Agenda item - Mayor's Communications.

14.1    The Mayor gave the following communications:

“Dear councillors, ladies and gentlemen,

I wish to start this meeting by stating that one of my engagements since I became Mayor was to attend the funeral of Brian Fitch on Thursday 8th June. It was a fitting farewell for Brain who was a councillor for many years and also Mayor of Brighton and Hove. I would ask you to stand for a minute’s silence to mark the passing of Brian and to express our condolences to his wife, Nora.

As we have a great deal to get through this evening, I will keep my mayor’s comms brief. 

I am now 2 months into my Mayoralty, and it has been a very busy time indeed and a steep learning curve. It has been both an exciting and inspiring time as I have met a vast range of people at events both in the city and outside it.   

I have attended over 60 events and that is despite managing to have a 6-day break in Cornwall in June to visit family.  The events have included the Special Commemoration of Boar’s Head and an Armed Forces Day reception at the Mayor’s Parlour, a special Mayoral Reception for a group of refugees and those who have settled here for a number of years. 

I will be holding a reception to celebrate Trans Pride’s 10th anniversary and also a number of other Mayoral receptions throughout the year to celebrate and recognise those who work and volunteer to make this city the amazing and extraordinary community that it is.  There have been so many events that I have attended but I would like to pick out a very special one and that was the Baton of Hope. This was an incredibly moving, highly emotional event and I pay tribute to those who organised it and those who contributed to it, especially the deeply felt speeches from members of SECAMB. What an inspirational event and I’m sure it will have had a lasting impact.

I look forward to attending many more events over the coming year and feel incredibly privileged to have been given the role of Mayor of Brighton. I am intending to hold a Mayor making reception in the Autumn and will notify everyone when I have a date.

I would also like to thank the East Sussex Fire and Rescue, police force and relevant council officers for their speedy response and impressive work in dealing with the fire at the Albion Hotel. This was a very serious fire and fire crews worked for a considerable time to bring it under control whilst the police managed the situation on the ground. The city owes a great debt to them all so let’s all recognise that.”