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(1) 
The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the
meeting would be recorded.
 

(2) 
The Chair reminded Members that the Council had
declared both a Climate Emergency and an Ecological Emergency.
These are serious decisions, and mean that, as this was an
emergency, all of us, Officers and Members had that in mind as we
carried out our various roles and tasks for the benefit of our
District.
 

(3) 
The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages
regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in
line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed
to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.
 
The Chair confirmed that a
dispensation had been granted by the Monitoring Officer to all dual
hatter Councillors (i.e. those who are both County and District
Councillors) for Item 6, Growing Baldock Strategic Masterplan.
 

(4) 
The Chair advised that the normal procedure rules in respect of
debate and times to speak will apply.
 

(5) 
The Chair advised that 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution applied to
part of this meeting and that Members could not leave the Chamber
during Item 6, Growing Baldock Strategic Masterplan. A comfort
break would be held at an appropriate time, should proceedings
continue at length.
 

(6) 
The Chair advised of a change to the agenda order
and Item 5, Referrals from Other Committees, would be taken
following Agenda Item 6, Growing Baldock Strategic Masterplan,
other than Referral 5A which would be taken alongside Item
6.
 

(7) 
The Chair advised that Callum Reeve, Electoral
Services Assistant, was leaving the Council and thanked him for his
support to Members during his time at the authority.
 

(8) 
The Chair advised that Jeanette Thompson, Monitoring
Officer and Director – Governance, had been awarded the
Lawyers in Local Government ‘Legal Professional of the
Year’. He paid tribute to the work Jeanette had done at the
Council and congratulated her on the achievement.