The Melton Borough Council's Annual Council meeting saw the election of Councillor Jim Adcock as the new Mayor and Councillor Helen Cliff as Deputy Mayor. The meeting also addressed the council's committee structure, appointments to various bodies, and updates to its constitution and meeting schedule.

Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor

Councillor Jim Adcock was elected as the new Mayor of Melton Borough Council for the Municipal Year 2026/27, with Councillor Sarah Cox proposing his nomination and Councillor Margaret Glancing seconding. Councillor Adcock, a former defence solicitor and long-standing member of the territorial army, expressed his honour at taking on the role. His chosen charity for the year will be the Air Ambulance Service.

Councillor Helen Cliff was elected as the Deputy Mayor. Councillor Cliff, who has a background in youth work and has been prominent in campaigning for local issues such as the St. Mary's birth centre, was proposed by Councillor and seconded by Councillor. Both Councillor Adcock and Councillor Cliff signed their declarations of acceptance of office.

The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Ziggy Atherton, was presented with a specially commissioned past Mayor's Medallion. Councillor Elaine Holmes, speaking on behalf of the council, thanked Councillor Atherton for her exceptional service, highlighting her passion for young people and her fundraising efforts, which raised over £6,000.

Political Balance and Committee Appointments

The council formally appointed its committees for the forthcoming year, maintaining the existing committee structure. A recommendation to amend the constitution to state that the standard subcommittee would not be subject to political balance was debated. Councillor Joe Olsen raised concerns about this proposal, seeking clarification. While the monitoring officer explained the rationale was to ensure impartiality in matters involving conflicts of interest, the proposal was ultimately defeated due to one member voting against it, meaning subcommittees will remain politically balanced.

Following this, the council proceeded with the allocation of seats to political groups and the election of Chairs and Vice-Chairs for various committees. Several contested appointments were decided by ballot or show of hands.

• Planning Committee: Councillor Christopher Evans was elected Chair of the Planning Committee, narrowly defeating Councillor Alan Thwaites. Councillor Tim Webster was elected Vice-Chair, defeating Councillor James Mason.
• Audit and Standards Committee: Councillor Elaine Holmes was elected Chair, with Councillor Leigh Higgins losing the vote. Councillor Simon Orson was elected Vice-Chair, defeating Councillor James Mason.
• Licensing Committee: A tie vote between Councillor Ziggy Atherton and Councillor Pat Cumbers for Chair of the Licensing Committee led to an adjournment and a subsequent re-vote, resulting in Councillor Pat Cumbers being elected. Councillor Marilyn Gordon was elected Vice-Chair, defeating Councillor Sharon Butcher.
• Melton Business Improvement District (BID): Councillor Sharon Butcher and Councillor Donald Pritchett were elected as representatives to the BID board.
• Police and Crime Panel: Councillor Joe Orson was elected as the council's representative on the Police and Crime Panel, defeating Councillor Sharon Butcher.

Constitution and Meeting Schedule Updates

The council reviewed and confirmed changes to its constitution. These included minor amendments to financial procedure rules and the cabinet scheme of delegation to ensure consistency for projects spanning multiple years. A provision was reinstated to allow a member mentioned in the Leader's announcements a right to reply. The terms of reference for the Housing and Communities and Place portfolio holder liaison groups were also formally transposed into the constitution. Updates to the contract procedure rules were noted, reflecting changes in procurement legislation.

The proposed programme of meetings for the Municipal Year 2026/27 was approved. Councillor Mike Brown, Leader of the Labour Group, raised concerns about the limited number of council and cabinet meetings scheduled, particularly during the summer months, and emphasised the need for public visibility of council business. The monitoring officer confirmed that additional meetings could be called if necessary, especially in light of the upcoming local government reorganisation.

Climate Change Working Group

The council received a report on the Climate Change Working Group. It was proposed that the existing group be extended in both its name and remit to encompass the council's new statutory duties regarding biodiversity. This broader remit aims to provide comprehensive member oversight across all council functions related to climate change and biodiversity, and to avoid the need for frequent constitutional amendments. The motion to extend the group's remit was carried.

Leader's Announcements

Councillor Pip Allnatt, Leader of the Council, provided a review of the past municipal year, highlighting achievements in areas such as leisure centre investment, partnership working with the police to target drug dealing, improvements in housing services, and progress on regeneration projects including the Stockyard development and the opening of Pork Puy Way. He also outlined the administration's priorities for the forthcoming year, including immediate actions such as ordering a new country park bridge, installing new car park machines, undertaking an environmental audit of the town centre, and reviewing the planning and enforcement service. Councillor Allnatt also confirmed the appointment of a new cabinet and reiterated the commitment to collaborative working.