Agenda item

Covid-19 Pandemic

The Chairman made the following statement:

“As we move from the second national lockdown into the Very High Alert Level under the Government’s new tier system for England, may I take this opportunity to pay tribute to those frontline and key workers who continue to care for and provide support to everyone within our communities. I’d like to extend an unreserved thank to each and every one of you for your continued commitment, selflessness and hard work.

We all have a responsibility to help to keep people safe, keep Staffordshire open and do everything we can to prevent further restrictions and disruption to businesses, schools and our way of life.  This means that we should all abide by the Government’s guidance, means wash our hands, covering our face in shops or on transport, and keep social distancing.

Christmas this year will be very different for many of us, but I would like to wish my fellow Members, Council staff and their families all a Merry Christmas and a healthy and safe new year in 2021”.

Staffordshire residents recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours

The Council extended their congratulations to the following Staffordshire people who had been honoured by Her Majesty the Queen in her Birthday Honours 2020:

·       Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for Ms Suzanne Banks, of Stone, lately Chief Nurse at Sherwood Forest NHS Foundation Trust, for services to nursing in the NHS;

·       Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for Mr Richard Gill, of Lichfield, CEO of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership, for services to Education;

·       Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for Mrs Carol Shanahan, of Stone, Founder and Trustee of the Hubb Foundation, for services to the community in Stoke-on-Trent, including during the Covid-19 response;

·       Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for Ms Elizabeth McWhirter, of Croxton, Officer in the British Transport Police, for services to policing and public safety, particularly during Covid-19;

·       Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Mrs Dorothy Bailey, of Stoke-on-Trent, for services to the Scouting movement and the community in Staffordshire;

·       Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Mrs Jennifer Ann Dunn, of Cannock, for services to the community in Cannock;

·       Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Mrs Molly Henriques-Dillon, of Penkridge, Quality Nurse Team Leader for the Birmingham and Black Country CCG, for services to nursing during Covid-19;

·       Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Mr Peter Jackson, of Tamworth, for services to the community in Tamworth;

·       Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Mrs Carol Kind, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, for services to the community in Stoke-on-Trent during Covid-19;

·       Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Mr David Moreton, of Tittensor, General Manager at Oak Tree Farm Rural Project, for services to people with learning disabilities in Staffordshire;

·       Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Mrs Hazel Lillian Nelson, of Halmer End, Practice Nurse at Cobridge Surgery and Queen’s Nurse, for services to nursing and the community in Staffordshire;

·       Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Dr Richard Edward Painter, of Swindon, for services to the community of Swindon in Staffordshire;

·       Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Mr David George Robins, of Alton, Honorary Secretary of the North Staffordshire Grenadier Guards Association, for services to veterans in North Staffordshire;

·       Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Ms Susan Sheppard, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, lately biodiversity officer at Staffordshire County Council, for services to the Environment;

·       Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Mr Joseph Luke Trusselle, of Codsall, a Sergeant at West Midlands Police, for services to neighbourhood policing;

·       Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Ms Anne Elizabeth Ward, of Burton, for services to the community in Burton.

Honorary Alderman Terrence Crowe

The Chairman informed the Council of the death, on 18 November 2020, of former County Councillor Terrence Crowe.  Mr Crowe served on the County Council between 1978 and 1997 and represented the former Berryhill (Stoke-on-Trent) County Electoral Division.

He served on a number of the Council’s Committees including the Planning Committee, Education Committee, Policy and Resources Committee, Social Services Committee, Police Committee, Fire and Public Protection Committee and the Joint Consultative Committee for the Fire Brigade.

Mr Crowe was appointed as an Honorary Alderman for his services to the County Council in 1999.

Members paid tribute to Mr Crowe following which they stood and observed a one-minute silence to his memory.