The meeting was opened with a prayer.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Carter, Cowell and Maddison.

To elect The Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay for the 2025/2026 Municipal Year.

Councillor Tolchard proposed and Councillor Jacqueline Thomas seconded a motion, which was agreed (unanimously) by the Council as follows:

that Councillor Barbara Lewis be elected The Worshipful The Mayor of Torbay for the Municipal Year 2025/2026.

(The Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay, Councillor Barbara Lewis, in the Chair)

The Worshipful The Mayor of Torbay took the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and Oath of Allegiance and thanked the Council for the honour bestowed upon her.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Torbay also announced that Councillor Chris Lewis would be her Consort during her term of office and her charity would be Rowcroft Hospice.  The Worshipful The Mayor of Torbay also advised that she had appointed Reverend Nathan Kiyaga to be her Chaplain.

Councillor Spacagna proposed and Councillor Tyerman seconded a motion, which was agreed (unanimously) by the Council as set out below:

that the Council express its sincere thanks and appreciation to Councillor Stevens and Mr Ian Stevens for the manner in which they have carried out their duties during their term of office.

To elect the Deputy Civic Mayor of the Council for the 2025/2026 Municipal Year.

Councillor Bye proposed and Councillor Fellows seconded a motion, as set out below:

that Councillor Foster be elected The Deputy Civic Mayor of Torbay for the Municipal Year 2025/2026.

During the debate Councillor Johns proposed and Councillor Fox seconded an amendment to the motion as follows:

that Councillor Foster be elected Deputy Civic Mayor of the Council of the Borough of Torbay for the municipal year 2025/2026.

that the election of The Deputy Civic Mayor be deferred, to a second adjourned Annual Council Meeting (date to be arranged by the Head of Governance Support in consultation with the Civic Mayor), to allow for further discussions between the Administration and the Opposition to take place.

The amendment was put to the vote and declared lost. 

Councillor Bye’s and Councillor Fellows’ original motion was then considered by the Council which was agreed, as set out below:

that Councillor Foster be elected The Deputy Civic Mayor of Torbay for the Municipal Year 2025/2026.

The Deputy Civic Mayor of the Council took the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and thanked the Council for the honour bestowed upon her.

The Deputy Civic Mayor also announced that Mr Kevin Foster would be her Consort during her term of office.

To consider adjourning the meeting until 5.30 pm on Thursday, 15 May 2025 to deal with the remainder of the business as set out in the separate agenda.

At this juncture the meeting was adjourned until 5.30 pm on Thursday, 15 May 2025.