Minutes:
The Mayor thanked Rabbi Daniel Epstein for his blessing.
She then informed members about the sad deaths of former Councillor, Mayor and Freeman of the Borough, Bill Price and of Lord Parkinson who served as MP for Enfield West from 1970-1974. She asked members to join with her in sending condolences to their families.
A minutes silence was held in their memories.
Councillor Neville said a few words in memory of Bill Price and Lord Parkinson. Councillor Taylor added his memories of Bill Price.
The Mayor then made the following announcements:
1. Update on Mayoral Engagements
The Mayor advised that she had attended many different engagements since the last Council meeting including:
· The London New Year’s Day Parade – Enfield’s entry this year finished in eighth position.
· The Lord and Lady Mayoress’s Children’s Fancy Dress Party attended with two young Enfield residents.
· The London Government Dinner.
· Welcoming representatives from the Youth Parliament to the Mayor’s Parlour.
· Being part of the audience for the opening of the new St Anne’s Catholic High School’s Sixth Form Centre.
· The Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration at the Dugdale Centre, on 27 January 2016.
2. London Healthy Workplace Charter Award
The Mayor was pleased to announce, following the presentation of evidence at the London Healthy Workplace Charter Accreditation Day, that Enfield had been awarded the top level “excellence” award - the first London borough to be accredited at this level.
The workplace charter provided a framework and process for accreditation in workplace health and wellbeing. The Charter had been developed by the Greater London Authority from the national workplace wellbeing charter. Accreditation was open to London based organisations in the public, private and charity sectors.
The charter standard placed an emphasis on health and safety, occupational health, human resources, wellbeing policies and practices, along with health initiatives such as healthy eating and sport.
The Mayor congratulated all involved and invited John Griffiths (Head of Occupational Health and Safety), Julie Mimnagh (Head of Human Resources – Operations) and Geoff Norburn (Senior Administrator Health, Housing and Adult Social Care) to come forward and formally receive the award.
3. Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) Awards
The Mayor announced that the following officers had received Lawyers in Local Government awards. Keiley Broadhead, legal officer, had been named Junior Lawyer of the Year. Duncan Creevy had been a runner up in the Fellow of Chartered Legal Executives Category and Enfield’s Legal Team had been runners up in the Legal Team of the Year category. She congratulated all involved for doing so well.
Keiley Broadhead was formally presented with her award.
4. Display of Enfield Vestry Minute Books
The Mayor drew members attention to the display of Enfield Vestry Minute Books from St Andrew’s Church, dated 1671 to 1744, set out on the table by the entrance to the Council Chamber.
The display had been provided by Enfield’s Library and Museum’s Service. At the time St Andrew’s was the administrative and religious centre for Enfield. These could therefore be said to be the earliest form of Enfield Council minutes.
The Mayor thanked the Library and Museum Service for putting on the display and hoped that as many members as possible would take the opportunity look at a very interesting piece of local history.
5. Mayor’s Charity Ball – 12 March 2016
The Mayor reminded members that tickets were now available for her charity ball on 12 March 2016 at Forty Hall, in support of Dementia Care. Tickets could be bought from Alison Brookes in the Mayor’s Office. She hoped that everyone would attend.