Issue - meetings

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

Announcements from the Mayor were noted in relation to:

·             Thanks being expressed for the attendance of the Deputy Mayor at recent Mayoral events.

·             Remembrance Sunday

·             Black History Month

·             Islamophobia Awareness Month

·             Petitions

Prior to commencing his announcements the Mayor took the opportunity to thank Councillor Hylton, as Deputy Mayor, for her support in covering the mayoral engagements whilst he had been away.  He then moved on to make the following announcements:

(i)       Remembrance Sunday

The Mayor advised he had been honoured to attend the recent ceremony held to commemorate Remembrance Sunday and all those who had lost their lives in various conflicts throughout the world.

The ceremony had been held at the Barham Park Memorial with the Mayor thanking everyone who had attended in order to pay tribute.

(ii)       Black History Month

The Mayor took the opportunity to thank the Cultural Diversity Network for the work undertaken to prepare and deliver such an engaging and successful programme of activities during Black History month.

Particular highlights had included the 21-day virtual equality challenge and the Black History month Civic Centre takeover undertaken in partnership with the local community, Public Health and the Gender Network, included as new events in the programme both of which had been well received by staff and residents.

(iii)      Islamophobia Awareness Month

The Mayor advised he was also pleased to be supporting Islamophobia Awareness month which, as part of the programme of activities, had included him joining the Brent Multi-Faith Forum peace walk and tree planting.  This event had been undertaken to symbolise peace, unity and solidarity between all communities and to raise awareness in an attempt to bring people together to stand against discrimination and hate crime.

Other events included Stand against Islamophobia, which members were reminded was being held at the Civic Centre on Wednesday 23 November 2023.

(iv)   Petitions

Finally, the Mayor referred members to the list of current petitions tabled at the meeting, in accordance with Standing Orders which also detailed the action being taken to deal with them.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

Announcements from the Mayor were noted in relation to:

·                Tributes and remembrance of HRH Her Majesty the Queen including a moments silence and contributions by the Leader of the Council and Councillor Maurice (on behalf of the Conservative Group) and Councillor Georgiou (as Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group).

·                Community Cohesion within the borough including a statement by the Multi-Faith Forum and contributions from the Leader of the Council and Leaders of both Opposition Groups.

·                Brent Care Awards for Social Care Staff.

·                Brent Summer Reading Challenge.

·                Petitions.

The Mayor made the following announcements:

(i)     Remembrance & Tributes to HRH Her Majesty the Queen

Following HRH Her Majesty the Queen’s state funeral earlier in the week, the Mayor began his announcements in remembrance and tribute following the passing of Her Majesty the Queen.

Having led the period of mourning across the borough, the Mayor advised that he had also written to the new Sovereign and Royal Family to express condolences and deepest sympathy on behalf of the borough following the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

In paying tribute to the late Queen, the Mayor felt it important to recognise not only her long and valued service to both the country and commonwealth but also the leadership provided throughout her reign as sovereign.  Reflecting on her commitment to public and voluntary service, the Mayor also felt it important to highlight the inspiration she had provided for so many, especially in relation to young people, the preservation of wildlife and the environment.

The Mayor then invited comments from representatives of each Group in memory and tribute to the late Queen and began by inviting Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) to speak on behalf of the Labour Group.

Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) opened the tributes on behalf of the Labour Group by also recognising and commending the Queen’s long commitment to public service and reflecting on the deep respect in which she had been held not only across the country and commonwealth but also across the world.  On a personal basis, he recalled his and his own family’s personal engagement and interaction with the Queen and Royal Family, including during various visits to the borough and recognised how much she would be missed, given her length of service as Monarch.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Maurice to speak on behalf of the Conservative Group, who also felt it important to recognise and respect the sense of loss expressed during the period of national mourning from around the world.  In highlighting the Queens strong commitment to public service and in representing all those who had settled in the United Kingdom from across the world, he also took the opportunity to wish the new king well in his transition as sovereign.

As a final contribution, Councillor Georgiou was then invited to speak on behalf of the Liberal Democrats Group.  In supporting the sentiments already expressed he also paid tribute to the late Queen’s long and selfless commitment to public service and felt it important to reflect on the comments made by the Archbishop of Canterbury in welcoming world leaders attending her state funeral in relation to those who serve often being loved whilst those who cling to power and privilege were often forgotten.

The Mayor thanked members for their contributions and tributes and as a mark of sympathy and condolence to both the new Sovereign and Royal Family invited all present to join him in observing a moments silence in memory of the late  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

Announcements from the Mayor were noted in relation to:

·                Recent events attended by the Mayor – including Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations, LGBTQ+ Flag Raising ceremony, Brent Refugee Week celebrations, Brent Looked After Children celebration, presentation of bronze bust Rolling Stones Fan Club, Srebrenica Memorial Event and Pride of Brent Awards.

·                Death of former Councillor Angela Sheppard.

·                Queen’s Birthday Honours.

·                100^th birthday celebrations.

·                Changes to Council Management Team and tributes to Gail Tolley, Shazia Hussain and Alan Lunt.

·                Petitions

The Mayor made the following announcements:

(i)       Mayoral Engagements

The Mayor advised he had been pleased to attend a number of events since the start of the Municipal Year. Highlights had included:

·            The lighting of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon on 2 June on the steps of Wembley Stadium, which had included the Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band, who were thanked for their performance in leading the celebrations.  The Mayor reported he had also been pleased to have attended many of the street parties across the Jubilee weekend and seen so many residents enjoying the celebrations.

·            Marking the start of Pride month with the LGBTQ+ Flag Raising ceremony, which he was pleased to report had been well attended by staff and other councillors.

·            Attending the Brent Refugee Week celebrations at Newman College, where a number of local organisations had received sanctuary awards.

·            Being invited to attend a celebration of achievement event for Brent Looked After Children which had recognised not only their achievements but also the ongoing commitment from Brent Council to support them towards fulfilling their individual aspirations and ambitions.

·            Hosting the Rolling Stones fan club in presenting a bronze bust of the late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts to the Council.

·            The Mayor advised he had also been honoured to attend the Srebrenica Memorial Event, which had marked 27 years since the genocide at Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

·            The Mayor had also been delighted to attend the recent Pride of Brent Awards, where he had been pleased to be able to celebrate and recognise the many unsung heroes amongst Brent’s staff and within the local community.

(ii)       Death of former Councillor Angela Sheppard

The Mayor advised that it was with sadness he had to inform members of the death of former Councillor Angela Sheppard on 25 June 2022.

In remembering former Councillor Sheppard, members were advised that she had served as a Councillor in Preston ward during the 1980’s and in the early 1990’s had served as the Borough’s Mayoress alongside Councillor Tom Taylor.  The Mayor advised that she would be fondly remembered as someone focussed on serving her residents with a common sense approach and also as someone who served at a national level in the Towns Women’s Guild, where she had been involved in the promotion of women and girls rights for over 50 years.  In recognising how much she would be missed by her partner Craig, two sons David & Peter and four grandchildren, the Mayor ended by expressing condolences, on behalf of the Council to her family and friends.

(iii)      Queen’s Birthday Honours List

The Mayor then took the opportunity, on behalf of the Council, to congratulate those residents and local representatives who had received an honour in the Queens recent Birthday Honours list.  These had included:

·                Navin Shah the former Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow who had been awarded a CBE for his role in local politics and public service.

·                Chunilal Kakad who had been awarded an MBE for four decades  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5