Issue - meetings

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

Announcements from the Mayor were noted in relation to:

·            Kings News Years Honours List 2023 – including congratulations to former councillor and Deputy Leader Margaret McLennan for her MBE

·            Pride of Brent Youth Awards

·            Holocaust Memorial Day event 2023

·            Death of a former councillor – Tom Bryson

·            100^th birthday celebration – Peter Adkins

·            Coronation “Big Lunch”

·            Petitions

Members also took the opportunity during the Mayors Announcements to pay tribute to Carolyn Downs as Chief Executive, ahead of her retirement at the end of April 2023.

Prior to his announcements, the Mayor asked all members to join him in observing a minutes silence in memory of all those who had lost their lives as a result of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

All those present at the meeting then stood to observe a minutes silence.

The Mayor then made the following announcements:

(i)       Kings New Years Honours List 2023

The Mayor began his announcements by congratulating all those associated with Brent who had received an honour in the Kings New Year Honours list for 2023.  He was pleased to announce this had included Margaret McLennan, as former Deputy Leader of the Council, who had received an MBE for services to digital inclusion and the community in Brent.

Members congratulated all those who had been honoured for their awards.

(ii)      Pride of Brent Youth Awards

The Mayor advised he had been delighted to have taken part in the Pride of Brent Youth Awards in December in order to celebrate and recognise the achievements of young people across Brent making a difference in their communities.

(iii)    Holocaust Memorial Day event 2023

The Mayor advised he had been privileged to attend the commemoration event for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day.  The theme had focussed on “ordinary people” with the event highlighting many moving and inspirational stories.

In reflecting on the human tragedy, the Mayor urged everyone to consider how they could stand against hate and discrimination in order to ensure it was no longer tolerated and to prevent such atrocities from happening again in the future.  Thanks were extended to all those involved in organising the event.

(iv)     Death of Former Councillor Tom Bryson

The Mayor informed members that it was with regret he had to advise of the sad death of former Council Leader and Brent Councillor Mr Tom Bryson.

Speaking on behalf of the Council, the Mayor took the opportunity to express his sincere condolences to Tom’s family and to highlight how much he would be missed by all those who knew him.

In addition to the Mayor’s comments, Councillors Nerva & Long also took the opportunity to pay tribute and offer their condolences to former Councillor Bryon’s family, remembering the way he had worked to develop the Council and represent his party and constituents during his time in office.

(v)        100^th Birthday Celebration

The Mayor took the opportunity to celebrate and congratulate Mr Peter Adkins on reaching the milestone of his 100^th birthday.

(vi)       Coronation “Big Lunch”

Moving on, the Mayor advised he was pleased to announce that he would be hosting a Mayors Coronation lunch on Sunday 7 May 2023 as part of the “Coronation Big Lunch” initiative.  This would be held in the Grand Hall, Civic Centre with the aim of encouraging communities to come together as part of the coronation celebrations.  It was hoped that as many Members as possible would be able to attend, with invites shortly due to be issued.

(vii)   Tributes to Chief Executive

Prior to ending  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

Prior to the Mayor’s formal announcements Council considered and unanimously AGREED a statement tabled at the meeting condemning the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine and expressing solidarity with all those affected living within Ukraine.

Announcements from the Mayor were then noted in relation to:

·             New Years Honours List 2022

·             Holocaust and Genocide Memorial Day event 2022

·             Tributes and thanks expressed to councillors not standing in the May 2022 borough elections

·             Mayor’s Charity Gala Dinner

·             Relaunch of Community Grants Schemes

·             Petitions

Prior to her formal announcements, the Mayor drew Members attention to the statement which had been tabled at the meeting seeking, on behalf of the Council, to condemn the actions of the Russian Federation in relation to the disturbing events witnessed in Ukraine immediately prior to the meeting and expressing solidarity with all those affected.  Members noted and welcomed the lighting up of the Civic Centre in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, as a further gesture of support and solidarity.

Given the strength of feeling on the issue, the Mayor advised she would be willing to allow a representative from each political group to speak on the situation, starting with Councillor Kelcher on behalf of the Labour Group.

Councillor Klecher began by thanking the Mayor, Chief Executive and everyone else involved for their efforts to ensure it had been possible to table the statement at such short notice for discussion at the meeting.  Referring to the full scale invasion of Ukraine which had been launched by Russia, in defiance of international law and the commitments under the Minsk Accord, he welcomed the statement which had been tabled at the meeting condemning the invasion and expressing solidarity with the people of Ukraine.  The statement also demanded the immediate withdrawal of Russian military forces, with Councillor Kelcher highlighting significant concern at the previous treatment of Ukraine by Russia and importance in Ukraine, as a sovereign state, being able to maintain its independent status rather than fall under Russian dominance and control.  In supporting the demands on the UK Government to impose the harshest possible sanctions on the Russian Federation, Councillor Kelcher ended by highlighting the diverse nature of Brent, which included citizens who had been welcomed from other occupied nations around the world and hoped this would encourage everyone to support the Council’s message of solidarity to the people of Ukraine.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Kansagra to speak on behalf of the Opposition Group.  Also speaking in support of the statement, Councillor Kansagra highlighted the longstanding build up of Russian military forces in the region and need for more powerful sanctions to be imposed on the Russian Federation in response to the invasion and violation of international law.  Recognising the anguish of all those affected, he advised the Conservative Group also fully supported the Council’s message of solidarity with the people of Ukraine and hoped for a peaceful outcome to the conflict.

The Mayor thanked both members for their contribution and as a result it was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the following statement tabled at the meeting condemning the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine and expressing solidarity with all those affected living within Ukraine:

“Brent Council:

·             recognises that Ukraine is a sovereign, independent state with the right to self determination.

·             condemns the Russian Federation’s incursion into sovereign Ukrainian territory in violation of international law and their treaty obligations under the Minsk Protocol of 2014.

·             demands that the Russian President, Vladimir Putin pull back his forces, desists from a full scale  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7