Minutes:
The Mayor thanked Major Gaudion for his blessing and made the following announcements.
1. Condolences
Condolences were expressed to the families of former councillors Pat Dawson (who had served from 1982 to 1998 for Oakwood Ward) and Alex Mattingly (also freeman of the borough who had served from 1982-2006 for Craig Park and Edmonton Green Wards) and to the people of Brussels, on account of the terrible events that had taken place on the previous day.
All present joined in a minutes silence in remembrance.
Former Councillors Pat Dawson, and Alex Mattingly, also freeman of the borough, Councillor Doug Taylor and Councillor Terry Neville added their condolences to the victims in Brussels and in memory of Pat Dawson and Alex Mattingly.
Councillor Taylor paid tribute to Alex Mattingly as a hardworking and conscientious member of the Council, a character of whom members on both sides would have good memories. He would be much missed.
Councillor Neville praised Pat Dawson as very dedicated ward member with a good sense of humour who had twice acted as consort to the Mayor. She had been a community stalwart who after stepping down had also played a key role in Enfield in Bloom. He praised Alex Mattingly as a real man of courage and principle, who had suffered much from ill health, but had never let his disability get in the way: a decent man, a very nice chap. He felt that the borough had lost two good people.
Andy Love, former MP for Edmonton, also paid tribute to Alex Mattingly, for his long service to the borough as a Labour member and trade unionist.
Councillor Orhan gave the Council’s condolences to the people of Ankara and Istanbul who had lost friends and relatives in recent terrorist attacks, saying that members shared their sadness and loss.
2. Update on Mayoral Engagements
The Mayor reported that this was her last business meeting as Chair of the Council. She had enjoyed her time as mayor and the opportunities she had had to meet so many people from so many different communities and denominations. She had attended over 400 engagements: particular highlights were meeting Her Royal Highness the Queen, the Enfield Parade of Light and the Lord Mayor of London events.
3. Thanks
The Mayor thanked everyone who had helped and supported her and her charity in aid of dementia during her year as Mayor: everyone in Democratic Services, all council staff, all the directors and senior officials. She thanked John Austin, Asmat Hussain, James Kinsella, Penelope Williams and Rob Leak, wished James Kinsella luck in his new role, and welcomed Kathy Constantinou to hers.
The Mayor also thanked Alison Brookes, Mayoral Services Manager, for bearing and coping with her heavy demands, as well as Lisa McEwan, Koulla Panaretou and Clare Bryant for being so nice and supportive, for helping to arrange fundraising events, including the very successful dementia awareness seminar attended by many partners, healthcare agencies and carers.
The Mayor thanked her chauffeurs who had been on hand to drive her to engagements morning and afternoon, seven days a week including Martin Worrall who had also always been on hand to help when needed. She offered special thanks to Norman Bremner who was due to retire at the end of the month, saying his kindness would never be forgotten and that he would be much missed. She wished him the best of luck for the future.
The Mayor gave thanks to Councillor Bernadette Lappage as Deputy Mayor for her friendly and sisterly support, the staff choir for singing in support of her charity and to the members of her Mayoral Committee for their kind support and generosity.
The Mayor also thanked her own loving family, who had coped without her when they needed her, for their support and generosity throughout the year.
4. Presentation to Norman Bremner
The Mayor presented Norman Bremner with a gift on behalf of the Council.
5. Thanks to the Mayor
Councillor Taylor thanked the Mayor and praised her achievements on behalf of all members and the residents of the borough. Highlights included the attendance at 18 Citizenship ceremonies, the Arctic Convoy Commemoration and the Magna Carta re-enactment.
Councillor Neville echoed Councillor Taylor’s comments and thanked the Mayor for her efforts, saying four hundred engagements was a significant achievement. He appreciated her support for dementia, a serious problem not fully recognised, her efforts controlling the Council meetings in a courteous and charitable way and wished her well for the future.