Agenda item
Mayor's Announcements (including any petitions received)
To receive any announcements from the Mayor.
Decision:
Announcements from the Mayor were noted in relation to:
· Kings News Years Honours List 2024
· Holocaust & Genocide Memorial Day
· New Year’s Day Parade
· 106th birthday celebration – Mary Thomas
· Death of former councillor & Mayor Ramesh Patel – with tributes paid by Councillors Muhammed Butt, Kabir, Mistry, Afzal, Gbajumo, Mahmood & Chohan.
· Petitions
Minutes:
The Mayor made the following announcements:
(i) Kings New Years Honours List
The Mayor began her announcements by congratulating all those associated with Brent who had received an honour in the Kings New Year Honours list for 2024.
Members congratulated all those who had been honoured for their awards.
(ii) Holocaust & Genocide Memorial Day
The Mayor advised members that January had included the commemoration event for this year’s Holocaust & Genocide Memorial Day with the theme focussed on the “Fragility of Freedom”.
In reflecting on the nature of the human tragedy involved, the Mayor urged everyone to consider the lessons learnt in allowing hate and discrimination to be tolerated and how these could be used to stand against all forms of discrimination in order to prevent such atrocities from happening again in the future. Thanks were extended to all those involved in organising the event.
(iii) New Years Day Parade
Despite the cold weather, the Mayor advised that she has been pleased to attend the London New Years Day parade. Special praise was given to Mahogany in Harlesden who had represented Brent in the parade and, the Mayor was delighted to inform members, had achieved 2nd place in the parade event resulting in a £10,000 contribution being awarded to her charities.
(iv) 100th Birthday Celebration
The Mayor advised she had been pleased to join Mrs Mary “Mama” Thomas, a local Brent resident, in celebrating her 106th birthday. In celebrating this achievement all members joined the Mayor in wishing Mrs Thomas a happy 106th birthday.
(v) Death of Former Councillor Ramesh Patel
The Mayor informed members that it was with regret she had to end her announcements with sad news about the death of former Mayor and Councillor Ramesh Patel.
Recognising that many councillors would have known and worked with former Councillor Ramesh Patel during his time serving on the Council, the Mayor took the opportunity to pay tribute to his dedication and commitment as a representative of Brent and the communities he served for which, she felt, he would always be remembered. Speaking on behalf of the Council, the Mayor highlighted how much Ramesh would be missed by all those who knew him.
Given there were a number of members who had indicated they would also like the opportunity to pay personal tribute and commemorate him the Mayor advised she would be happy to provide an opportunity for other members to do so at this stage in proceedings with the following comments made:
In opening the tributes, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) began by highlighting the role former Councillor Patel had played in supporting and mentoring him when he had first joined the Council and took the opportunity to praise his honesty and integrity, especially during his time serving on the Planning Committee. Whilst aware that both Ramesh and his wife had been challenged by deteriorating health over the last few years Councillor M.Butt felt this had not dampened his warmth, determination and spirit, which were traits that would always be remembered, and he ended by offering his personal condolences to Ramesh’s family, who were welcomed as guests to the meeting.
Following on, Councillor Kabir also took the opportunity to offer her personal condolences to Ramesh’s family, highlighting his dedication, passion and commitment to the social values he had demonstrated as a keen trade unionist and been so keen to share in supporting and mentoring other members and the local community he represented. Referring to the personal support she had also received, Councillor Kabir highlighted how much he would be missed not only by his children and family but also herself and many other colleagues on the Council.
In echoing the tributes previously made, Councillor Mistry also took the opportunity to recognise the kind, warm and supportive nature displayed by Ramesh, particularly in his role as a community leader and local ward councillor in Queensbury. She also took the opportunity to offer her condolences to Ramesh’s family on their loss which she pointed out would also be felt across the local community.
Councillor Afzal, again echoing the previous comments made, also paid tribute to former Councillor Patel noting how it had been Ramesh who had first encouraged him to stand as a councillor. In highlighting his passion and commitment for the values he represented Councillor Afzal ended by commemorating Ramesh’s life and all he had done for the borough.
Councillor Gbajumo also spoke in tribute to former Councillor Patel, recognising his warm and kind nature and legacy created with the local community he served and also ended by expressing her deepest condolences to his family for their sad loss.
As a former Mayor, Councillor Mahmood, also paid tribute to former Councillor Patel remembering his bright, kind and helpful nature and recalling the support and guidance he had provided during his time as Mayor, for which he would always be grateful. Once again, the opportunity was taken to pass on deepest sympathy to Ramesh’s family for their loss.
In concluding the tributes, Councillor Chohan reflected on the previous comments made and how much Ramesh would be missed as a colleague, friend and in terms of the passion he had shown for the work undertaken across the communities he had work with. In recognising his, fairness, honesty and commitment to the values he had represented, Councillor Chohan ended by also offering his deepest sympathy and condolences to Ramesh’s family.
Having thanked all councillors who had contributed for their kind tributes the Mayor ended by expressing the Council’s sincere condolences to Ramesh’s family and inviting all members to join her in observing a period of silence in memory and honour of former Councillor Ramesh Patel.
All present at the meeting then stood to join the Mayor in observing a minutes silence.
(vi) Petitions
As a final announcement, 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.