Agenda item - Mayor's Announcements in Connection with the Ordinary Business of the Council

Agenda item

Mayor's Announcements in Connection with the Ordinary Business of the Council

Minutes:

The Mayor began by saying that it was unbelievable that she was speaking to everyone at Council for the last time as Mayor.  She said that the year had passed very quickly and she had been extremely busy.  She also asked members to take some time to look at all the photos displayed which represented the many engagements that she had carried out in the wonderful community of Enfield. 

 

1.               Thank-yous

 

The Mayor thanked the officers who had worked so hard throughout the year and the directors for their support.  She added that there was no “i” in team and that strength had been in how hard everyone had worked together.

 

The Mayor thanked her two consorts Andrew and Edward Lappage, who had contributed so enormously to her Mayoral Year, as well as the deputy mayor, her consort, her children and grandchildren and the people of Enfield for their invitations.  She also added thanks to Councillors Alev and Nesil Cazimoglu, the Leader, Councillor Taylor and Councillor Neville for their support. 

 

2.               Past Engagements

 

February and March were months full of events including: 

 

·       The launch of the Sing to your Baby Project at Wilbury School working with the Chicken Shed Theatre.  She gave a special mention to Councillor Orhan who had also attended.

·       Women’s World Day of Prayer at the Salvation Army in Edmonton.

·       Joining Soroptimists at a Coffee Morning for International Women’s Day in the Parish Centre at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George.

·       Celebrating women in the arts as part of an International Women’s Day activity at the Millfield Theatre.

·       Early morning breakfast meeting with the Enfield Chase Rotary Club.

·       Bella Cora and Enfield Community Singers concert in Muswell Hill – celebrating and raising money for St Patrick’s Day.  

·       Taking part in the Central London Parade following the Enfield Float.

·       Construct with Us Event at the Nightingale Academy when she and Councillor Alev Cazimoglu had taken a ride up in a cherry picker, learning about the amazing opportunities in the construction industry available to Enfield young people.

·       Have a Cuppa Tea Party at the Ruth Winston House, raising awareness about dementia.

·       Joining the walkers in Jubilee, Broomfield and Town Parks.

·       Hosting a networking event with Enfield Racial Equality Council in the Mayor’s Parlour looking at the diversity in music in Enfield.

 

3.               The Mayor’s Ball

 

The pinnacle event of the year was the Mayor’s Ball, supported by many members, large numbers of whom had given money to her charity.  Donations from anyone who had not yet donated would be still welcomed.   She thanked all who made the evening so enjoyable, particularly her family, many of whom had also attended the event.

 

4.               Thanks to Sponsors

 

The Mayor thanked her sponsors throughout the year: Faiveley Transport, London Waste, the Synagogue Ladies Guild, the Rotary Clubs across Enfield, Enfield in Bloom, the Lions Club of Enfield, Lefkara Association, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, Arsenal Football Club, the Holy Family Convent, Barnfields, Lidl, Little by Little Consultants, the Cricketers, Thorntons, Opera Holland Park, the Royal Chase Hotel, and many more. 

 

5.               Enfield Sounds Great – the Mayor’s Charity

 

The Mayor also thanked all the many choirs, orchestras, banks and individual performers that had raised money for her charity “Enfield Sounds Great”. 

 

She appreciated the fact that the music community of Enfield had stepped up to the challenge of raising money for both the most deprived children of the borough to enable them to have access to music and for some of the most vulnerable, suffering with dementia, to enable to them to have music therapy sessions. 

 

The Mayor felt that the charity had motivated the community of Enfield and had proved that Enfield was one community.  Although there had been no tool kit or national organisation to support the charity, she felt that it had excelled every expectation.  

 

6.               Future Engagements

 

·         End  of Year Celebration - This will be a musical jam called Enfield Sounds Great including the song “Thank you for the Music”.

·         Gala Bingo Event

 

7.               Thanks to Rob Leak, retiring Chief Executive

 

The Mayor thanked Rob Leak for his wonderful support, for his sanguine advice and kindness.  She said that he would be much missed, wished him the best of luck in his retirement and gave him an Enid Blyton book “Five go on a Strategy Away Day” to remind him of Enfield Council. 

 

Rob Leak was given a round of applause. 

 

8.               Conclusion

 

The Mayor concluded by saying that she hoped that “as your Mayor I have brought to Enfield not only a sense of a strong community but of one community, one Enfield”.  She wanted other boroughs to say “Enfield sounds great” and that everyone should continue to celebrate the good news that was Enfield.  She said that Enfield had had “the best of her and she had had the best of Enfield”.  She thanked everyone again for all their support. 

 

Councillor Taylor Leader of the Council thanked the Mayor for her mayoral year and chairing the Council meetings with fairness and clarity.  He thanked the Mayor for promoting music in the borough which would be a lasting legacy, and wished her well in the coming year.

 

Councillor Neville, Opposition Leader, joined in the thanks for the chairing of the meetings.  Councillor Neville commended the Mayor on bringing music to the fore and promoting this across the borough with schools.

 

The Mayor then thanked officers Asmat Hussain, Jayne Middleton-Albooye, Claire Johnson, James Kinsella, Koulla Panaretou and Penelope Williams for their help and support behind the scenes.