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“By law the Council must hold a ‘Statutory Meeting’ annually, this is a legal obligation under the Local Government Act 1972. Last Thursday (20 May 2021) MDC Members met physically for the first time in over 14 months for Maldon’s Statutory Annual Meeting.

“Because of COVID restrictions we couldn’t meet in the Council Chamber, so the meeting was held at Maldon & Tiptree Football Club where we could be safe and socially distanced. The largest group, the Independents with 15 Members, formed the Administration from which the leading positions in the structure were filled.

“The first item on the agenda was for the Members to elect their Council Chairman and Vice Chairman. I’m pleased and very proud to tell you that I, Cllr Mark Heard (Independent Maldon West) was voted in to continue my role as Chairman for the next twelve months and Cllr Carlie Mayes (Independent Maldon North) was again appointed as my Vice-Chairman.

“At each annual meeting, the Council must elect a new Leader of the Council, or ratify the Leader-designate, which it did, Cllr Wendy Stamp (Independent Burnham North). The Council also appoints a Deputy Leader, again this was ratified as Cllr Stephen P Nunn (Independent Maldon North). The Leader of the Opposition with 10 Conservative Members was Cllr Penny Channer (Conservative Mayland).

“At this meeting, the Council also establishes its Committees and appoints Members to those Committees that operate within the Council. After agreeing the minutes from previous meetings, we then began the business of resetting the Council and its Committees for the next municipal year as follows:

Performance, Governance and Audit Committee - Chairman Cllr Jeanette Stilts (Independent Maldon South) and Vice-Chairman Cllr Karl Jarvis (Conservative non-aligned Wickham Bishops and Woodham)

Strategy and Resources Committee - Chairman Cllr Richard Siddall (Independent Great Totham) and Vice-Chairman Cllr Christopher Swain (Independent Maldon East) 

Licensing Committee Chairman Cllr Richard Siddall (Independent Great Totham) and Vice-Chairman Cllr Carlie Mayes (Independent Maldon North)

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Chairman Cllr Vanessa Bell (Independent Burnham South) and Vice-Chairman Cllr Carlie Mayes (Independent Maldon North)

Joint Standards Committee - Chairman Cllr Mark Bassenger (Independent Althorne) and Vice-Chairman Cllr Jane Fleming (Conservative Purleigh)

Investigating and Disciplinary Committee - Chairman Cllr Penny Channer (Conservative Mayland) and Vice-Chairman Cllr Bruce Heubner (Conservative Heybridge East)

District Planning Committee - Chairman Cllr Mark Heard (Independent Maldon West) and Vice-Chairman Cllr Carlie Mayes (Independent Maldon North)

Central Area Planning Committee - Chairman Cllr Michael Edwards (Independent Heybridge West) and Vice-Chairman Cllr Jeanette Stilts (Independent Maldon South)

North Western Area Planning Committee - Chairman Cllr Maddie Thompson (Conservative Tolleshunt D’arcy) and Vice-Chairman Cllr John Keyes (Conservative Great Totham)

South Eastern Area Planning Committee - Chairman Cllr Vanessa Bell (Independent Burnham South) and Vice-Chairman Cllr Nick Skeens (Independent Burnham South)

“After appointing Members to serve on Working Groups of the Council and representatives to Local Government and other Outside Bodies, and all other business, the meeting was over after two hours. Further details can be found on the MDC website

.”

Councillor Mark S. Heard
Chairman of Maldon District Council