Agenda item

Agenda item

Official Announcements

Minutes:

Chairman’s Events

 

The Chairman informed Council that the previous day he had participated in two national events.  He had raised the Commonwealth flag to mark Commonwealth Day.  Later he had lit a fourth candle which would be placed in the trophy cabinet as a commemoration of the end of the First World War.

 

Chairman’s Charity Quiz

 

The Chairman reminded members that his charity quiz was taking place the following evening.  It was a sell-out event and he looked forward to seeing those who were taking part in the teams.

 

Mayor Dorothy Thornhill

 

The Chairman stated that this would be the Mayor’s last Council meeting.  He invited Councillors Peter Taylor and Nigel Bell to say a few words.

 

Councillor Taylor noted that the Mayor had first been elected to the council in 1992 as a councillor.  He had been informed that during her first year on the council she did not make any speeches in the Council Chamber.  She was then elected in 2002 to be the town’s first elected Mayor.  Also she was the first female elected Mayor in the country.  Today there were still only four female elected Mayors across the country. 

 

Councillor Taylor commented that the Mayor had experienced 97 Council meetings since being elected as Mayor.  At the first meeting there had been a motion submitted by Councillors Tim Williams and Robert Gordon about the need to improve the council’s finances.  During her time as Mayor the council had seen dramatic improvements in the council’s finances.  The Mayor had overseen improvements in the town’s parks, the leisure centres, community events and there was an excellent well-run council.  This was largely due to her fantastic leadership.  She managed to combine both strategic leadership and years of service with friendship and warmth.  Many residents referred to her as a friend due to her warmth.  There were very few people who were able to combine years of service, ability to provide strategic leadership but also warmth and a human touch.  On behalf of Liberal Democrat councillors, both past and present, He thanked the Mayor for everything she had done for the town, her years of service, her inspirational leadership and her friendship.  He added that whoever was the next Mayor would have a tough act to follow.

 

Councillor Bell said that after many occasions opposite each other in the Council Chamber and disagreeing many times, he recognised that all members were elected to do their best for Watford residents.  The Mayor in her way, with her mandate, had done that.  She had left her mark on the town whether or not everyone agreed with her policies.  It was quite an achievement to have been an elected member for 26 years continuously.  There had been 10 years as a backbench councillor and then 16 as the directly elected executive Mayor.  She had carried out the work that encompassed personal and family adjustments, along with the political responsibility of her role.  There had been many long-standing councillors over the years.  He said that it was right to personally wish her well and recognise her service to the town. 

 

The Mayor was presented with bouquets of flowers.

 

The Mayor thanked the councillors for their warm and kind words.

 

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