Agenda item
Mayor's Announcements (including any petitions received)
To receive any announcements from the Mayor.
Decision:
NOTED
1. The statement made by the Chief Executive prior to the start of the Mayors Announcements relating to the scenes around Wembley Stadium in the build up to the UEFA Championship final on Sunday 11 July 21. Referring to the unacceptable nature of the scenes witnessed, the Chief Executive advised of the work being undertaken with partners at the FA, Police and within the Wembley Safety Advisory Group to review what had happened in order to avoid anything similar being experienced and improve the management of future major events at Wembley. Turning to the more positive nature of the championships, the opportunity was also taken to congratulate the England Team for their achievements and inspiration provided both off and on the pitch and to thank all those involved for the work in ensuring the overall tournament was delivered successfully.
2. The announcements which followed from the Mayor in relation to:
· The thanks expressed on behalf of members to all staff and partners involved in the safe delivery of the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship matches at Wembley Stadium.
· The result of the Brondesbury Park by-election and welcoming Councillor Grahl as the newly elected member to the Council.
· The Queen’s Birthday Honours List & MBE awarded to Councillor Southwood
· The Royal British Legion 100th Anniversary
· The Garden Studios Tour
· The Visit to Vaccine Centres and delivery events
· The Windrush Day celebrations
· The NHS Social Care & Frontline Workers Day
· The Srebrenica Memorial Event
· Petitions
Minutes:
Prior to the Mayor’s Announcements, the Mayor invited Carolyn Downs (as Chief Executive) to make a statement on the scenes witnessed around Wembley Stadium in the build up to the UEFA European Championship final on Sunday 11 July 21.
Referring to the unacceptable nature of the scenes witnessed, the Chief Executive advised of the work being undertaken with partners at the FA, Police and within the Wembley Safety Advisory Group to review what had happened in order to avoid anything similar being experienced and improve the management of future major events at Wembley. Turning to the more positive nature of the championships, the opportunity was also taken to congratulate the England Team (including Brent’s Raheem Sterling) for their achievements and inspiration provided both on and off the pitch and to thank all those involved for the work in ensuring the overall tournament, during which Brent had hosted eight matches at Wembley Stadium, was delivered successfully. This was highlighted as a particularly achievement given the extent to which the borough had also been impacted by the Covid pandemic and work which had needed to been undertaken in response. The subsequent racist abuse received by players within the England squad was also condemned on behalf of the Council in the strongest possible terms.
Members fully endorsed the statement made by the Chief Executive and the Mayor then moved on to make the following announcements:
(i). UEFA European 2020 Championship
The Mayor thanked all staff involved for their efforts in supporting the safe delivery of the UEFA European 2020 Championship tournament during the previous month. Whilst England had not won the tournament, she felt it was still a great achievement to have reached the final. She also recognised the work that had been undertaken to deliver the testing arrangements at the Civic Centre and by the Council’s Highways, Regulatory Services, Community Safety and Enforcement teams as well as Veolia in supporting each match been hosted at Wembley Stadium.
(ii). Brondesbury Park by-election – Welcome to Councillor Grahl
The Mayor then took the opportunity to formally welcomed Councillor Grahl to her first Full Council meeting as the newly elected ward member for Brondesbury Park following a by-election held on 7 May. She thanked the Returning Officer and all staff involved for the safe and efficient delivery of both the by-election and the London Mayoral and Assembly elections.
(iii). Queen’s Birthday Honours List
The Mayor congratulated Councillor Southwood, who she advised had received an MBE in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours List. The award was given for Councillor Southwood’s service to charity and local government, and in particular her leadership of and campaigning for the Royal National Institute of the Blind and her time as an elected member.
(iv). Royal British Legion – 100th Anniversary
The Mayor advised that she had been honoured to attend a small wreath laying ceremony at Barham Park to mark the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Royal British Legion. She felt the event had demonstrated the borough’s support and duty to the Royal British Legion.
(v). Garden Studios
The Mayor then informed members she had been pleased to have been invited to visit the new Garden Studios built in Harlesden. Commenting on the tour, she felt that the borough was lucky to have such an amazing facility to be shared with local residents.
(vi). Vaccination Events
The Mayor took the opportunity to thank all those involved in supporting the Max Vaccine event at Bridge Park, the vaccine bus in Cricklewood and the pop up vaccination centre in Willesden. She was keen to recognise the important role these events and facilities were playing in encouraging and supporting the community vaccination programme
(vii). Windrush Day
The Mayor then advised that she had been pleased to attend the virtual celebrations for Windrush Day on 22 June, which honoured the British Caribbean community and the half a million Caribbean people who travelled to the UK after the Second World War. Highlighting the efforts and commitment made by the Council to mark the day since it had first been commemorated in 2018 she felt this was an important way in which to recognise and support the contribution made by the Windrush Generation.
(viii). NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers’ Day
The Mayor advised Members of her involvement in supporting the first NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers’ Day on 5 July, which had been held to celebrate the founding of the NHS. The Mayor felt it was important to recognise the way in which NHS, Social Care and frontline workers had all mobilised since the start of the pandemic to keep the nation afloat and felt they were all owed an enormous debt of gratitude. She also advised how the event had provided an opportunity to remember those who had lost their lives during the pandemic.
(ix). Srebrenica Memorial Event
The Mayor also advised Members of her attendance at a virtual remembrance event commemorating those who had been displaced during the genocide and ethnic cleansing in Bosnia in the 1990s. The theme of the event had been focussed on those who had settled in the UK and how they had been able to rebuild their lives.
(x). Petitions
Finally, the Mayor drew members attention to the list of current petitions tabled at tonight’s meeting, in accordance with Standing Orders, which also shows the action being taken to deal with them.