Decision details

The Mayor announced that the Stevenage Motto, “The Heart of a Town Lies in its People”, truly reflected the Borough’s community.  She paid tribute to the author of the Motto, Richard John Ingle, who had passed away aged 81 in December 2023.  Richard compiled the words when he as a pupil at Barclays School.  The Mayor was privileged to have attended Richard’s funeral, which was a celebration of his life. He deserved great praise and recognition for compiling the town’s motto.

The Mayor commented that she had attended 238 Mayoral Engagements since May 2023.  Engagements such as those with Stevenage Community Trust, Stevenage Works Community Chest funds and The Betty Game Opportunities Trust were great examples of how local people were working together to help and support others by giving grants and funds to those in need.  These Trusts were groups of people and businesses in the town who had the generosity at their core.  She thanked them all.

Th Mayor announced that, during January 2024, she had attended a tree planting in memory of former Councillor John Gardner, the launch of Hertfordshire Covenant from all Faiths, Holocaust Memorial Day exhibition at the Stevenage Library, and visited the Covid Cobra first pillar in Grace Way, with thanks to Junction 7 Creatives and Community Development Team.  She would shortly be visiting the Business Technology Centre(BTC), and thanked WENTA (based at the BTC) for their generous donation to the Mayor's charity funds.

The Mayor congratulated Sarah Pateman (Head of Community Advice and Support) for receiving the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her work and services to the Victims of Domestic Abuse in Hertfordshire.

The Mayor reminded Members that Stevenage had been recognised as a Dementia Friendly Community, and a dementia badge for Councillors and staff to wear had been produced.  She hoped that wearers would support the initiative with a donation to the charity.

The Mayor announced that Don Hills had also passed away recently.  Don had worked as a journalist for 50 years.  He was the Press Officer with Stevenage Development Corporation from 1960 to 1980 and Public Relations and Information Officer for Stevenage Borough Council from 1976 to 1992.  He had the unique role of working for both authorities for few years.  He and the late Margaret Ashby had also written a very interesting book on the history of Stevenage.

At the Mayor’s invitation, a number of Members paid personal tributes to Don Hills.