Agenda item
Mayor's Announcements (including any petitions received)
To receive any announcements from the Mayor.
Decision:
NOTED the announcements from the Mayor in relation to:
· Brent’s award as LGC Council of the Year
· Queen’s Birthday Honours List
· Black History Month
· Death of former Councillor Jon Mordecai, with tribute paid and a minutes silence observed during the meeting
· Nigerian Protests
· Remembrance Sunday
· LBoC No Bass Like Home event
· Petitions
Minutes:
The Mayor then moved on to make the following announcements:
(i) LGC Council of the Year 2020
The Mayor began by advising it was with pride he was able to announce the Council had been named ‘Council of the Year’ 2020 at the prestigious Local Government Chronicle Awards. As part of the award the Council had been recognised for embracing its communities in a celebration of diversity with the award seen as recognition for the hard work undertaken by officers and councillors in supporting the residents of the borough.
(ii) Queen’s Birthday Honours List
In addition to Councillor Liz Dixon, who had been congratulated at the previous meeting, the Mayor advised that he was delighted to announce that Sarah Smith, Libraries Development Manager, had been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. The award was for services to public libraries and the Mayor, on behalf of the Council, congratulated Sarah on her award.
(iii) Black History Month
The Mayor then moved on to offer his thanks and congratulations to all those involved in the successful delivery of the online event to celebrate Black History Month during October. The event’s theme was Black Lives Matter and he was pleased to note how successful it had been.
(iv) Former councillor Jon Mordecai
The Mayor announced that it was with sadness he had to inform members about the recent death of former Councillor Jon Mordecai, who had been a councillor in the 1980s and served as Chair of the Housing Committee. On behalf of the Council, the Mayor passed on his condolences to former Councillor Mordecai’s family and loved ones.
The Mayor then invited attendees to observe a minute’s silence in tribute and memory of Jon.
The online meeting was then paused to observe a minute’s silence.
Councillor Nerva was then invited to pay tribute to Jon. Before also passing on his condolences he highlighted former Councillor Mordecai’s passion for housing and trade union activity and advised how much he would be missed by his friends, former colleagues and family.
(v) Protests against police brutality in Nigeria
The Mayor advised that it was with great sadness he had witnessed the recent unrest in Nigeria. Highlighting the impact which this had had on many residents of Nigerian descent across the borough he expressed his sympathies to the families and friends who had lost loved ones during the recent protests and wished all those injured a quick recovery.
(vi) Remembrance Sunday
The Mayor advised members he had been honoured to attend the recent ceremony held to commemorate Remembrance Sunday. This year’s ceremony had been undertaken as a socially distanced event at the Barham Park Memorial and honoured all those in the borough and beyond who had given their lives whilst serving in the Armed Forces in conflicts throughout the world. He thanked all those who had attended and been involved in organising the ceremony.
(vii) London Borough of Culture – No Bass like Home
The Mayor then moved on the thank and congratulate all those involved in the London Borough of Culture No Bass like Home online festival which had taken place in November and been a huge success. This had involved an online celebration of reggae culture, which was enjoyed by many across the borough and beyond, and included guests from Harlesden, Jamaica and Florida.
(viii) Petitions
The Mayor ended his announcements by drawing members’ attention to the list of current petitions along with action being taken to deal with them, which had been tabled at the meeting, in accordance with Standing Order 66.