To receive Mayor’s Announcements.

(a)      Black Lives Matter

At the invitation of the Mayor, Councillor James addressed the Council in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

(b)      Sir David Amess and Geoffrey Mander

The Mayor referred to Sir David Amess, the MP for Southend West, who had been tragically murdered in a horrendous crime at his constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex on 15 October 2021. 

The Mayor also asked the Council to remember the former Labour Councillor for Katesgrove 1973-83, Geoffrey Mander, who sadly passed away on 18 August 2021.

The Council stood in silence in their memory and as a mark of respect.

(c)      Appointments to Committees & Sub-Committees

The Mayor reported that the Monitoring Officer had exercised his delegation on the recommendation of the Conservative Group Leader to make the following changes to Committee appointments:

Councillor Mitchell replaced Councillor Stanford-Beale on the Policy Committee; and

Councillor Carnell replaced Councillor Stanford-Beale on the Traffic Management Sub-Committee.