New Forest Borough Council
Councillors:
48
Wards:
28
Committees:
14
Meetings (2026):
65
Meetings (2025):
80
Meeting
Council - New Forest
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Monday, 18th May 2026
6:30 PM
Monday, 18th May 2026
6:30 PM
End:
Monday, 18th May 2026
10:30 PM
Monday, 18th May 2026
10:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed; Annual Council
Confirmed; Annual Council
Date:
18 May 2026
18 May 2026
Location:
Council Chamber - Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA
Council Chamber - Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Vice-Chairman of Council
Officer
Chief Executive
Kate Ryan
In attendance
Officer
Principal Democratic Services Officer
Karen Wardle
In attendance
Officer
Democratic ICT Officer
Daniel Reynafarje
In attendance
Officer
Assistant Director - Strategy and Engagement
Matt Wisdom
In attendance
Committee Member
Leader of the Council
Officer
Interim Strategic Director of Place, Operations and Sustainability
Tracey Coleman
In attendance
Officer
Sara Hamilton
In attendance
Officer
Chief Operations Officer and Deputy Chief Executive
Richard Knott
In attendance
Officer
Strategic Director Housing and Communities
Sophie Sajic
In attendance
Officer
Democratic Services Officer
Joe Tyler
In attendance
Agenda
0
Apologies
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Adams, M Clark, Glass, Hartmann, Miller and Young.
Minutes
1
Minutes
To confirm the minutes of the meeting(s) held on 13 April 2026 as a correct record.
Attachments:
- Document Public minutes 13042026 1830 Council 08 May 2026
Minutes
RESOLVED:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 April 2026, be confirmed.
That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 April 2026, be confirmed.
2
Declarations of Interests
To note any declarations of interests made by members in connection with an agenda item. The nature of the interests must also be specified.
Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.
Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.
Minutes
There were no declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests by Members.
3
Vote of Thanks to the Outgoing Chairman
Minutes
The Leader of the Council proposed that a vote of thanks be extended to the outgoing Chairman, Cllr Sleep, for the admirable way in which he had carried out the duties of Chairman during the past municipal year. Cllr Penny seconded the motion.
Members of the Council paid tribute to Cllr Sleep’s year in office.
RESOLVED:
That the thanks of this Council be extended to Cllr Sleep for the admirable way in which he had carried out the duties of Chairman during the past municipal year.
Members of the Council paid tribute to Cllr Sleep’s year in office.
RESOLVED:
That the thanks of this Council be extended to Cllr Sleep for the admirable way in which he had carried out the duties of Chairman during the past municipal year.
4
Outgoing Chairman's Statement
The Chairman will address the Council, after which he and his consort will be presented with badges of their past offices.
Minutes
The Chairman reported that it had been an honour to represent the Council over the last year and expressed his thanks to all who had supported him. He had done his best to promote a happy, healthy and prosperous District Council during his time as Chairman.
5
Election of Chairman
To elect a Chairman of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting in 2027.
Cllr Penny is the Council’s nomination for the ensuing year.
Cllr Penny is the Council’s nomination for the ensuing year.
Minutes
Cllr Sleep moved that Cllr Penny be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year. Cllr Tipp seconded the motion.
RESOLVED:
That Cllr Penny be elected Chairman of the Council for the 2026/27 municipal year, until his successor is elected at the Annual Council meeting in May 2027.
Cllr Penny signed the declaration of acceptance of office, which was formally witnessed by the Monitoring Officer. He was then invested with the Chain and the Badge of Office before taking the chair.
RESOLVED:
That Cllr Penny be elected Chairman of the Council for the 2026/27 municipal year, until his successor is elected at the Annual Council meeting in May 2027.
Cllr Penny signed the declaration of acceptance of office, which was formally witnessed by the Monitoring Officer. He was then invested with the Chain and the Badge of Office before taking the chair.
6
Address by the Chairman
The newly elected Chairman will address the Council.
Minutes
The Chairman addressed the Council and thanked Cllr Sleep for his sterling commitment in representing the district, and that it had been a pleasure to support him throughout his year.
The Chairman reported he was honoured to be given the opportunity to stand before members and looked forward to representing the council, with the support of his wife and Consort, Janice in the year ahead.
Finally, the Chairman reported that his chosen charities he would be supporting were SCARF (Supporting Children with Additional Needs, Relatives and Friends) and The Pillar at St Wins Church.
