To elect a Councillor to serve as Speaker of the Council for the municipal year 2018/19 or until a successor is appointed, whichever is the sooner.

(Note: Section 4 and Schedule 2 of the Local Government Act 1972 provide that the election of the chairman (which post the Council has resolved to title ‘Speaker’ in Tower Hamlets) 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).

The Speaker of the Council, Sabina Akhtar addressed the meeting about her year of office.  She thanked Mayor John Biggs and Councillors for giving her this opportunity. She congratulated Councillor Ayas Miah on his nomination as the new Speaker of the Council and wished him the very best for the year ahead.

She stated that she had the honour of attending over 300 engagements and had made every effort to visit groups rather than invite them to the Town Hall to see their work.

Some of the highlights included:

·         A visit to Bangladesh to meet local dignitaries including the Prime Minister and the President.

·         A Royal Gun Salute at Buckingham Palace to mark the state visit of the King and Queen of Spain.

·         Celebration event to mark the return of the Old Flo statue to the borough.

·         Citizenship ceremonies. 

·         A very memorable visit to Richard House that supported vulnerable people in society.

·         Fundraising activities in support of the Annual Poppy Appeal.

·         Army engagements and sporting events including the Great River Race.

·         A commemoration event to name a boat ‘Speaker Sabina’.

With reference to her focus on young people, she reported that she had the honour of engaging with them in a variety of ways from school visits and achievement ceremonies, to sports and cultural events, speaking challenges and local democracy week.

She was pleased to say that she held a very successful Charity Ball in December. She thanked all of the people and organisations who supported this event, in particular the Canary Wharf Group and MEARS who were the main sponsors. 

Following the Speaker’s address, Councillors Peter Golds, Asma Islam and Candida Ronald thanked Councillor Akhtar for all she had achieved in her year in office as the first female Bengali Speaker of the Council. They praised in particular the personal qualities she had brought to the role and her ability to chair Council meetings effectively. 

Mayor John Biggs also addressed the meeting. He echoed the above sentiments. He added that it was great to see a young person take up the role of Speaker of the Council and hoped that she would inspire others to step forward for public office.

The Speaker then called for nominations to serve as Speaker of the Council for the coming year.

It was moved by Mayor John Biggs, seconded by Councillor Asma Begum, and unanimously:

RESOLVED

1.            That Councillor Ayas Miah be elected to serve as Speaker of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council until the Annual Council Meeting in May 2019.

Mayor John Biggs and Councillor Asma Begum then came forward to witness the Speaker of the Council signing the statutory declaration of acceptance of office.

The meeting was adjourned at 7.50pm and reconvened at 7.55pm.

The Speaker of the Council, Councillor Ayas Miah in the Chair

The incoming Speaker, Councillor Ayas Miah thanked the Council for electing him as Speaker. He congratulated Councillor Sabina Akhtar for a successful year in office and her hard work over the last year on behalf of the Council and the borough.

He commented on his long involvement in a number of community based and charitable and human rights organisations. He stated that such groups relied heavily on donations and in view of this, he intended to do all that he could to help his chosen charities.

They were:

·         St Hilda’s East Community Centre Older People’s Project
Sporting Foundation

·         Dorset Community Association, and the

·         Limehouse Project

He intended to support a number of other charities. Details of which he would disclose in due course.

He stated that he hoped to use the experience he had gained over the years, to try and bridge the gap between the Council and the community, to strengthen existing links and promote the council’s aims and values.

To help him with these objectives, he would have as his consorts Mrs Nasima Siddika, Mr Abul Hussain, Mr Asik Rahman and Councillor Shah Shuhel Amin to accompany him on official engagements. Finally, he thanked the residents of his ward St Dunstan’s and his family and friends for their overwhelming, continued support and cooperation.

The Mayor and Councillors then congratulated Councillor Miah on his appointment