Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Pilkington, Plant, A Wright & B Wright.

There were no declarations of interest given at the meeting.

Proposer: Councillor Wainwright

Seconder: Councillor Waters-Bunn

That Councillor Martin, one of the Councillors of the Borough of Great Yarmouth, be and is, hereby elected mayor of the said Borough for the Municipal Year 2026/2027. 

CARRIED

Her Worship, The Mayor, here made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and thanked Council fro her election.

Her Worship, The Mayor, presented Councillor Annison with his Past Mayor's badge and a certificate to thank him for his services rendered to the residents of the Borough as Mayor of Great Yarmouth in the Municipal Year 2025-2026.

Councillor Annison thanked Council for their support during his time as Mayor and commented that he had many treasured memories of his year in office.

Proposer: Councillor Flaxman-Taylor

Seconder: Councillor Galer.

That Councillor Bensly, be elected for the position of Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Great Yarmouth for the Municipal Year 2026-2027.

CARRIED

Councillor Bensly signed the Declaration of Office and gave a speech of thanks.

Her Worship, The Mayor, informed Council that she had appointed Reverend Canon Simon Ward to be her Chaplain.

Her Worship, The Mayor, signed the Declaration of Office and Reverend Canon Ward gave a short blessing.

Her Worship, The Mayor, asked Ms Susan Moss, Mayor's Consort of the Borough of Great Yarmouth for the Municipal Year 2025-2026, to present the Mayor's Consort badge to Mr Anthony Capewell.

Mr Capewell thanked Ms Moss and presented her with a bouquet of flowers as a small gift of thanks.

Her Worship, The Mayor, informed Council that she had appointed Sophia Bullimore from 901 Marine Troop Cadets, to be her Mayor's Cadet & James Lowrne, 901 Marine Troop Cadets, as her deputy Mayor's Cadet.

Her Worship, The Mayor, presented Sophia with her Mayor's Cadet badge and a shield with the Great Yarmouth Borough Crest.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Candon

That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 24 February 2026 be confirmed as a true record.

CARRIED.

Her Worship, The Mayor, advised that she had received no items of urgent business for consideration.

Her Worship, The Mayor, took nominations for the election of Leader of the Council.

Proposer: Councillor Candon

Seconder: Councillor Boyd

That Councillor Smith be elected as Leader of the Council for the Municipal Year 2026-2027.

CARRIED.

The Leader announced his Cabinet as follows:-

•  Councillor Smith - Leader, Governance, Finance & Major Projects
•  Councillor Plant - Deputy Leader, Operational Property & Asset Management
•  Councillor Bensly - Tourism, Culture & Coastal
•  Councillor Candon - Economic Development & growth
•  Councillor Flaxman-Taylor - Housing, Health & Communities
•  Councillor Wells - Environment & Sustainability, Waste & Licensing.

Council was asked to agree the Timetable of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2026-2027.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Candon.

CARRIED.

Her Worship, The Mayor, reported that Council is asked to agree the Committee Memberships for 2026/27 which were published earlier today and a hard copy had been provided to all Members this evening. Her Worship, The Mayor,asked the Corporate Services Manager to confirm if there were any changes to be considered to the Appointment of Committee Memberships for the Municipal Year 2026-2027. The Corporate Services Manager reported that there were no changes to the published report.

The Leader welcomed Councillor Jon Wedon to the Council.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Candon.

That the Committee Memberships for 2026-2027 be approved.

CARRIED.

Council was asked to agree the Appointments of Chairs and Vice-Chairs for the Municipal Year 2026-2027.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Candon.

That the appointments of Chairs and Vice-Chairs for the Municipal Year 2026-2027 be approved.

CARRIED.

Council was asked to agree the Working Group Appointments for the 2026-2027 Municipal Year.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Wainwright.

That the appointments to the Working Group Memberships for 2026-2027 be approved.

CARRIED.

Council was asked to agree the Appointments to Outside Bodies for the Municipal Year 2026-2027.

Her Worship, The Mayor, reported that the appointments could be taken en-bloc with
the exception of those appointments with more than the number of required
nominations; therefore, number 18 would require a separate vote.

Members hereby voted on the representation that had received more nominations
than positions available.

Following a vote, the following Members were confirmed as appointed:-

• Councillors Hammond & Lawn to Number 18, Great Yarmouth Racecourse.

The Leader advised that the representatives on the Joint Committee Working Group would be Councillor Wainwright and himself.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Wainwright

That the Appointments to Outside Bodies for 2026-2027 be approved to include the amendment as advised by the Democratic Services Manager & the Leader of the Council.

CARRIED.

Her Worship, The Mayor, called Councillor Williamson, Chair of Scrutiny Committee to present his report to Council.

The Chair of Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Williamson, presented the salient areas
of his Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2025-2026 to Council.

Councillor Williamson thanked the Monitoring Officer, the Democratic Services Manager & Democratic Services officer for all their hard work in support of the committee.

Councillor Wells thanked the Committee for the scrutiny report in regard to the Selective Licensing Scheme.

Proposer: Councillor Williamson
Seconder: Councillor Wells

That Council note the contents of the Chairman's Annual report for the Scrutiny Committee 2025-2026.

CARRIED.

Her Worship, The Mayor, called upon the Leader of the Council to present the report.

The Leader reported that Cabinet were presented with the report relating to a New Public Space Protection Order - Dog Control. 

Cabinet considered the feedback and comments received from the Public Consultation held around PSPO No.3 which can be found at Appendix 3 of the report. 

Cabinet agreed that the pedestrianised area around the Market in Great Yarmouth town centre be included in the schedule as a dogs on lead requirement and they agreed to introduce a new PSPO “Great Yarmouth Borough Council Public Spaces Protection Order No. 3” with the wording set out in Appendix 2 for a period of three years (unless otherwise varied or revoked).

The Leader asked Council to endorse these actions.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Wells

(i) That Council considered and endorsed the feedback and comments received from the Public Consultation held around PSPO No.3 (Appendix 3).

(ii) That Council agree that the pedestrianised area around the Market in Great Yarmouth Town Centre is included in the schedule as a dogs on lead requirement.

(iii) That Council agree the introduction of a new PSPO “Great Yarmouth Borough Council Public Spaces Protection Order No. 3” with the wording set out in Appendix 2 for a period of three years (unless otherwise varied or revoked).

CARRIED.

The Leader announced that the Chief Executive Officer and himself had just returned from UK Reiff where the CEO had presented the North Quay Proposal which had been favourably received by a number of delegates present.

Her Worship, The Mayor, informed Council that her chosen charities for the Municipal
Tear 2026-2027 were as follows:-

• Walk & Talk
• Louise Hamilton Trust
• Feathers Future
• Sunbeams

Her Worship, The Mayor, reported that details of her Civic Services which was due to be held in July would be circulated shortly.

Her Worship, The Mayor, thanked everyone for attending Council this evening and
invited Members to join her in the Assembly Room for dinner following the closure of the
meeting.