Stone Town Council

Minutes of the Annual Meeting held in the Council Chamber
at 15 Station Road, Stone, on Tuesday 12 May 2026

PRESENT:

Councillor J. Metters in the Chair for Minute Number C27/001
Councillor A. Best in the Chair thereafter and
Councillors: J. Battrick, J. Hood, T. Kelt, B. Kenney, R. Kenney, P. Leason, J. Powell, N. Powell and C. Thornicroft

Officers: L. Trigg and T. Williams

ABSENT:

Councillors: J. Davies, L. Davies, I. Fordham, A. Burgess, K. Dawson, A. Mottershead and R. Townsend

Prayers:

The Town Mayor’s Chaplain was unable to be present to lead prayers on this occasion.

In the absence of Councillor Lin Davies, who would normally lead prayers on occasions when the Mayor’s Chaplain wasn’t able to be present, the Town Mayor expressed his good wishes to her and to Councillor Jim Davies, and wished them both a speedy recovery to good health.

C27/001 To appoint the Town Mayor for the ensuing year

Councillor J. Metters invited nominations for Town Mayor for the ensuing year.

Councillor J. Hood nominated Councillor Andrew Best as Town Mayor, which was seconded by Councillor P. Leason.

RESOLVED: To appoint Councillor Andrew Best as Stone Town Mayor for the year 2026-27.

Councillor Best received his Town Mayor’s Chain of Office and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Councillor Best took the Chair and announced that his wife, Mrs Rosalind Best, would be his Consort.

Councillor Best advised the Council that Reverend Paul Kingman would be asked to take on the role of Mayor’s Chaplain for the ensuing year.

Councillor Best thanked the Council for appointing him to the position of Town Mayor and said he was very much looking forward to a memorable year representing Stone.

C27/002 To appoint the Deputy Town Mayor for the ensuing year

The Town Mayor, Councillor Best, invited nominations for Deputy Town Mayor.

Councillor A. Best proposed Councillor Robert Townsend as Deputy Town Mayor for the ensuing year.

The nomination was seconded by Councillor T. Kelt, and with no further nominations all members were in support of the motion.

RESOLVED: To appoint Councillor Robert Townsend as Deputy Town Mayor for the year 2026-27.

The Town Mayor advised the Council that Councillor Townsend had been unable to attend the meeting. The Town Clerk said that Councillor Townsend’s signing of his Declaration of Acceptance of Office would be confirmed at the next meeting of the Council.

The Town Mayor informed the Council that Mrs Helen Townsend would be Councillor Townsend’s Consort.

C27/003 To thank and record the Town Council’s appreciation of the services of the retiring Town Mayor, Deputy Town Mayor and their Consorts

The Town Mayor invited Town Councillors to speak and express their thanks.

Councillor Jill Hood said that ahead of Councillor Metters becoming Town Mayor she had expressed her view that he would make a worthy Mayor and he had more than lived up to that expectation. She said he had been an incredible Mayor, performing every duty with absolute passion, and that it had been lovely to see Sarah by his side.

She said Councillor Metters had been amazing, referencing his dedication and expertise in delivering speeches which were inciteful and informative, demonstrating that he had researched every location he had visited. She said she was extremely proud of him along with everyone else who was also impressed.

The Town Mayor, Councillor Best, informed the Council that in his role as Deputy Town Mayor, he had found it a joy to attend engagements that the Town Mayor had been unable to accept and had immensely enjoyed working alongside Councillor Metters.

Councillor Metters extended a special thank you to Councillor Best for his dedication to the deputy role and for the support he had shown Jason while standing in for him at engagements. He said he was thrilled Andrew had decided to put himself forward for the mayoral role and articulated robustly that he would do the town proud.

C27/004 Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from Councillors: J. Davies, L. Davies, K. Dawson,
I. Fordham and R. Townsend

C27/005 Declarations of Interest

None received.

C27/006 Requests for Dispensations

None received.

C27/007 Minutes

RESOLVED:

a) That the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 7 April 2026 (Minute Numbers C26/092 – C26/099), be approved as a correct record.

C27/008 Committee Minutes

RESOLVED:

a) The draft minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 7 April 2026 (Minute Numbers GP26/137 – GP26/156), were noted.

b) The draft minutes of the Planning Consultative Committee meeting held on 7 April 2026 (Minute Numbers PC26/061 – PC26/066), were noted.

C27/009 Committee Terms of Reference

The Council considered the terms of reference for the Council’s General Purposes and Planning Committees (which had been enclosed with the agenda for the meeting).

The Town Clerk advised the Council that the content of the terms of Reference for these Committees was unchanged, other than for dates.

RESOLVED: That the terms of reference for the Council’s General Purposes and Planning Committees be approved.

C27/010 To determine membership and elect the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of General Purposes Committee and Planning Committee for 2025-26

Membership of the General Purposes Committee

RESOLVED: That all Members be appointed to the General Purposes Committee for the year 2026-27.

Chairman of the General Purposes Committee:

RESOLVED: That Councillor Rob Kenney be appointed as Chairman of the General Purposes Committee for the year 2026-27.

Vice Chairman of the General Purposes Committee:

RESOLVED: That Councillor Ian Fordham be appointed as Vice Chairman of the General Purposes Committee for the year 2026-27.

Membership of the Planning Consultative Committee:

RESOLVED: That all Members be appointed to the Planning Consultative Committee for the year 2026-27.

Chairman of the Planning Consultative Committee:

RESOLVED: That Councillor Tom Kelt be appointed as Chairman of the Planning Consultative Committee for the year 2026-27.

Vice Chairman of the Planning Consultative Committee:

RESOLVED: That Councillor Clive Thornicroft be appointed as Vice Chairman of the Planning Consultative Committee for the year 2026-27.

C27/011 To defer other business under Standing Order 2, paragraph (j) to an appropriate meeting of the General Purposes Committee

RESOLVED: That all other business under this Standing Order be deferred to the General Purposes Committee

TOWN MAYOR