To elect the Mayor for the Council Year 2020/21 and note the appointment of the Deputy Mayor.
Minutes:
The Mayor, Councillor Kabir, resumed the Chair and called on the Leader, Councillor Newman, to propose Councillor Henson as the new Mayor of Croydon.
The Leader proposed the motion and took the opportunity to emphasise Councillor Henson’s suitability for the role as Mayor. Particular mention was made of Councillor Henson’s extraordinary start to the Mayoral year, being the first ever virtual Mayor. Given Councillor Henson’s business and technology skills, it was noted that Members of Council could not have chosen better. It was hoped that the number of Covid-19 cases would continue to decrease allowing the new Mayor to fulfil her civic duties in and around the Borough. Councillor Henson was noted to have already demonstrated her ability to embrace traditional civic engagements during her time as Deputy Mayor.
The commitment to families and young people made by Councillor Henson was highlighted along with the campaigning zeal she had demonstrated as a ward Councillor. It was welcomed that Croydon would again enjoy a Mayor who would be standing up for residents during tough times. Such was the adverse situation being faced that leadership was needed to bring together private, public, voluntary and other bodies to support those who needed it most. Councillor Henson becoming Mayor at a young age was acknowledged along with the support that would be provided by Councillor Chowdhury as Deputy Mayor to build on the work done by Councillor Kabir.
The Mayor invited the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Tim Pollard, to second the motion. Councillor Tim Pollard expressed his congratulations to the Mayor elect. Whilst it was a shame that Mayor-making was not happening in the traditional way, it was noted that Councillor Henson had the distinction of being Croydon’s first virtual Mayor although it was hoped that it would be possible to cease holding meetings virtually before the end of the year. It was highlighted that Councillor Henson had experience of working on a cross-party basis and that this provided a good foundation for the role as Mayor.
The Mayor put the motion to the vote which was unanimously passed to elect Councillor Maddie Henson as the Mayor of the London Borough of Croydon for 2020/21.
The meeting paused briefly (from 19:03 to 19:08) to allow Madam Mayor to dress in her chains of office and the Deputy Mayor to put on his badge.
Madam Mayor read out the declaration of office:
I, Councillor Maddie Henson, having been elected to the Office of Mayor of the Council of the London Borough of Croydon, hereby declare that I take the said office upon myself, and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability. I undertake to observe the Code of Conduct which is expected of Members of the London Borough of Croydon.
Madam Mayor formally announced Councillor Chowdhury as her Deputy who also read out the declaration of office.
It was explained to the meeting that both declarations would be signed, witnessed by the Chief Executive, in a socially distanced way during the week of the meeting.
Mr Mark Henson was formally announced as Madam Mayor’s consort.
Madam Mayor explained that the past-Mayor’s badge and citation would be presented to Councillor Kabir and the past-consort’s badge to Mrs Rahena Chowdhury Kabir as soon as social distancing restrictions were sufficiently relaxed to allow this to happen.
In her acceptance address, Madam Mayor described the honour of being elected as the youngest woman to be made Mayor in her home town; she wished to give back to Croydon something of what it had given her. Madam Mayor explained how she had contracted Covid-19 and had been unwell at the start of lockdown. Having recovered well, this had provided her with the opportunity to reflect on her own mortality and as a result, she had decided to put together a time capsule. This included a letter to the future, a copy of which Madam Mayor read to the meeting. This described living through the pandemic and how it had brought appreciation of the support offered by family and the value of working together.
Madam Mayor announced that the theme for her Mayoral year would be early life including everything about pregnancy and becoming a parent through to the primary school years. This was her greatest passion and extremely relevant given the impact of Covid-19.
The charities and voluntary organisations that would directly benefit from Madam Mayor’s fundraising activity were also announced. These were St Christopher’s Hospice, Home Start Croydon and The Motor Neurone Association.
In her closing remarks, Madam Mayor, called for all to reflect on the experience of the pandemic, to work together to put the world back together and ensure that the future be better than the present.