Issue - meetings

To receive any communications that the Mayor may wish to put before the Council.

The Mayor reminded Members that in compliance with the Constitution, they should refer to each other by their correct title of ‘Councillor’ throughout the meeting.

The Mayor then referred to a number of events she had attended since the Council December meeting which included:

·         The Christmas Social Evening where £385 was raised in the raffle for the Mayor’s Charities and the Charity Quiz night which had raised £867;

·         Sabbath evening service and supper during Jewish festival of Chanukah;

·         Warriorz Caribbean Christmas Experience;

·         Cycling UK Stevenage Christmas Lights Special Cycle Ride; and

·         The Mayor of Welwyn’s Civic Service. 

The Mayor advised that her next fundraising event would be the upcoming Mayor’s Charity Ball on the 7^th February and she gave special thanks to the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Lloyd Briscoe and Cabinet Members for representing and accompanying her to several events.  

To receive any communications that the Mayor may wish to put before the Council.

The Mayor congratulated and welcomed Councillor Rob Henry who had been elected in the Roebuck Ward at the recent By-Election.  Councillor Richard Henry, Leader of the Council welcomed Rob and congratulated him on his election.  Councillor Rob Henry thanked the Mayor and Leader for their welcomes.

The Mayor spoke about the recent terrible event in Australia on Bondi Beach resulting in 15 people losing their lives.  She asked Council to stand for a moment of reflection for those affected by the incident.

The Mayor then referred to a number of events she had attended since October which included:

·         A tour of Parliament with Councillor Dermot Kehoe and Kevin Bonavia MP including the opportunity to sit in a House of Commons debate;

·         A number of Diwali events;

·         The High Sheriff of Hertford’s Justice Service;

·         The Stevenage ladies Choir Jingle Bells Rock concert with Councillor Jim Brown;

The Mayor advised that as Christmas approached, she was proud of coming from a mixed heritage family celebrating Christmas, Diwali, Eid and other festivals and recognised how powerful it was when different cultures came together enriching lives.

To receive any communications that the Mayor may wish to put before the Council.

The Mayor spoke about the recent terrible events at the Manchester Synagogue resulting in two people losing their lives.  She welcomed the developments over the past week including the ceasefire and asked Council to stand for a moment of reflection of those who had been affected by the terrorist incident in Manchester and the situation in the middle east.

The Mayor then referred to a number of events she had attended since July which included:

·         The signing of the Armed Forces Covenant in partnership with the Muster Point which reaffirmed the Council’s promise to support the armed forces community both currently serving and also veterans and their families;

·         National Sporting Champions event at Ridlings Athletic Track;

·         Attending a dementia support group at Hampson Park;

·         Herts Summer Parks Programme;

·         Judging a schools recycling superhero competition;

·         Fund raising event at Broom Barns School;

·         Opening ceremony of the Knife Angel sculpture in Welwyn Garden City; and

·         A book presentation at Stevenage Library.

Members made the following comments:

·         As part of the wider Knife Angel programme, the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire were holding an art competition for young people under 25 and were encouraging schools and youth organisations ;

·         The coffee morning at Broom Barns school had raised more than £900 for Macmillan;

·         Members thanked the Mayor for the opportunity to remember the victims of the recent incident in Manchester.