Agenda and minutes

(a)            To elect the Lord Mayor for the ensuing year.

(b)           Declaration of Acceptance of Office by the newly elected Lord Mayor.

1.1           Proposed by Councillor Rachael Robathan and seconded by Councillor Paul Swaddle that Councillor Robert Rigby be elected Lord Mayor of Westminster for the ensuing year.

1.2           Upon a show of hands, the Lord Mayor declared that Councillor Robert Rigby had been elected Lord Mayor.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Robert Rigby be elected Lord Mayor of Westminster for the ensuing year.

Councillor Robert Rigby thereupon made and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Lord Mayor and of the Office of Deputy High Steward of Westminster Abbey. Having done so, he took the Chair and thanked the Council for his election and reported that his consort, the Lady Mayoress, would be Emiko Murai Rigby.

To sign the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council meeting held on 6 March 2024.

2.1       RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 6 March 2024 were, with the assent of the Members present, signed by the Lord Mayor as a true record.

(a)        Notification by the Lord Mayor of appointment of the Lord Mayor’s Chaplain.

(b)        Other Communications (if any).

3.1       The Lord Mayor announced that he had appointed Father Christopher Colven as his Chaplain. The Chaplain then led the Council in a moment of reflection.

(a)       To present the past Lord Mayor’s badge and other insignia

(b)        Vote of Thanks

4.1       Councillor Adam Hug moved the Vote of Thanks to Councillor Patricia McAllister and her Consorts, Ellis McAllister and Kevin Murphy. Councillor Ruth Bush spoke to second the motion.

4.2       The motion was put, and on a show of hands, the Lord Mayor Declared the motion CARRIED following which Councillor McAllister replied.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the Council resolved to record a Vote of Thanks to Councillor Patricia McAllister for the distinguished service rendered by her as Lord Mayor and to her Consorts, Ellis McAllister and Kevin Murphy, for the constant and invaluable help given by them as the Lord Mayor’s Consorts.

2.         We assure them of our gratitude for, and high appreciation of, the dignity and ability with which they have carried out their many duties in accordance with the highest traditions of the City and this Vote of Thanks be inscribed under the Common Seal and presented to them.

To note the report on the executive decisions taken in the circumstances set out in Rule 14 (special urgency) in the preceding year.

5.1        The report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services was noted.

To receive and consider the report and recommendations of the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Monitoring Officer on constitutional issues that require a decision.

6.1       The report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services was submitted.

6.2       The Lord Mayor put the recommendations set out in the report to the vote and on a show of hands declared these to be AGREED.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the Council determined the allocation of places on the standing committees and noted the names of the Members appointed to them, following notification by the respective Party Whips, as detailed in Appendix A of the report.

2.         That the Council confirmed the proportional division of seats on the Standing Committees as set out below.