Agenda item

To invite a vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor, in accordance with Standing Order 27(c).

NOTED

(1)      the vote of thanks to the co-opted and independent members serving on the Council’s committees.

(2)     the vote of thanks and tributes paid to the outgoing Mayor.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Mili Patel, as newly appointed Deputy Leader, to propose a vote of thanks to all co-opted and other members serving on the Council’s committees.

Councillor Mili Patel began by thanking the outgoing Mayor, Lia Colaccico, for the example she had set in undertaking her civic duties under such difficult and challenging circumstances during the recovery from the pandemic.

As this was the Annual Meeting of the Council, she also advised it was an ideal opportunity to highlight again the valued work of the Council’s co-opted and independent committee members, given the core role they played as critical friends in the Council’s democratic process.  She advised that their independence and objectivity were highly valued and integral to the role of the bodies on which they served including Scrutiny, Audit & Standards and the various health and education bodies.  She ended by thanking all of the co-opted Members for their work in supporting the Council’s drive towards continuous improvement.

The opportunity was also taken to recognise and thank the previous Deputy Leader (Margaret McLennan) for her work, dedication and commitment shown to local residents, the Council and its staff in her role and in helping to steer the Council through such challenging recent times.

Councillor Kansagra, as Leader of the Conservative Group, was then invited to speak and advised that he would like to second the vote of thanks moved by the Deputy Leader to all co-opted and other members on the Council’s committees. He also took the opportunity to welcome all new and returning members and to congratulate the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor on their appointment before ending by thanking Lia Colacicco, as the outgoing Mayor, for the way she had conducted herself in her civic role during such challenging times as the Council sought to recover from the pandemic as well as for the way she had chaired the Council meetings both in person and online.  He ended by wishing her well in her retirement from the Council and in her ongoing work and involvement with the local community.

The Mayor then invited Councillor M.Butt to formally propose a vote of thanks for the outgoing Mayor, Lia Colacicco.  In doing so, Councillor M.Butt began by congratulating the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor on their appointment and by highlighting the honour in serving as First Citizen of the Borough and in being able to advocate and serve as a champion for Brent.  These were roles he felt Lia Colacicco, supported by her consort Tim Evans, had fulfilled to the maximum whilst also bringing a unique style and passion to the role, which had been much needed as the borough sought to recover from the pandemic.  Recognising her passion for the environment and sustainability he advised the Council would continue to build on the work already undertaken and to ensure, given the wide range of events attended during her year in office, that the work in raising Brent’s profile continued.  Highlighting the work also undertaken in her role as ward councillor and in supporting other members on the Council, Councillor M.Butt ended by advising how much she would be missed given the valued contribution made not only in her role as a local advocate but also in being such a strong representative of the borough during her Mayoralty.

The Mayor then invited comments from other members in recognition of the role undertaken by the outgoing Mayor.

Councillor Grahl opened the tributes by recognising and thanking Lia Colacicco for the work undertaken in representing Cricklewood, highlighting in particular her support for Cricklewood Library along with her work around climate change and how much she would be missed by those she represented within the local community.

Following on Councillor Lorber also took the opportunity to thank Lia Colacicco for her work in support of community libraries across Brent, which had been recognised and appreciated.

Councillor Kelcher also spoke, taking the opportunity to highlight Lia Colacicco’s passion in relation to addressing local issues alongside green and environmental concerns.  Referring to the support from her family during her time as Mayor he felt there was also a need to recognise her style and humour and how much she would be missed by other colleagues on the Council.

Councillor Maurice also commended the outgoing Mayor on her hard work in representing Brent as well as her warm and friendly nature and took the opportunity to wish her well for the future.

Councillor Dixon also took the opportunity to thank Lia Colacicco for her hard work during her time as Mayor.  Referring to the flair, passion, skill, kindness and effectiveness she had demonstrated in representing the local community within Cricklewood, including her support for Gladstone Park, she ended by pointing out how much she would be missed by all colleagues.

