Agenda item - Mayor's Communications.

40.1        The Mayor reported the sad news of the death of former Mayor Councillor Sheila Schaffer, who had been elected in 1987 to Hanover Ward.  She had served on the council until 1999, and was Mayor of Brighton in 1995/96.  The Mayor then asked for a minutes silence as a mark of respect.

40.2        The Mayor then offered her thanks and appreciation to Joy Hollister, Director of Adult Social Care & Housing, who is leaving the Council to take up a post in the City of London. 

40.3        The Mayor stated that she was delighted to have the opportunity on behalf of the Council to congratulate both the Revenues & Benefits and Bereavement Service teams of the Customer Services Division for achieving the Customer Service Excellence Standard.    She noted that the Bereavement Services was amongst the first 100 to achieve this standard and both services had received a letter of congratulation from the Prime Minister.

        The Mayor then presented the certificates to Steven Horlock on behalf of the Bereavement Services and Jackie Mitrovic on behalf of Revenues and Benefits and wished them continued success in the future.

40.4        The Mayor then drew the council’s attention to Item 51 on the agenda, the 12-month review of the constitution, and pointed out that recommendation 2.3 of the report should refer to ‘recommendations 8 and 13’ rather than paragraphs 8 and 13  in the body of the report.  She also noted that it was proposed that in accordance with resolutions of the Cabinet and Governance Committee, any agreed resolution of the council would come into effect from date of the Annual Council meeting in May.

40.5        The Mayor then drew councillors’ attention to her next charity event, a Valentines Evening Gala Dinnerto be held in the Royal Pavilion Banqueting Room on Saturday 13 February.