Agenda item
ELECTION OF SPEAKER
To elect a Councillor to serve as Speaker of the Council for the municipal year 2014/15.
(Note: Section 4 and Schedule 2 of the Local Government Act 1972 provide that the election of Speaker shall be the first item of business transacted at the Annual Meeting of the Council and that in the case of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the meeting shall give a casting vote in addition to any vote s/he may have.)
Minutes:
The Speaker of the Council, Lesley Pavitt, addressed the meeting about her year in office.
Before commencing her address, the Speaker invited Commander John Ludgate, Deputy Lord Lieutenant, to speak on the subject of the 70th commemoration ceremony of the D-Day landings, which took place on 6th June 1944.
The Speaker then reported to the Council on the many wonderful events she had attended during the year and the many examples of good work in the borough she had witnessed. In relation to the Borough’s senior citizens, she reported she had particularly enjoyed visiting their events, social clubs and tea dances.
Former Councillor Pavitt explained that she had been to a wide range of events with too many highlights to mention them all. Examples included, seeing the work of the carers centre providing support to carers in the community, visiting Ability Bow and seeing the inspirational gym performances of their disabled visitors, and many wonderful sports events, concerts and the civic awards ceremony. She thanked all the Councillors who had supported the various events throughout the year.
The Speaker also reported on her attendance at Citizenship Ceremonies where it had been a pleasure to meet the new citizens. She recommended these events as something all Councillors should attend at least once a year.
Reporting on her work for her two charities, Magic Me and Cardboard Citizens, she stated that she had enjoyed offering support to their work over the year, in particular at the Speaker’s Ball. In total she had raised over £25,000 for her charities. She thanked everyone who had helped including Canary Wharf Group for their support for the Speaker’s Ball.
Former Councillor Pavitt further reported on her visits outside of the Borough and links with other civic leaders throughout London. In particular, she had enjoyed inviting all the civic leaders for a tour of the Borough and she thanked Councillor Peter Golds for acting as tour guide.
Finally, she thanked all those who had supported her through her year, in particular Patricia Attawia and everyone in Member Support and her drivers.
The respective political group leaders and Mayor Rahman in turn each responded to the Speaker’s address and recorded their thanks to her for the dignified and fair way in which she had discharged her duties over the past year.
The Speaker then called for nominations to serve as Speaker of the Tower Hamlets Council for the coming year.
It was moved by Councillor Rachael Saunders, seconded by Councillor John Pierce, and:
RESOLVED
That Councillor M. A. Mukit MBE be elected to serve as Speaker of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council until the Annual Council Meeting in May 2015.
Councillors Rachael Saunders and John Pierce then came forward to witness the Speaker of the Council signing the statutory declaration of acceptance of office.
The Speaker of the Council, Councillor M. A. Mukit MBE, in the Chair
The incoming speaker thanked Former Councillor Lesley Pavitt for her hard work over the last year and thanked those who had supported his nomination as Speaker. He said it was an honour to be the Speaker, a role with a long history but still so important to our community today. As Speaker he would make it his role to ensure that everyone had a voice and could help shape the community.
He stated that he looked forward to working with Councillors on all sides and that he would be firm but fair in Council meetings. In particular he called on all Councillors and visitors to avoid interrupting the meeting and to show respect to all participants.
He reported that he would be working to raise funds for the Tower Hamlets Food Bank, a very worthy organisation that worked to ensure families did not go hungry.
Finally, Councillor Mukit reported that his wife and daughter would be his official consorts for the year.