Conservatives on Basildon Council held their Annual General Meeting
Councillors welcomed Cllr Yvonne Child into the Group and elected Group Officers
The Conservative Group of Basildon Borough Council held its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday night at the Basildon Centre and celebrated retaining control of Basildon Council at the recent local elections. Councillors also took the opportunity to welcome a new member into the Group - Cllr Yvonne Child, who was elected as the new Conservative Councillor for Wickford Park last Thursday.
The purpose of the Group AGM is to elect Group Officers and Cllrs Andrew Baggott (Burstead) and Kevin Blake (Burstead) were re-elected Leader and Deputy Leader respectively. Councillor Baggott has led the Conservative Group since 2018 and served as Leader of Basildon Council from 2018 to 2019 and again since 2021.
Councillor Blake has been Deputy Group Leader since 2022, having previously served in the role between 2014 and 2020.
Cllrs Baggott and Blake
A ballot was also held to select the Conservative Group nominees for the mayoralty and Cllr Luke Mackenzie (Pitsea South-East) has been re-selected as the Group nominee to continue as Mayor for a second year, along with his deputy, Cllr Yetunde Adeshile (Vange), who was selected as the Group nominee for Deputy Mayor.
Cllrs Mackenzie and Adeshile will be formally nominated for the positions at the Annual Meeting of Basildon Council scheduled for May 25th for election by the Full Council. Mayor Mackenzie has represented Pitsea South-East since 2018 and served as Deputy Mayor from 2021 to 2022, when he was elected as the 7th Mayor of Basildon. Councillor Adeshile has represented Vange since 2021 and has served under Mayor Mackenzie as his deputy since 2022.
Cllrs Mackenzie and Adeshile
Cllr Stuart Allen (Crouch) was also re-elected unopposed as our long-serving Group Secretary.
Councillor Baggott will be presenting an Order Paper at the Annual Meeting on May 25th, formally appointing his Cabinet and will outline the Conservative programme and policy priorities for the 2023-4 municipal year.