Agenda item

To elect the Mayor for the Municipal Year 2019/20.

The retiring Mayor will present the Civic Awards and Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee Awards for 2019.

Nominations were invited for the election of the Mayor of the Borough of Welwyn Hatfield for the Municipal Year 2019/20. It was moved and seconded by Councillors J.Cragg and P.Smith that Councillor R.Trigg be elected. The retiring Mayor then asked if there were any other nominations. There being no other nominations, it was

RESOLVED:

That Councillor R.Trigg be elected Mayor of the Borough of Welwyn Hatfield for the Municipal Year 2018/19.

The Council, in partnership with Mears, hosted a Civic Awards Scheme. Awards were presented to people living in the Borough for extraordinary commitment, dedication, energy and effort in their field or towards achieving a particular goal.

The retiring Mayor presented the following awards for 2019:-

•      Tony Skottowe in recognition of the work he had undertaken for many years within the community and also with the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust.

•      Aimee McCormack in recognition of the work she had undertaken with the homeless and other people needing help in the community.

•      Sue Jenkins in recognition of the work she had undertaken setting up and for nearly fifty years, running the Riding for the Disabled Digswell Place Group.

The retiring Mayor invited D.Ellis, Mears to present their Community Award to David Treglohan in recognition of the work he had undertaken during his long commitment to the scouting movement.

The retiring Mayor invited G.Ward, Dean of Students, to present the University of Hertfordshire young person award to Kaitlyn Foster in recognition of her generosity to homeless people.

The retiring Mayor then presented the Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee Awards 2019.  The Awards were to support young people to get started, improve and excel in sport, art, dance or drama and could be used to cover expenses such as equipment, coaching, travel or fees essential to their progress-

The retiring Mayor reported that she had raised £6,500 for her charity during her year of office, Riding for the Disabled, Digswell Place Group. The Mayor presented a cheque to representatives of her charity.

The retiring Mayor presented her husband, Mr N.Fitzsimon with a gift as a token of the Council’s appreciation of his service as Consort.

The retiring Mayor thanked Councillor R.Trigg as her Deputy for his support during the year and presented him with a gift.

The retiring Mayor thanked S.Houghton, Mayor and Member Support Officer for her help during the year presenting her with a gift.

Councillor B.Fitzsimon then vacated the Chair which was taken by Councillor R.Trigg.

Councillor R.Trigg made the formal Declaration of Acceptance of Office as Mayor pursuant to Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972.

(Councillor R.Trigg in the Chair)

Councillor R.Trigg expressed appreciation of the honour bestowed upon him by the Council in electing him as Mayor.

On behalf of the Council, Councillor R.Trigg paid tribute to the retiring Mayor, Councillor B.Fitzsimon, for the excellent way that she had carried out her duties as the Borough’s Mayor during 2018/19.  He presented her with a retiring Mayor’s badge and album of her mayoral year as a token of the Council’s appreciation of her service.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor T.Kingsbury, expressed his thanks to Councillor B.Fitzsimon for her service as Mayor of the Borough and was joined by Councillors K.Thorpe, Labour Group Leader and M.Cowan, Liberal Democrat Group Leader.