Minutes:
(a) Chairman’s Events
The Chairman briefly described the events she had attended on behalf of the Council since February mentioning, in particular, her presentations to young people at the Student Voice Conference at Hemingford Abbots Golf Club and the Huntingdonshire Regional College and the beginning of work on the Huntingdon West Relief Road.
Councillor Mrs Boddington drew attention to the celebrations which marked the award of the Freedom of Huntingdonshire to the 423rd Airbase Group, RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth. Having described the proceedings and thanked those Members able to join her for the occasion, the Deputy Executive Leader, Councillor N J Guyatt congratulated the Chairman on the success of the event and looked forward to the formal award of the Freedom of the District to RAF Wyton in mid-August which he was sure would similarly be a very memorable occasion.
As it was the last Council meeting in the Municipal Year, the Chairman reported that she had raised approximately £2,400 for her chosen charities, Cancer Research, Natural High, St. John’s Ambulance and the Samaritans.
(b) Former Councillor P J Downes
The Chairman referred to the recent resignation of Mr P J Downes as Councillor for Brampton and paid tribute to the valuable service given by Mr Downes to the District Council for over 15 years since he was first elected in November 1997.
Despite differences in their political affiliations, the Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite thanked Mr Downes for his contribution to various Panels and Committees over many years adding that it had been a pleasure to work with him. As former Leader, Councillor I C Bates acknowledged the contribution of Mr Downes towards the early days of Overview and Scrutiny and in particular paid tribute to his professionalism, manner and commitment as well as the considered way in which he had participated in Council meetings. Further tributes of a similar nature were made by the Chairman, Councillor Mrs B E Boddington, Councillors M G Baker, J A Gray, N J Guyatt, P D Reeve and M F Shellens.
In response, Mr Downes indicated that he had enjoyed his time as a District Councillor and had learned a great deal from the experience. He added that local government was more complex than he had expected and that it would be a great responsibility to adjust priorities in the future to meet the challenges posed by the changing financial environment. Mr Downes thanked all Councillors and Officers for their continuing assistance, and in particular, those Members of the Liberal Democrat Group both past and present for their hard work. Lastly Mr Downes thanked Councillor M F Shellens as the person largely responsible for his first election success adding how proud he was to have increased his majority from 18 in 1997 to 734 last May. He also wished Councillor Ablewhite every success for the future.
Having announced that Councillor M G Baker had been elected as new Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Members
RESOLVED
that the Council place on record its appreciation to former Councillor P J Downes for his services to the District and extends its best wishes to him and his family for the future.