To receive Mayor’s Announcements.

(a)      Tributes to Retiring Councillors

As this was the last meeting prior to the Council elections on 2nd May 2024, the Mayor invited the Group Leaders to pay tribute to Councillors who would not be standing for re-election.  Councillor Brock spoke about Councillors Kitchingham and Challenger; Councillors Brock, Mitchell and Moore paid homage to Councillor Page’s unparalleled fifty years of public service as a member of the Council; and Councillors Page, Mitchell and Moore expressed their appreciation of Councillor Brock, following his announcement that he would be standing down as both Leader and a member of the Council. 

(b)      Mayor’s Visit to Clonmel

The Mayor reported on his recent trip to Clonmel, which had included St Patrick’s Day, and passed on the greetings of its Mayor and Town Council to Reading’s elected members who would be welcome to visit Clonmel at any time.

(c)      Reading Half Marathon – 14 April 2024

The Mayor reported that he and his Mayoralty Team would be taking part in the Reading Half Marathon on Sunday 14 April 2024.  He promised there would be an invitation to sponsor the Mayor and his Team issued shortly. 

(d)      Suspension of Standing Order 7

The Mayor explained that a motion to suspend Standing Order 7 would be moved later in the meeting (see Minute 54 below).  The purpose of the suspension would be to disapply the requirement for a motion to be received by the Assistant Director of Legal & Democratic Services six clear working days in advance of the meeting, to enable an emergency motion to be considered at shorter notice entitled ‘Solidarity with Black Women Councillors’ (see Minute 55 below).  If the motion to suspend Standing Order 7 was passed, the Council would move to debate the ‘Solidarity with Black Women Councillors’ motion in accordance with the normal rules of debate set out in Standing Orders 14-22.