To consider Announcements under Procedure Rule 10:
a) The new Mayor’s Announcements, including the Mayor’s charities
b) The Leader’s Announcements
c) Chief Executive’s Announcements.
(Oral reports)
Minutes:
a) Mayor’s announcements
Councillor Wheeler thanked Members for providing her with an opportunity to serve as Mayor of the Borough of Redditch. She explained that her Mayoralty would be influenced by considerations in relation to mental health and wellbeing.
During 2016/17 Councillor Wheeler had served as a member of the Mental Health Services for Young People Task Group. The group had discovered that there were higher levels of mental health and wellbeing problems amongst young Redditch residents than in other parts of Worcestershire, partly due to the higher levels of deprivation and a larger youth population in the Borough. There were plans to reconvene the Task Group later in the municipal year to assess the progress that had been achieved in addressing mental health and wellbeing problems within the community. In the meantime to ensure that Members and Officers remained mindful of the subject the Mayor would be supporting two charities that supported vulnerable young people. The first of these charities was the Redditch branch of St Basils, which provided supported accommodation to young people aged 16 – 25 at risk of becoming homeless. The second charity was Young Minds, which was dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of young people.
The Mayor advised that she would not have a Chaplain during the course of her Mayoralty. Instead speakers would be invited to talk at the start of Council meetings throughout the year on the subject of one of the five steps to mental wellbeing, as detailed below:
· Connect with people
· Be active
· Keep learning
· Give to others
· Be mindful
The Mayor advised that her upcoming events included attending an event due to be held by Redditch MHAG on 25th May.
b) The Leader’s Announcements
The Leader noted that Karen Lumley, due to stand down as the MP of Redditch, was in hospital. On behalf of the Council he wished Ms Lumley a speedy and full recovery.
The following announcements were made by the Leader:
· The Leader had written to Mr Roberts, Head teacher of St Bedes Catholic Middle School, to congratulate the Year 8 Boys’ team who had won the English Schools’ Football Association PlayStation Schools’ Cup.
· Officers were congratulated for their hard work and for securing the Council a runner up position in the West Midlands Regional Energy Efficiency and Healthy Homes awards.
· The Leader had met with the newly elected Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority and had invited him to visit Redditch at a future date.
· The third Redditch Faith Walk had been another highlight during the period.
· Alongside other Members the Leader had also taken part in the March for Callum through the town.
· The Leader had attended the Polish Heritage weekend and taken part in the flag raising ceremony.
· The Mayor had also attended the Gurdwara at Ridgeway Academy.
· The latest Redditch Bike Race had taken place in early May and the Leader hoped to arrange for the race to take place again in the Borough in 2018.
· The Leader had attended a regional track meeting of BMX riders, involving a range of competitors in different age groups.
· The Victorian Day at RYCE had been another highlight in May.
· Finally, the Leader commented that he had attended the 1940s themed open day at Forge Mill Needle Museum earlier in the month which had been a very enjoyable day.
c) Chief Executive’s Announcements
There were no announcements from the Chief Executive.