Minutes:
(a) Councillor P M D Godfrey
The Chairman paid tribute to former Councillor P M D Godfrey who passed away on 2nd April 2012 after a long illness. Councillor Godfrey had represented Earith Ward since 2006 and was elected Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) in May 2009.
Councillor J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader, described Councillor Godfrey as a man of courage and conviction who was devoted to serve those he represented in his Ward and Parish. Councillor Ablewhite announced that the Conservative Group had agreed to fund a memorial bench which would be placed in Samian Court in memory of Councillor Godfrey.
As Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor P J Downes expressed his admiration for the way in which Councillor Godfrey had conducted himself during his illness and for the manner in which he had Chaired the Overview and Scrutiny Panel. He added that Councillor Godfrey had been an asset to the Council and would be sadly missed.
On the conclusion of further tributes to Councillor Godfrey made by Councillors K M Baker, Mrs M Banerjee, P L E Bucknell, D B Dew, D Harty and T V Rogers, the Council stood for a few moments in memory of their former colleague.
(b) Equality and Diversity Award
The Chairman was pleased to announce that the Council had been awarded “Achieving Status” by the Local Government Association against the “Equality Framework for Local Government” following an external review.
(c) Chairman’s Fundraising
The Chairman announced that he had raised a total of £7,400 for his chosen charities – Alzheimer’s Society (Huntingdonshire), Parkinson’s UK (Huntingdonshire), Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre (Huntingdonshire) and St. John’s Ambulance (Huntingdonshire).
The Council also was advised that the Chairman had awarded grants to charities and organisations across the District amounting to approximately £3,500.
(d) Chairman’s Correspondence
Having reminded Members that he had, on their behalf, congratulated Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of her accession to the throne, the Chairman reported that he had subsequently received a response in which the Queen had sent her good wishes to the Council for a memorable and enjoyable Diamond Jubilee Year.
(e) Awards to the Chairman
Councillor Mrs B E Boddington, Vice-Chairman of the Council drew the Council’s attention to two awards which had recently been presented to the Chairman, Councillor J J Dutton.
Members joined in a round of applause on the appointment of Councillor Dutton as a Member of the President’s Club, in recognition of the support he had offered to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Outward Bound Association and for his admission as a Serving Brother in the Order of St. John with effect from 4th April 2012.
(f) Membership of the Council
The Chairman referred to the impending retirement of Councillors Mrs J A Dew, P Godley, P A Swales, P Ward and J S Watt, all of whom had indicated that they were not seeking re-election to the District Council in May 2012. The Council recorded their thanks to those Members for their services during their respective periods of office and extended best wishes to them and their families for the future. The Chairman and Councillor Mrs B E Boddington added their own personal tributes for the contributions made to the life of the Council by Councillors Mrs J A Dew and P A Swales.
In response, Councillor Swales thanked Members for their kind words and indicated that it had been a privilege and honour to serve the District of Huntingdonshire. He paid tribute to his colleagues on the Development Management Panel, to his wife Pam for her support and for the help and guidance he had received from Officers over the years.