The Mayor announced the sad news that Honorary Alderman John Aston had passed away. A previous Mayor Honorary Alderman Aston had served on the Council for 40 years, during that time he had overseen the introduction of parking meters throughout the borough and had accompanied Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother for the opening of Fairfield Halls.

The Council stood and observed a moments silence in respect of Honorary Alderman Aston.

The Mayor congratulated AFC Croydon Athletic who had completed their season by winning the Lemon Recordings Division One Cup by 5 goals to nil against Staines Lammas at Windsor FC on 6th May.

The motion to elect Councillor Yvette Hopley as Mayor for the Municipal Year 2013/14 was moved by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Mike Fisher and seconded by Councillor Tony Newman. 

The motion was put to the vote and RESOLVED unanimously that Councillor Yvette Hopley be elected Mayor for the Council Year 2013/2014.

Councillor Yvette Hopley made the Declaration of Acceptance of the Office of Mayor, as required by Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972, and assumed the Chair.

THE MAYOR, COUNCILLOR YVETTE HOPLEY - PRESIDING

The Mayor in making her acceptance speech spoke of the great honour and privilege it was to be elected to the office of the Mayor of Croydon and welcomed members of the community, friends and family who were in the public gallery.

The Mayor went on to speak about her parents and their early married life, saying that they had been the greatest influence on her life. The Mayor then went on to speak of her early employment opportunities with the oil industry working in public relations and government relations and how this developed her taste for politics. She spoke about the start up and progress of her antiques business and then how she became involved in local politics leading to her election as a ward councillor in Sanderstead Ward in 2006.

The Mayor spoke of the various committee positions she had held on the Council since 2006 and of the challenging times ahead, but said that Croydon had a great future with the Westfield Hammerson venture and the many opportunities and investment that would bring.

The Mayor gave a brief introduction of her two charities for the year the South East Cancer Help Centre in Purley and The British Heart Foundation and that she would be supporting the Borough's initiative to become a Heart Town.

The Mayor announced that she had asked Councillor Badsha Quadir to be the Deputy Mayor.

The Mayor announced that Christopher Jeffery would be her Consort for the year and thanked him and her family for their support in taking on this role. She also stated that her daughter, Natasha, has agreed to assist when her Consort was unavailable.

In conclusion the Mayor said she was a little bit like Tim Wonnacott now, not only in charge of the blue team but the reds as well, and that she was looking forward to the coming year.

The Mayor reported that she had appointed Councillor Badsha Quadir as the Deputy Mayor for 2013/14.

(NOTE: Following the meeting, Councillor Badsha Quadir made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Deputy Mayor, as required by Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972).

All Members of the Council confirmed that their interests as listed in their Declaration of Interests Forms were accurate and up-to-date.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 22 April 2013 be signed as a correct record.

The Mayor advised Council that this was a standing item and these posts were appointed for 4 years in May 2010.

The Council received a report from the Director of Democratic and Legal Services and RESOLVED:

1. that having reviewed the representation of the political groups on the Council, that it has 37 Conservative Group Members and 33 Labour Group Members (as set out in Para 3.1.1 of the report); and

2. the appointments and composition of Committees as set out in Para 3.2.5 of the report.

The Council received a report from the Director of Democratic and Legal Services and RESOLVED:

1. To receive for information the appointments of Cabinet Members, Cabinet Committees and Deputy Cabinet Members (Blue Schedule);
2. To receive for information the appointments of Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Cabinet (Blue Schedule);
3. To receive for information the appointments of political party group officers (Blue Schedule);
4. To receive for information the appointments to Joint Committees (Blue Schedule);
5. To receive for information the appointments to London Councils Committees and Panels and Local Government Association bodies (Blue Schedule);
6. To agree the appointments to Committees of the Council (Blue Schedule); and
7. To agree the appointments to all other Panels, Working Groups and Outside Bodies (Pink Schedule) and agree that during the remainder of the Council year any vacancies be filled by the decision of the relevant Committee or by the Council Solicitor and Monitoring Officer on the recommendation of the appropriate Group Secretary in accordance with the Council's Constitution.
8. To receive for information the appointment of Councillors to the Health & Well Being Board by the Leader of the Council.