Agenda item - Mayor's Communications.

14.1       The Mayor gave the following communications:

14.2       I am sad to announce the deaths of three former councillors, two of whom are former Mayors: Ann Norman, Pat Hawkes and Frieda Warman Brown. I would ask you to stand for a minute’s silence to mark their passing, and our thoughts are also with Councillor Simpson whose husband also passed away recently.

14.3       As we have a lot to get through this evening I will be brief in my mayor’s communications. Two months in and it has been a busy learning curve. I am pleased to say there was lots going on to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee weekend, with the family picnic event in Pavilion Gardens, numerous street parties and church services, so I certainly hit the ground running.

14.4       Since then, I have had 62 engagements, meeting residents and groups across the city as people are keen to get out and about again after the lockdown, and I’m looking forward to a wide variety of further engagements during the coming year. I would also like to thank Cllrs Robins and O’Quinn for their support in covering events when I had Covid.

14.5       The Mayor Making event, which was postponed in May, will now take place on Friday 21st October, with a particular focus on the Mayors charities, so a date for you to put in your diaries.

14.6       Members will be aware of the devastating effects of avian flu on our local wildlife and I have been asked to particularly thank officers and members of local bird group volunteers who are working incredibly hard to alleviate their suffering.

14.7       I would also like to thank all officers, emergency services and resident volunteers for the work that they have been doing over the past few days to help people during the extraordinary heat wave this week.