The Chairman will mention a range of recent items of news which may be of interest to Members
Minutes:
Honorary Alderman Edward Boden
The Chairman informed the Council of the recent death of Former County Councillor Eddie Boden.
Mr Boden represented both the former Cross Heath and Audley and Chesterton (Newcastle-under-Lyme) Electoral Divisions on the County Council from 1993 to 2009.
He served on a number of the Council’s Committees including the Regulatory Committee, Planning Committee, Standards Committee, Corporate Policy and Audit Scrutiny Committee and the Partnerships Scrutiny and Performance Panel.
Mr Boden served as Chairman of the County Council between May 2003 and May 2005 and was appointed as an Honorary Alderman upon his retirement from the Council in 2009.
Councillor Tagg paid tribute to the contribution made by Mr Boden during his service as a Member of the County Council and also whilst serving on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.
Former County Councillor John Russell
The Chairman also informed the Council of the death, on 5 August 2023, of former County Councillor John Alan Russell. Mr Russell represented the Stone Rural (Stafford) County Electoral Division from 1994 to 1997. He served on a number of the Council’s Committees including the Education Committee, Youth and Community Sub-Committee, Enterprise and Economic Development Committee, Planning Committee, Development Services Group Committee and the Policy and Resources Group Committee.
Councillor Parry paid tribute to the contribution made by Mr Russell during his service as a Member of the County Counciland also whilst serving on Stafford Borough Council and Barlaston Parish Council.
Members stood and observed a one-minute silence in memory of Mr Boden and Mr Russell.
Members’ Long Service Awards – Mike Worthington
The Chairman informed Members that, since 1985, the County Council had recognised the service of its Members who had completed 12 years (i.e. three full terms of office) through the presentation of a Long Service Award.
Mr Worthington first became a Member of the County Council in 2011 and had served on the Council since that date.
The Chairman invited Councillor Mike Worthington to come forward and receive his Long Service Award.
My first six months as Chairman
The Chairman informed the Council about his first six months as Chairman. He indicated that, in addition to the plethora of events he had been invited to by external organisations, from a Speech Day at Lichfield Cathedral School to the Armed Forces Parade in Newcastle under Lyme, his focus had very much been on recognising the valuable work of the County’s many volunteers. Over the past few months, he had taken the opportunity to visit a number of the County’s Libraries and had met with many of the voluntary groups which usedthe libraries as their base.
He added that plans were also well advanced to introduce “Unsung Heroes” afternoon teas in County Buildings to recognise the work of volunteers across the County. For the first afternoon tea, the Chairman had asked Members representing communities in Cannock and Lichfield to come forward with their nominations.
(Further information on the diary of Civic Events was available on the Council’s website – https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Your-council-and-democracy/Civic-and-Ceremonial/The-Chairman-of-the-county-council/Diary-of-events-2023.aspx.)