Brunel University and that, together with all the other varied personal and community interests, such as the Magna Carta committee, Bletchley park research work, Windsor festival, the operatic society, it was clear that Margaret was exactly what the Mayor needed standing at his side.

In conclusion, Councillor Bicknell commented that there was not a better team to be the Royal Borough’s Mayor and Mayoress and therefore he had no hesitation in seconding the nomination.

It was moved by Councillor Dudley, seconded by Councillor Bicknell and

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Councillor John Lenton be elected Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for the ensuing Municipal Year.

The Managing Director declared Councillor Lenton duly elected Mayor. Councillor Lenton made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, witnessed by Councillors Dudley and Bicknell.

THE MAYOR (COUNCILLOR LENTON) IN THE CHAIR

Councillor Luxton presented the Mayor with the Mace, the Mayor's seal, the Borough seal and the keys to the Mayor’s Parlour.

In making his speech of acceptance, Councillor Lenton advised that it was a great honour to be elected Mayor and that, together with the Mayoress, looked forward to fulfilling their duties and would do their best to live up to the high standards of their predecessors.

Councillor Lenton thanked Councillor Luxton for performing her duties as Mayor so well and commented that, with the support of her consort Ian, she had enhanced the reputation of the Royal Borough.  Councillor Lenton also thanked the Mayoral Team, in particular Andrew Scott and Alison Singleton, for all the help and support they had given the Mayor and Deputy Mayor during the year. 

Councillor Lenton commented upon the special and historic nature of the Royal Borough and advised that not only was the Borough the home of Her Majesty the Queen but the member for Parliament for Maidenhead was also the Prime Minister.

Councillor Lenton commented that he was proud of Windsor’s historic and military traditions and proud of Maidenhead’s famous Brunel heritage and its thriving commercial activities and its rapid regeneration.  He also commented upon the many delightful thriving small towns and villages that were situated within the Borough. 

In conclusion, Councillor Lenton advised that, during his term of office, he would look forwardto serving all the residents of the Borough and, in particular, to meeting the growing force of both national and local voluntary organisations who do so much work for the Borough’s residents. 

The Mayor presented Councillor Luxton and her husband Ian with their Past Mayor's and Past Mayor’s Consort badges.