The Chairman reported he was honoured to be given the opportunity to stand before members and looked forward to representing the council, with the support of his wife and Consort, Janice in the year ahead.
Finally, the Chairman reported that his chosen charities he would be supporting were SCARF (Supporting Children with Additional Needs, Relatives and Friends) and The Pillar at St Wins Church.
7
Appointment of Vice-Chairman
To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting in 2027.
Cllr Rickman is the Council’s nomination for the ensuing year.
Cllr Rickman is the Council’s nomination for the ensuing year.
Minutes
Cllr Cleary moved that Cllr Rickman be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year. The motion was seconded by Cllr Tipp.
RESOLVED:
That Cllr Rickman be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for the 2026/27 municipal year, until his successor is appointed at the Annual Council meeting in May 2027.
Cllr Rickman signed the declaration of acceptable of office, which was formally witnessed by the Monitoring Officer. He was then invested with the Badge of Office.
Cllr Rickman returned thanks for his appointment.
RESOLVED:
That Cllr Rickman be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for the 2026/27 municipal year, until his successor is appointed at the Annual Council meeting in May 2027.
Cllr Rickman signed the declaration of acceptable of office, which was formally witnessed by the Monitoring Officer. He was then invested with the Badge of Office.
Cllr Rickman returned thanks for his appointment.
8
Allocation of Seats and Appointments To Committees and Panels
To agree the allocation of seats to the political groups on those Committees and Panels to which the political balance rules apply and to approve the appointment of Members to Committees and Panels.
Attachments:
- Document Allocation of seats and appointments to committees and panels Report 08 May 2026
- Document Appendix 1 - Proportionality Table 08 May 2026
- Document Appendix 2 - Committee and Panel Memberships 08 May 2026
Minutes
The Leader moved the adoption of the recommendations in the report, to approve the allocation of seats on committees and panels to the political groups where the political balance rules apply, and to appoint councillors to those committees and panels.
The Leader reported an amendment to Appendix 2, in relation to the membership of the General Purposes and Licensing Committee, following a request from the Liberal Democrat Group, which proposed that Cllr Alex Wade be appointed, in place of Cllr Jack Davies.
Cllr S Davies seconded the motion.
RESOLVED:
That the Council:
a) Agreed the allocation of seats to committees and panels in accordance with the principles set out in the report, and in doing so, agreed to the allocation set out in the table in Appendix 1; and
b) Appointed councillors to individual committees and panels, as identified in Appendix 2, with the reported amendment at the meeting to the membership of the General Purposes and Licensing Committee, for the remainder of the four year period ending May 2027.
The Leader reported an amendment to Appendix 2, in relation to the membership of the General Purposes and Licensing Committee, following a request from the Liberal Democrat Group, which proposed that Cllr Alex Wade be appointed, in place of Cllr Jack Davies.
Cllr S Davies seconded the motion.
RESOLVED:
That the Council:
a) Agreed the allocation of seats to committees and panels in accordance with the principles set out in the report, and in doing so, agreed to the allocation set out in the table in Appendix 1; and
b) Appointed councillors to individual committees and panels, as identified in Appendix 2, with the reported amendment at the meeting to the membership of the General Purposes and Licensing Committee, for the remainder of the four year period ending May 2027.
9
Meeting Dates
To note the following schedule of Council meetings for the remainder of the 2026/27 municipal year, all commencing at 6.30 pm:
· 13 July 2026
· 14 September 2026
· 12 October 2026
· 14 December 2026
· 22 February 2027
· 12 April 2027
· 17 May 2027 (Annual Meeting)
· 13 July 2026
· 14 September 2026
· 12 October 2026
· 14 December 2026
· 22 February 2027
· 12 April 2027
· 17 May 2027 (Annual Meeting)
Minutes
The Council noted the following meeting dates for the remainder of the 2026/27 municipal year, all commencing at 6.30 pm:-
· 13 July 2026
· 14 September 2026
· 12 October 2026
· 14 December 2026
· 22 February 2027
· 12 April 2027
· 17 May 2027 (Annual Meeting)
· 13 July 2026
· 14 September 2026
· 12 October 2026
· 14 December 2026
· 22 February 2027
· 12 April 2027
· 17 May 2027 (Annual Meeting)
10
Any Other Items Which the Chairman Decides Are Urgent
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