Agenda item

(a)       Mayor

The Mayor’s communications and announcements were as follows:

i)          Mayoral Functions

The Mayor advised that since the last meeting of the Council she and the Deputy Mayor had attended a number of engagements, including an iaugural banquet at Worcester Guildhall, a graduation event at Redditch Library, the Scarecrow Weekend at Forge Mill Museum, the send-off for the Borough’s Special Olympians, the Palace Theatre Centenary celebrations, the Mayor of Pershore’s charity event and a local Alzheimer’s Society event.

ii)         Forthcoming events

The Mayor advised that forthcoming events included an event hosted by the Kerala Society, a meeting of the Worcestershire Ambassadors and, finally her own Civic Service on 22^nd September.

The Mayor thanked her Deputy for standing in for her on those occasions when she was unable to attend an event.

(b)       Leader

The Leader’s announcements were as follows:

i)          Mrs Veronica Allen

The Leader introduced former community leader and community worker, Mrs Veronica Allen, who was visiting Redditch from her home in Jamaica. Mrs Allen presented a gift to the Mayor from the Jamaican Tourist Board  to celebrate 50 years of Jamaican independence and expressed her hope that the twinning links between Redditch and St Elizabeth in Jamaica might prosper.

ii)         Mrs Tanweer Dean

The Leader led the Council in recognising the outstanding contribution to the community made by Mrs Tanweer Dean through her excellent and dedicated service at the Sandycroft Centre and Mrs Dean was presented with a certificate by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Leader.

iii)        Mercian Regiment

Following the question at the previous meeting of the Council in respect of the Mercian Regiment, the Leader advised that he had subsequently been in contact with the Adjutant of the 37^th Signal Regiment, based at Kohima House, Redditch, and extended an invitation to all Members to attend and observe a military training event in mid-October.

iv         Palace Theatre

The Leader advised that he, along with a number of other members of the Council, had attended the celebrations of the centenary of the Palace Theatre the previous weekend and reported that he had subsequently thanked and congratulated the staff at the Palace for their work and dedication.

v)         Local Enterprise Partnership

The Leader reported that a meeting had taken place the previous week at which the Leaders of the three north Worcestershire authorities had met with Mr Andy Street from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.

vi)        Good Funeral Awards

The Leader led the Council in congratulating two employees of the Council, Amanda Ryan and Martin McEvilly, who had reached the finals of the Good Funeral Awards and had been awarded second place in the category of Crematorium Attendants of the Year.

vii)       Special Olympics

The Leader reported on the tremendous success of Redditch athletes at the recent Special Olympics at Bath. The Council was advised that the successful athletes would be invited to attend the following meeting of the Council in order that they might be congratulated in person.

viii)      Alexandra Hospital

The Leader advised that, given the lack of response to a previous letter from the MP and Leaders of Redditch Borough, Bromsgrove District and Stratford upon Avon District Councils, a follow up letter had been forwarded to the Secretary of State seeking a reply.

ix)        Bandstand Festival

The Leader reflected on a successful summer of musical events at the Bandstand on Church Green and advised that the final show would be taking place that coming weekend.

x)         MacMillan Coffee Morning

The Leader advised the Council that the MacMillan Cancer Support World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event would be taking place at the Town Hall on Friday 27^th September 2013.