Minutes:
The Mayor began by thanking all the councillors, the Deputy Mayor, officers and the people of Enfield for making her first few weeks as the Mayor of Enfield such a rich and rewarding experience.
1. Engagements Since Inauguration
Since the Mayor’s inauguration she announced that she had taken part in 14 engagements and also launched her charity ‘Enfield Sounds Great’. The launch had been a spectacular event, showcasing some of the most outstanding young musical talent in Enfield, and a great networking occasion for all those who had attended.
2. Forthcoming Engagements
In the week coming up, along with other engagements, the Mayor announced that she would be attending a production of Carmen by the Southgate Opera, hosting a visit to the Mayor’s Parlour from pupils at Carterhatch School, attending Chicken Shed’s Theatre’s Graduation Production, a performance by the Baptist Chamber Orchestra, the ‘battle of the bands’ event, and the Edmonton Glee competition final at the Piccadilly Theatre in London. She concluded “who knew there was so much music going on in one week in Enfield”.
3. Queen’s 90th Birthday
The Mayor announced that she was also looking forward to the weekend of celebrations for the Queens 90th birthday. Numerous events would be taking place across the borough, culminating on Sunday 12 June 2016 with a picnic in Town Park where she would be judging a best dressed teddy bear competition.
The Mayor asked councillors to have a good meeting, one which befitted Enfield People.
4. Death of Former Councillor
The Mayor also announced that the former Edmonton councillor, Ron Daultry, had sadly passed away on the 21st May 2016, aged 87. Ron had been a councillor for Craig Park Ward between 1964 and 1968, and served during the creation of ‘The London Borough of Enfield’.
A minutes silence was held in his memory.
5. Comfort Break
The Mayor announced that she planned to keep with the introduction of a comfort break and would be announcing this at a suitable time in the proceedings at around 8.30pm.
6. Congratulations to Councillors Stewart and Pite
The Mayor congratulated the Councillors Pite and Stewart who had recently completed a through the night charity bike ride: cycling from Windsor race course to Buckingham Palace and back again, raising more than £3,000.
7. Enfield Night Hike
The Mayor had started the Enfield night hike, which this year was held on Friday 20th May 2016, and congratulated all those who took part.
8. Retirement of John Austin (Assistant Director Governance Projects)
The Mayor said that she was sad to announce that John Austin would be leaving the Council at the end of June, and that that night’s meeting was to be his last Council meeting.
She asked both the Leader of the Council and of the Opposition to say a few words.
Councillor Doug Taylor praised John Austin for his 36 years public service, as an officer at Enfield for the more than 20 years and for the diligence and humour with which he had performed his role. He said that he was held in high esteem by his peers and also on the national stage, for his role as Chair in the Association of Democratic Services Officers.
Many members had taken guidance from him on the processes and functions of council meetings. He had been the “go to” person for issues of propriety and rules of governance. His was a cornerstone function. On behalf of members on both sides he wished him well in his retirement.
Councillor Terry Neville said that it had been a pleasure to know John for the last 20 or more years and he echoed Councillor Taylor’s words. John’s hallmarks included his sense of humour, his attention to detail, his high degree of professionalism and his lack of bias. Every member would recall his induction sessions held after the local elections. He would be much missed.
John was a very good officer someone to go to with any queries. Councillor Neville concluded by wishing him the best, as well as a long, healthy and happy retirement.
John Austin responded by thanking Councillors Taylor and Neville, the Mayor and all the other members, for the respect and support they had shown him, in what was at times, a difficult role. He said that they may not have always agreed with him, but had, mostly, taken his advice in good spirit. He invited all to join him on the 30th of June at 4pm for a leaving drink.