Agenda and draft minutes

You are also summoned to attend Part 2 of the Annual Meeting of the Council which will be held on the above date at 4.00 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bury for the purpose of transacting the following business:-

1.    To elect the Mayor for the Municipal Year 2026/2027

2.    To elect a Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2026/2027

3.    To resolve that this Council hereby expresses its thanks to Councillor Noel Bayley and Ms Gill Campbell for the diligent manner in which they have undertaken the duties of Mayor and Mayoress of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury during the Municipal Year now ending and places on record its appreciation of their devotion to and performance of the important duties attaching to their Offices and that Medallions be presented to them as tokens of their service as Mayor and Mayoress.

Councillor Mike Smith moved that Councillor Mohammed Tahir Rafiq be elected to the office of Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury for the Municipal Year 2026/2027, with Mrs Manzoor Bibi and Ms Nisa Rafiq as Mayoresses.

Councillor Richard Gold seconded the nomination. Councillors Shahbaz Arif, Shaheena Haroon, and Dene Vernon spoke in support of the nomination. Councillor Noel Bayley, after calling for and not receiving any other nominations, declared the nomination carried and it was:

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Mohammed Tahir Rafiq be duly elected Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury for the Municipal Year 2026/2027, with Mrs Manzoor Bibi and Ms Nisa Rafiq as Mayoresses.

The newly-elected Mayor then occupied the Chair, read and signed the Declaration required by the Local Government Act 1972 and thanked the Council for the honour conferred on him in electing her Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury.

VOTE OF THANKS TO THE RETIRING MAYOR AND CONSORT:

It was moved by Councillor Debra Green, seconded by Councillor Mike Smith and supported by Councillor Mike Smith and supported by Councillors Jo Lancaster and Khalid Hussain, and it was:

RESOLVED:

That this Council hereby expresses its thanks to Councillor Noel Bayley and Mrs Gill Campbell for the diligent manner in which they have undertaken the duties of Mayor and Mayoress of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury during the Municipal Year now ending and places on record its appreciation of their devotion and performance of the important duties attaching to their offices and that medallions be presented to them as tokens of appreciation of their services as Mayor and Mayoress.

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY MAYOR 2025/2026

It was moved by Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, seconded by Councillor Carol Birchmore and supported by Councillors Dene Vernon and Ken Simpson and it was:-

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Mike Smith be appointed as Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury for the Municipal Year 2026/2027, with Mrs Gill Smith as Deputy Mayoress. The newly-elected Deputy Mayor then occupied the Chair, read and signed the Declaration required by the Local Government Act 1972 and thanked the Council for the honour conferred on him in electing him Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury.