Council is asked to elect a Civic Mayor for the 2022/2023 Municipal Year.
Minutes:
On the proposition by Executive Mayor Jason Perry, seconded by Councillor Stuart King, it was unanimously RESOLVED that Councillor Alisa Flemming be elected as Civic Mayor of the London Borough of Croydon for the Municipal Year 2022-2023.
Madam Civic Mayor Flemming then read aloud, and signed, the declaration of acceptance of office.
Madam Civic Mayor Flemming offered a vote of thanks to Honorary Alderman John Wentworth, whom she had nominated to be her main Civic Mayor’s Consort for the Municipal Year 2022-2023, and that he would be supported by two of her consorts who were in attendance (her uncle, Norman Flemming and her brother, Owen Flemming).
Madam Civic Mayor Flemming then said that it had given her great pleasure to present a badge and citation to the previous Civic Mayor, Councillor Sherwan Chowdhury and to his Mayoress, Rahima Chowdhury, the past consort’s badge.
Madam Civic Mayor Flemming said she was also delighted to award the sealed citations to former Civic Mayor, Councillors Humayan Kabir and former Madam Civic Mayor, Councillor Maddie Henson. She went on to thank both for their service during what had been a very difficult time in terms of Covid-19 and the way in which they had been able to carry out their duties.
Madam Civic Mayor then offered a vote of thanks again, to her consort, John Wentworth, in advance of what she thought would be an eventful and blessed year and she was looking forward to spending more time with him as they visited residents across the Borough.
Madam Civic Mayor then offered a vote of thanks to the Deputy Civic Mayor elect, Councillor Sue Bennett, and recognised her contributions to the Council’s scrutiny function and, in particular to those services which targeted children and young people.
Madam Civic Mayor then said thank you to the following:
· Former Councillor Pat Ryan who had worked tirelessly with her after the election in 2006 to ensure that she was elected, and she said she was for ever grateful to him for his years of support and advice.
· Former ward colleague, Councillor Sherwan Chowdhury, for the support he had given to many in the Borough during his year in office.
· Colleagues from both sides of the Council Chamber for their years of support and their collective commitment to public service.
· Her children
· Her children and siblings who were present at the meeting.
· Her current mentor, Lord Woolley, and Baroness Willcox of Newport.
Madam Civic Mayor Flemming announced the following organisations as her nominated Civic Mayor Charities for the Municipal Year 2022-2023:
1. The African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT); and
2. The Sickle Cell Trust.
In respect of a further two charities to be supported, Madam Civic Mayor Flemming said that one would be to support children and young people and that a message would be sent out to the Borough’s children and young people to ask them to come forward to decide who they would like the Civic Mayor to choose to support, which she said, fitted well within the spirit of her “choose your future” slogan and campaigns. She said that she was looking forward to hearing from them and reporting back to the Chamber on the outcome of the responses received.