Minutes:
The Mayor began her announcements by thanking the Reverend Stuart Owen for his blessing, the officers in the Mayoral Office, the Deputy Mayor, the Mayor’s consort, the Deputy Mayor’s consort for their support over the past month, and the people of Enfield for their invitations.
1. Engagements over the past month
The Mayor announced that, in the past month, she had attended the following events and engagements:
· An event at Forty Hall, held to thank all the park volunteers for their commitment to the many parks and green spaces in the borough.
· The Capel Manor Garden Party and Open Day, for local residents, which she had hosted. This had also been attended by the Deputy Lieutenant and Mayors from several neighbouring boroughs. The event had been greatly appreciated by many.
· Capel Manor Awards Ceremony – watching young people who had been given life chances helping to fulfil their potential.
· Ponders End Community Event along with other local councillors.
· Events to celebrate the Queen’s Birthday Weekend
· A visit to the Mayor’s Parlour and Council Chamber from some children at Carterhatch School, which she had hosted.
· Judging the Glee Final at the Piccadilly Theatre – 18 Edmonton schools had taken part in the competition. The Mayor’s award went to the pupils at West Lea School whose performance moved everyone.
· Armed Forces Day Commemorations, including taking tea with the participants at the British Legion.
· An afternoon garden party for elderly residents at Ingleborough Sheltered Housing, raising £750 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
· The opening of the Oncu Supermarket in Freezywater
· Barnet Arts Festival supporting the Enfield Harmony Singers, the Council’s staff choir.
· The youth games at Crystal Palace: the female swimming team had come third and the boys’ team sixth, in London. She congratulated all participants and reported that she was arranging a tea for them in the Mayor’s Parlour.
· The Youth Launch of Enfield Sounds Great, attended by many of the borough’s schools. The Mayor reported that she was now working on a music charter for young people and had been amazed at the enthusiasm and the quality of the performances of the young people involved.
· Other Music Events – Over the last month, the Mayor had also attended as many concerts as possible, including the Battle of the Bands, the Blues and Beer Event at Forty Hall, singing with the choir above the King’s Head in the market square. She commented on how a famous composer had visited Enfield in the past month.
2. Future events
The Mayor announced the following future events:
· A Musical Instrument Amnesty to take place on Saturday 23 July 2016 starting at 11am between Pearson’s and Marks and Spencer in Palace Gardens. People were being asked to bring along instruments they no longer needed so that they could be put to good use. Susie Dawson from Standard Life was thanked for her support of this project. Anyone who came along would be given an Enfield Sounds Great Badge – much sought after.
· An International Busking Day was also being held on that day.
· The Open Air Cinema Screening of Mamma Mia on 10 August 2016 for which tickets were available at the Dugdale Box Office.
· Enfield Racial Equality Council AGM, Thursday 14 July 2016 at 7pm at the Civic Centre.
· Music on the Lawn at Forty Hall on Sunday 17 July 2016 at 1pm with lots of music and activities for families.
3. Awards
The Mayor announced that the following Council teams had recently received awards:
3.1 Sustainability Service
Enfield Council’s Sustainability Service had won Team of the Year at the prestigious Local Government Chronicle Awards at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in March 2016. Competing against 98 other UK local authorities, Enfield’s team had beaten off stiff competition to be named as the team of the year.
The team stepped forward. The Mayor congratulated them and presented them with their award.
3.2 CCTV Team
The CCTV team had received 9 awards from the Metropolitan Police as part of the Metropolitan Police Annual CCTV Awards Ceremony, hosted at New Scotland Yard. The awards had recognised the teams’ efforts on a number of notable incidents across Enfield.
The team came forward so that the Mayor could congratulate them present them with their awards.
4. Retirement of Les Bowman, Enfield London Fire Brigade Borough Commander
The Mayor announced that Les Bowman, the Enfield Borough Commander of the London Fire Brigade, had recently retired having spent many years working for the people of Enfield. The Mayor said that last week she had had the privilege of visiting Southgate Fire Station and had been impressed at the professionalism of the personnel and the sacrifice made by those individuals to the service of others.
She invited Les Bowman to come forward, so that she could thank him, in person, on behalf of the people of Enfield, and she then presented him with a small gift.
5. Commemoration of the Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme
The Mayor reminded members that, on 1 July 2016, it had been the anniversary of the date of the Battle of the Somme, and asked that there should be a pause with a minute’s silence to remember the sacrifices of all those who fought and lost their lives in that conflict.
6. Death of Jo Cox, Labour MP for Batley and Spen
The Mayor said that she had been shocked and saddened by the tragic death and circumstances of the death of Jo Cox. She also drew members’ attention to the fact that a photograph, marking refugee week, donated to the parlour, by Councillor Brett had been dedicated to honour the memory of Jo Cox.
The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor stood and a minute’s silence was held in honour of both those who had died at the Battle of the Somme and Jo Cox.
7. Changes to the Council Procedure Rules
The Mayor announced that the meeting was to be the first since changes to the Council procedure rules had been agreed. A copy of the new rules had been provided for all members at the meeting, she, herself had sent out an email including details of the changes and three briefing sessions for all members had been held. She asked everyone to be aware that there might be some teething problems as everyone adjusted to the new rules.
8. Comfort Break
The Mayor announced that she planned to continue to have, as had been introduced at recent meetings, a comfort break at a suitable time (likely to be at 8.30pm) during the proceedings: She suggested members used the time to view the new photographs of scenes, from each of the borough’s 21 wards, displayed on the walls of the Council Chamber .