Election of Chair for the 2025/26 Council Year
Decision:
Councillor Mark Lygo was elected Chair for the 2025/26 Council Year.
Minutes:
Before nominations were invited for the office of Chair of the Council, Mrs Alison Rooke, the retiring Chair, invited Members to reflect on the tragic fire at Bicester Motion which took the lives of firefighters Jennie Logan, Martyn Sadler and a member of the public, Dave Chester. Two further firefighters sustained serious injuries and remained in hospital in a stable condition.
The retiring Chair invited the Bishop of Dorchester to share thoughts and prayers. Following his address a minute’s silence was observed.
The meeting was adjourned for 15 minutes to allow Members to sign books of condolences.
On the resumption, the retiring Chair thanked her husband and Consort, Brian Rooke, for his support during the year. She also thanked the Democratic Services and Facilities Management Teams, the Monitoring Officer and her Vice-Chair, Councillor Lygo. It was noted that over £9,200 had been raised for the Chair’s chosen charities over the year, and the retiring Chair thanked all for their support.
The Monitoring Officer invited nominations for the office of Chair of the Council for the 2025/26 Council Year. Councillor Brighouse moved, and Councillor Leffman seconded that Councillor Mark Lygo be elected as Chair of the Council for the 2025/26 Council Year. There being no other nominations and no dissent, Councillor Lygo was duly declared elected.
RESOLVED: (unanimously) that Councillor Mark Lygo be elected as Chair for the 2025/26 Council Year.
(Councillor Mark Lygo in the Chair).