Councillor Dar then spoke as a friend and associate of Lia Colcaccio over the previous 20 years including her time as a ward councillor and also local community activist in the Cricklewood and Mapesbury areas.  Highlighting her work in support of a range of local community organisations specific reference was made to her involvement with Cricklewood Community Library as well as the Friends of Gladstone Park, Ashford Place and local foodbanks.  Referring to her quietly determined nature, Councillor Dar also outlined the role Lia Colacicco had played as a community champion and advocate in assisting to raise significant funds for local projects, including the community library and park and in organising and supporting local residents in the establishment of a community garden.  He ended by wishing Lia Colacicco all the best for the future following her decision to step back from the Council and to also highlight how much she would be missed by her fellow ward councillors and colleagues.

In concluding the tributes, Councillor Nerva reflected on the previous comments made and how much Lia Colaccico would be missed as a colleague, friend and valuable supporter and advocate for Brent.  Recognising her achievements not only as a ward councillor but also as a local community activist he outlined what he felt had been the impact in terms of the improvements made to the quality of life for local communities in Willesden and the surrounding area as a result of her work to support the community library, Gladstone Park and to champion environmental issues and advised that he looked forward to this work being continued as part of her ongoing involvement with the local community.

The Mayor then invited Lia Colacicco to return thanks and review her time in office.

Lia Colacicco, in returning thanks, began by expressing her pride at having been elected as Mayor and being able to serve the people of Brent during the previous year.  Reflecting on the honour in being able to serve the borough, particular thanks were extended to Kim Gordon & Brian Kennedy in the Mayor’s Office along with Katie Smith and Fatema Limbada within Executive and Member Services for their support during her time as Mayor, particularly given the challenges involved in undertaking her role during recovery from the pandemic.

Highlighting some of these challenges, she outlined the difficulties this had created in being able to fundraise and also attend various events, given the restrictions in relation to social gatherings that had remained in place for a significant part of her time in office.  As a result her focus had been targeted around her role as a roving ambassador putting people in contact in order to achieve her aims.  This had included work:

·             To pass on invaluable skills to a Parkinson’s UK pilot project, which included addressing community diagnosis in BAME and South Asian groups.

·             In support of Cricklewood Community Library, which was now due to officially open on 3^rd June 3^rd with a long term relationship with a local history group, whose walks had raised hundreds of pounds for her Mayoral charities.

·             To support the provision of outreach support via the Brent Hubs to the South American community within the borough.

In terms of specific activity undertaken by the Mayor during her time in office, Lia Colacicco referred to the following as particular highlights:

·             Visits to Covid vaccination centres set up across the borough including in Sports Centres, Mosques, libraries and the vaccine bus.

·             Visiting a state of the art film studio facility in Harlesden which could be used to recreate any large city in the world via satellite.

·             Attending two 100 year old birthday celebrations.

·             Visiting and supporting the work being undertaken by foodbanks across the borough.

·             Visiting the Kilburn State cinema to see the Wurlitzer organ.

·             Meeting Raheem Sterling.

·             Seeing families being rehoused, streets repaved and trees planted.

·             Being lucky enough to have won an assortment of raffle prizes and to have learned to love public speaking.

At the same time she had also been saddened to see the extent and real impact of poverty across the borough both in terms of rents, wages and standard of living accommodation.  Whilst also disappointed and angry at the spread of fake news, she had also been encouraged to witness the kindness and extent of support being provided for more vulnerable members of society, particularly during the pandemic, and overjoyed to have been able to support a particular family rehoused in a more suitable sized property with a garden.

Reflecting on her year in office, Lia Colacicco felt that local communities across Brent had a wonderful attitude of live and let live which reflected it having been rated by the ONS as one of the happiest boroughs in which to live and the outcome of a recent resident satisfaction survey which had shown the Council’s approval rating as holding its own compared to others nationally. This included around 8 in 10 Brent residents surveyed having stated they were satisfied with the local area, significantly higher than 2018; 7 out of 10 being satisfied with the way the Council ran things and 8 out of 10 feeling they had adequate social contact.

Highlighting how much she had enjoyed her time as Mayor, Lia Colacicco ended by taking the opportunity to thank all members, council staff, local community groups and residents for their support and to thank Councillor Aden for his support as her Deputy Mayor and to wish him along with his family all the best for the coming year as Mayor.

The Mayor thanked Lia Colacicco for her comments and highlighted how much he had personally enjoyed working with her and her family during their time as Mayor.  He ended by wishing her well for the future and then advised that as this now concluded the ceremonial part of the meeting he would move on to deal with the remainder of the agenda.