119/10 - COMMUNICATIONS:

01 - Retiring Members: The Mayor advised that Councillors Jean Burdett, Mrs de Courcey Bayley, Hawkins and Andrew Jones had decided not to offer themselves for re-election at the forthcoming District Council Elections to be held on 5 May, which would also see the election for the vacancy left by former Councillor Bob Nash who had found it necessary to retire from the Council last month. The Mayor called upon Members to show their appreciation for the contribution of the retiring Members to the work of the Council and for so ably representing their constituents during their respective periods of office.

It was with great pleasure that the Mayor presented a Long Service Award to Councillor Mrs Margaret Ann de Courcey Bayley in recognition of her twenty five continuous years of service to the Council. Councillor Mrs de Courcey Bayley took the opportunity to respond to Council and thank Members for their kind words.

The Mayor also advised that Councillor Alan Skidmore was shortly to complete ten years’ service to the Council but as he was unable to be present at the meeting the presentation of his award would stand over until the July meeting of the Council.

02 - Thanks to Colleagues: The Mayor stated that this was the last scheduled meeting of the Council that he would be Chairing in the capacity of Mayor and he wished to place on record his thanks and appreciation to his colleagues for their support during his Mayoral year.

He also thanked those who had very kindly supported all the fund raising events held in aid of his designated charities, the most recent being the Theatre evening, which raised £2,000. Finally he reminded Members of his last charity event, a dinner at which Lord Willis of Knaresborough had kindly offered to speak and which was to take place on Friday 13 May 2011.

On behalf of the Council, Councillor Philip Broadbank thanked the Mayor for his stewardship when presiding over meetings of the Council held during his term of office.

03 - Wellington New Zealand: In accordance with the wishes expressed by Members at the last meeting of the Council, the Mayor advised that he had written to the Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand Celia Wade-Brown concerning the earthquake in Christ Church. The Mayor of Wellington had responded, thanking the Council for its kind words and expressing value of the historic tie the City held with Harrogate.