Agenda item

The Committee are invited to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. A list of Members eligible to stand was read by the Town Clerk; Sylvia Moys, Graeme Smith and Verderer Peter Adams all expressed an interest in serving as Deputy Chairman.

The Town Clerk advised that a ballot would be required however, under Standing Order 30(9) only elected Members of the City Corporation would be eligible to vote. This point was challenged by the Verderers of Epping Forest who informed the Committee that they had always been able to exercise a vote in election of Chairman and Deputy Chairman and other Members supported this point. The Comptroller and City Solicitor offered to review the matter immediately and seek procedural advice. When this was received, the Town Clerk informed Members that the Verderers are full members of the Committee for Epping Forest business and were therefore entitled to vote. The Town Clerk apologised for this error and proceeded to conduct a ballot for Deputy Chairmanship.

After one round of voting, the result was as follows:

Graeme Smith                  6 votes

Sylvia Moys                      4 votes

Verderer Peter Adams       3 votes

As no candidate had a secured a majority, or 50% of the votes, a second round of voting was required between the two candidates with the highest number of votes; Graeme Smith and Sylvia Moys.

The result was as follows:

Graeme Smith                  7 votes

Sylvia Moys                      6 votes

Graeme Smith was therefore elected to serve as Deputy Chairman of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee for the ensuing year. The Deputy Chairman thanked the Committee for their support and expressed his thanks to the outgoing Chairman, Alderman Gordon Haines.

Resolved – that Graeme Smith be appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee for the ensuing year.

Barbara Newman was invited to deliver a vote of thanks to the outgoing Chairman and stated that the Epping Forest and Commons Committee resolved unanimously that at the conclusion of his term of office as their Chairman, the Members of this Committee wish to extend to Alderman Gordon Haines their sincere thanks for the extremely able and courteous manner in which he has presided over their deliberations and the detailed care and interest he has shown in all aspects of the work of this Committee.

Gordon has overseen admirably the high level workload of the Committee and that of its sub Committees and panels, holding many representative positions on behalf of the Committee.

During his tenure, the Chairman has overseen the successful introduction of Dog Control Orders at Burnham Beeches and supervised the City’s victorious Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the Kenley Revival Project. One of the most significant achievements during Gordon’s chairmanship was the successful implementation of the Branching Out projects, elements of which included the landscaping of Jubilee Pond and the installation of four cattle grids in Epping Forest.

The Green Flag and Heritage Awards achieved by the City Corporation during Gordon’s chairmanship are a testament to his tenacity in keeping the work of Epping Forest and the Commons at the forefront of his work. Gordon successfully supervised the securing of the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme for The View and The Temple.

In recognising his efforts to secure this additional investment in the financial sphere, Members also wish to recognise his welcome emphasis on the work of Volunteers across the Department, and his support in drawing their efforts and contributions to the attention of the Court of Common Council.

Gordon has been unstinting in his time and efforts, and his colleagues wish to record their appreciation for the sound judgement and strong leadership that he has demonstrated in the face of often complex issues. Members of the Committee are especially proud that under Gordon’s leadership Epping Forest was chosen to represent England under the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy – a true testament to Gordon’s commitment and support to the work of the forest.

FINALLY, the Committee wishes to place on record its recognition of Gordon’s distinguished contribution to the Committee and, in thanking him for his generous hospitality, his colleagues convey to him their good wishes for the future, with many happy memories of a job well done.