To receive Announcements, if any, from the Mayor, the Leader, Head of Paid Service and Returning Officer.
Minutes:
Madam Mayor, Councillor Bernadette Khan, lead the Members of Council in observing a minute’s silence to demonstrate solidarity with those affected by the terror attacks that had occurred in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Madam Mayor informed Members that since the last Council meeting she had held two fundraising events and had hosted the Chinese community in the Town Hall. She was looking forward to hosting the Turkish and Kurdish communities to celebrate the Festival of Spring and would be visiting China with three Croydon head teachers to explore potential for collaboration. Madam Mayor noted her plan to finish her visits to all departments in the Council.
Madam Mayor notified the Council that Pratima Solanki had left her post as Director of Adult Social Care and All-Age Disability. Councillor Louisa Woodley, the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, addressed Members on the contribution made by Pratima. Councillor Woodley noted that it had been a privilege to work with an officer whose determination to turnaround the lives of vulnerable residents was so strong. It was specifically noted that the approach taken by Pratima had been to ensure that everyone needing care was to have a life plan as opposed to a care plan, that the former director had brought the equipment service back in-house and had been instrumental in setting up the One Croydon Alliance. Councillor Woodley placed on the record her debt of gratitude toPratima. Madam Mayor and Councillor Hopley, on behalf of the Minority Group, took the opportunity to make their own tributes and thank the former director.
Madam Mayor invited the Leader of the Council, Councillor Tony Newman, to make his announcements. The Leader noted that whilst the Parliamentary debates on leaving the EU were continuing, preparations were being made for the outcome of Brexit whatever the terms of the final deal. It was noted that officers were working with others in Councils across London and were described as standing poised whilst looking to National Government for support especially in the event of a no deal scenario. The Leader stated that the Council was doing everything possible to support the residents of Croydon including advice sessions on rights for EU citizens.
Madam Mayor invited the Returning Officer to make her announcements. It was recorded that, following the sad passing of Councillor Maggie Mansell earlier in the year, Councillor Leila Ben-Hasell had been elected as the representative for Norbury and Pollards Hill at the by-election held on 14 March 2019 which had a turnout of 25.6%. The Returning Officer also advised Council that preparations were being made for holding European Parliamentary elections on 23 May 2019.
Given the high level of public interest in the meeting, a cross party proposal was received to vary the order of business to take first those items of greatest public interest. The proposal was put to the vote and passed.
(Note: for the purposes of the minutes, the business of the meeting is reported in the order as set out in the original published agenda and not as taken at the meeting. The time specified in the Constitution for the meeting to conclude was reached and a Guillotine Procedure was used to close the meeting.)