To receive a report from the Mayor on civic matters which have arisen since the last meeting or events which may be occurring in the near future.
To give notice of any variation to the items listed in the Forward Plan and/or items accepted as “Urgent Business”.
(No separate report / oral update)
Minutes:
The Mayor’s communications and announcements were considered under the following headings:
a) Announcements of losses to the Borough
It was with regret that the Mayor announced the death of former Councillor and District Council Chairman, John Coleman.
The Mayor also recorded the passing of two other significant local characters, Mr John Emms a popular professional and amateur actor and Mr Philip Rowland, secretary of the Redditch Disabled Access Group.
The Mayor announced the death of Lance Corporal Dale Hopkins of the Paratroop Regiment who had been killed in action in Afghanistan. The funeral for Lance Corporal Hopkins had been attended by the Mayor and a number of other Councillors.
It was with regret that the Mayor announced the death of another member of the Mercian Regiment, Acting Sergeant Michael Lockett MC of the local 2nd Battalion, who had been killed in action in Afghanistan.
The Mayor asked the Council to join him in a minute’s silence and stated that he either already had or was proposing to send the Council’s condolences to the families of the bereaved, as appropriate.
b) Mercian Regiment – Returning Home Parade
The Mayor announced that two dates were being consulted upon for a Returning Home Parade through the town by the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment in the spring of 2010. The proposed dates were Saturday 6th or Saturday 20th March 2010.
c) Bus Shelter Artwork
The Mayor drew Members’ attention to the signed and framed prints on display in the Chamber. The artwork had been created in collaboration with local young people and used to adorn a number of the bus shelters around the town. The Council was delighted to have received the copies of the original artwork and it was agreed that Officers be requested to investigate the permanent siting of these initial pieces around the Council Chamber.
d) Ron Passingham
The Mayor asked the Council to join him in congratulating ex-Mayor and ex-Councillor Ron Passingham on reaching the age of 90 at the beginning of September.
e) Mayor’s Announcements
The Mayor advised that since the previous meeting of the Council he had attended various functions, including: Redditch Ability Football Club presentation evening, a Monks Supper at Wychavon, the opening of the Massala Club restaurant at Headless Cross, the Graffiti art project at Batchley, the unveiling of the Youth Arts project skate ramps at Lowlands Lane skate park, a Scarecrow Day competition at Arrow Valley Countryside Centre, the welcome service for the Reverend Bob Thomas at the Ecumenical Centre, a visit to the County Air Ambulance Service at its Strensham base, the Council’s Best Garden Competition, the Masonic Open Day, the “Freedom” event at Forge Mill and a Civic Service at Tenbury
The Mayor thanked Councillor Banks for stepping in and taking on engagements he had been unable to attend.
f) Forthcoming events
The Mayor advised that forthcoming events included, the West Midlands Ambulance Service Awards Ceremony, the 150th Birthday of Redditch Railways, the “We are Redditch” cultural community event in the Town Centre, Civic Services at Bromsgrove DC and Upton upon Severn TC and the County Harvest Festival at Worcester Cathedral.
g) Urgent Business
The Mayor advised that he had accepted late papers for consideration in respect of:
Item 12 – CCTV Lifeline Shared Services Business Case – Procurement Process; and
Item 13 – Minutes of the meeting of the Shared Services Board on 8th September which had been circulated to Members at the end of the previous week and were now being tabled, together with a proposal for a Joint Appointments Committee, to be considered with the SSB recommendations.
h) Additional matters
During consideration of the Mayor’s announcements, he gave permission to a number of Members to make further announcements in relation to matters not listed on the agenda, namely:
i) Wolverhampton Swimming Gala
The Deputy Mayor recounted her experience at a recent swimming gala in Redditch attended by a number of local young people. The young swimmers, who trained at Hewell Road, showed great commitment and were reported to be a credit to the Borough.
ii) Congratulations and plaudits
The Council Leader congratulated the Council’s Landscape and Countryside staff on gaining Green Flags for the Arrow Valley Park and Morton Stanley Park.
The Council’s Contact Centre staff were also congratulated on winning the Contact Centre Technology Award at the Good Communication Awards 2009.
The Leader made special mention of Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator, Martin Kingscott, who had bravely come to the aid of a woman and her young daughter in Birmingham, tackling an assailant who was armed with a knife. She remarked that she was very proud of his actions.