Agenda item

The Mayor asked for a moment of quiet reflection to remember Past Mayors / Hon Aldermen Bob Clare and Harold Piggott who had passed away recently.

The Mayor announced that 2020 had been an unprecedented year and that it had been very quiet by way of mayoral engagements but that he had managed to undertake a few engagements and activities.

The Mayor reflected on Remembrance Week and expressed his thanks to the Worthing Veterans and military associations for ensuring that Worthing remembered despite the lockdown.

The Mayor took the opportunity to publicly commend everyone in Worthing for their fortitude and resilience. He highlighted that by working together Worthing is in the great position of having one of the lowest Covid rates in the country.

The Mayor mentioned a few people in Worthing who  were doing fantastic work to support and raise substantial donations for a local charity;  those who went beyond and above their call of duty by assisting the elderly in the community. He also provided a brief overview of the Councils’ Digital Team success story.

The Mayor ended by offering his congratulations to the Adur and Worthing Council volunteers who received a Special Recognition Award by the High Sheriff of West Sussex for helping out in the community during the Covid-19 crisis.

The Leader wished to place on record his thanks to all Councillors for the work undertaken during a very difficult year and a restful and well earned Christmas break. 

The Executive Member for Digital & Environmental Services reiterated the Mayor’s thanks to Steve and Nigel in the Environmental Services Team for their sterling work looking after an elderly resident.

The Executive Member for Customer Services congratulated the Housing Team for winning an award for the innovative scheme Opening Doors.

Cllr Paul High, Planning Committee Chairman, advised that the Planning Committee had met on 16 occasions in the past year, including one of the first Council meetings to be held virtually. He placed on record his thanks to the membership of the Planning Committee and the Council’s Officers who supported the meetings.   

The Head of Paid Service virtually presented two certificates, the first being the shortlisting finalist for Council of the Year in the Local Government Chronicle Awards and the other being for the shortlisting in the Municipal Journal Awards. Both Adur and Worthing Councils had been shortlisted in both awards for being in the top 5 or 6 Local Authorities across the UK recognising some of the extraordinary work of the Council’s Officers over the last couple of years.

The Head of Paid Service also announced that the Solicitor to the Councils and Monitoring Officer, Mrs Susan Sale, was leaving the Councils after 19 years of service, to take up a post with Oxford City Council.

The Head of Paid Service, the Mayor and Councillors wished to place on record their thanks to Mrs Sale for her commitment to Worthing Borough Council, the excellent support and wise counsel that she had provided to both Officers and a succession of Mayors during that time and to wish her very well for the future.