The Chairman will mention a range of recent items of news which may be of interest to Members
Minutes:
Staffordshire residents recognised in Her Majesty The Queen’s New Year’s Honours
Members extended their congratulations to Dr Richard Harling, the Council’s Director for Health and Care, in being awarded an MBE for services to public health and adult social care in Her Majesty The Queen’s New Year’s Honours.
The Council also extended congratulations to the following Staffordshire residents who had also been awarded an honour:
· Mrs Sarah Ann Beaumont, OBE, lately CEO Initiative for Social Entrepreneurs CIC, for services to social enterprise.
· Mr Lee Pardy-McLaughlin, OBE, child and family principal social worker at Coventry City Council and former Staffordshire County Council employee and Staffordshire University lecturer, for services to children and families.
· Mr Brian Roberts, OBE, finance commissioner at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for services to local government and public sector finance.
· Maj (Rtd) Robert John Cross, MBE, chairman, North Midlands Branch Gurkha Welfare Trust, for services to Gurkha veterans.
· Mr Ronald Flowers, MBE, former Wolves and England footballer, for services to football.
· Mr Joseph Garcia, MBE, director of operations South East Coast Ambulance Trust, for services to emergency response, particularly during the pandemic.
· Mr Paul Jonathan Morris, MBE, founder and CEO, Addmaster UK Limited, for services to exports.
· Mr Darren Teale, MBE, Founder Junction 15, for services to media and vulnerable communities in the UK and abroad.
· Ms Susan Tipton, MBE, managing director Protocol Consultancy, for services to apprenticeships and charity in the West Midlands.
· Dr Nigel John Tringham, MBE, lately editor Victorian County History of Staffordshire, for services to local history, especially in Staffordshire.
· Mr Michael John Deakin, BEM, chairman Kibblestone District Scout Council, for services to voluntary services to Scouting and to charity in Staffordshire.
· Mrs Patricia Diane Geraghty, BEM, pharmacist dispensing technician, for services to pharmacy services in Leek during the pandemic.
· Mrs Maureen Elizabeth Recine, BEM, former Girl Guiding county commissioner, for services to Girl Guiding and charity.
· Mrs Gladys Mary Turnbull, BEM, Wolverhampton Netball and founder of Whitmore Netball Club, for services to sport and the community.
Covid-19 Pandemic
The Chairman paid tribute to those who continued to care for and provide support to everyone within communities in Staffordshire during the on-going Covid-19 pandemic.
She also indicated that it was more important than ever that people followed the Government’s guidance by only leaving home for a small number of essential reasons which included essential shopping and to go to work if they could not work from home.
The Dignity in Care Awards
The Chairman informed the Council that nominations for the 2021 Dignity in Care awards opened on 1 February 2021. The awards honoured the unsung heroes in Staffordshire communities who cared for the most vulnerable. The Chairman also extended her thanks to all the County’s carers for the invaluable work they did and continued to provide each and every day.
Former County Councillor Vera Ivers MBE
The Council were informed of the death, on 15 January 2021, of former County Councillor Vera Ivers MBE. Cllr Ivers served on the County Council between 1985 and 1997 and represented the Leek South (Staffordshire Moorlands) County Electoral Division.
Cllr Charlotte Atkins paid tribute to Cllr Ivers following which Members stood and observed a one minute silence to her memory.