Election of Chair for the 2023/24 Council Year
Decision:
Councillor Felix Bloomfield was elected Chair for the 2023/24 Council Year.
Minutes:
Before nominations were invited for the office of Chair of the Council, Councillor Susanna Pressel (the retiring Chair) took the opportunity to reflect on her year in office as Chair of the Council, and in particular her work to raise the profile of local government and emphasise the importance of voting. Through her attendance at events, she had also been able to thank many of the wonderful staff and community volunteers who give up their time to help other people.
Councillor Pressel thanked Members for electing her and thanked staff for their support throughout the year which had been an amazing and life-changing experience for her.
Councillor Brighouse paid tribute to the outgoing Chair, thanking her for chairing the meetings so well and for raising the profile of the Chair of the County Council all around the County.
The Monitoring Officer, Anita Bradley then invited nominations for the office of Chair of the Council for the 2023/24 Council Year. Councillor Reeves moved and Councillor Ford seconded that Councillor Felix Bloomfield be elected as Chair of the Council for the 2023/24 Council Year. There being no other nominations and no dissent, Councillor Bloomfield was duly declared elected (nem con).
Upon election, Councillor Bloomfield signed the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
RESOLVED: (nem con) that Councillor Felix Bloomfield be elected as Chair for the 2023/24 Council Year.
(Councillor Felix Bloomfield in the Chair.)
The Chair thanked Members for the great honour. He thanked Councillor Pressel for supporting so many individuals and groups across Oxfordshire in her year as Chair. He committed to promoting the best objectives and services of the Council and to foster community identity and pride in the County.