The Wandsworth Borough Council held its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, 17th May 2017, where Councillor James Maddan, OBE, LLB (Hons) was elected as the new Mayor. The council also confirmed the appointment of Councillor Lewer as Deputy Mayor and adopted recommendations for the appointment of various committees and representatives.

Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor

Councillor James Maddan, OBE, LLB (Hons) was elected as the Mayor of Wandsworth for the ensuing municipal year. Councillor Maddan announced that Linda Gerrish would serve as his Consort and Reverend Ian Tattum of St. Barnabus Church, Southfields, as his chaplain. His chosen charity for 2017/18 is the Wandsworth Community Safety Trust. Councillor Lewer was appointed as the Deputy Mayor for the 2017/18 municipal year, with Helena Marshall as his Consort.

Appointment of Executive (Cabinet) Members and Deputy Leader

The council received notification of the Leader of the Council's appointments for the Executive (Cabinet) for the municipal year 2017/18. Councillor Govindia, as Leader of the Council, will be responsible for Strategic Leadership and Regeneration. The Cabinet Members appointed are: Councillor Ellis for Adult Care and Health; Councillor Mrs Sutters for Communications; Councillor Cook for Community Services; Councillor McDermott for Education and Children's Services (and Lead Member for Children's Services); Councillor Senior for Finance and Corporate Resources; Councillor Salier for Housing; and Councillor Caddy for Employment, Skills and Business Development. Councillor Cook was also appointed as Deputy Leader of the Council. The council noted that executive powers are delegated to this Executive, which comprises the Leader and the seven Cabinet Members.

Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Opposition

The council received a report confirming the appointment of Councillor Hogg as the Leader of the Opposition. The Labour Group also nominated Councillors Anderson and Jones as deputy leaders. Councillor Anderson has been designated as the statutory deputy leader, as regulations permit only one other member to formally act in place of the leader of a political group.

Appointment of Committees

The council adopted recommendations for the appointment of committees for the municipal year 2017/18. This included the allocation of seats on committees to political groups, reflecting the council's composition of 39 Conservative Members, 19 Labour Members, and 2 from the Wandsworth Independent Alliance. The report outlined the principles of political proportionality that guide these appointments, as set out in Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. A notable point of adoption was that the Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health would chair the Health and Wellbeing Board, and the role of Deputy Chairman of the Joint Pensions Committee would be taken by a Richmond councillor, as previously agreed, rather than Councillor Senior.

Appointment of Representatives

The council adopted recommendations for the appointment of Council representatives to serve on certain outside bodies. This included the allocation of seats on the North-East Surrey Crematorium Board to the political groups, with the Conservative Group entitled to 3 seats and the Labour Group to 2 seats, out of the five seats allocated to the council. The report detailed the proposed appointments to various other outside bodies.