Agenda and draft minutes

To consider any announcements by the Mayor in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3(2)(ii).

The Mayor informed Council that this was the first meeting since the passing of Councillor John Blackham. Councillor Blackham had represented the Anston and Woodsetts Ward since 2024 and served on the Audit Committee, Improving Lives Select Commission and Overview and Scrutiny Management Board. The Mayor paid tribute to his dedicated public service, commitment to his community and his role as a devoted father. The Council's condolences were extended to his children, and Members observed a minute's silence in his memory.

The Mayor also reported the sudden passing of Rachael Booth, Head Teacher of The Willows School, Thurcroft. Condolences were expressed to her family and friends. The Mayor reflected on a visit by pupils from the school to the Town Hall during his Mayoral term and noted that the picture of the Chains of Office presented by the pupils, was displayed in the Mayor's Parlour. Members observed a minute's silence in her memory.

The Mayor congratulated Rotherham Hospice on receiving two national Third Sector Awards: Medium Charity of the Year and Frontline Team of the Year for its Hospice at Home Team.

Members were advised that the Mayor had attended the Boston Castle Heritage Day Anniversary on 4 July, marking the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence, the 250th anniversary of Boston Castle and the 150th anniversary of Boston Park. The Mayor noted that a commemorative film produced by the Civic Society had been shared with historians in America and had subsequently been shared with the White House.

The Mayor advised that a full list of mayoral engagements was included at Appendix A of the Mayor's Letter.

To receive the apologies of any Member who is unable to attend the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Havard, Lelliott and Robinson.

To receive the record of proceedings of the ordinary meeting of the Council held on 9 September 2026 and to approve the accuracy thereof.

Councillor Ball asked for clarification regarding substitutes in relation to Council Procedure Rule 11(5), Questions to Spokesperson.  The Monitoring Officer confirmed that he would respond by email.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 9 September 2026 be approved for signature by the Mayor. 

Mover: Councillor Read                          Seconder: Councillor Cusworth

To report on any petitions received by the Council and receive statements in support of petitions in accordance with Petitions Scheme and Council Procedure Rule 13.

Consideration was given to the report which set out the petitions that had been received since the last meeting. There was one petition:

From Andrew Hayter: Stop the Unnecessary Felling of Mature Trees on Herringthorpe Valley Road – 467 Valid Signatures

Mr Hayter was unable to attend the meeting. In accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment would provide a written response within 10 working days.

Resolved:

1.    That the report be received.

2.    That the relevant Executive Director be required to respond to the lead petitioners, as set out in the Petition Scheme, by Wednesday 18 November 2026.

To invite Councillors to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests they may have in any matter which is to be considered at this meeting, to confirm the nature of those interests and whether they intend to leave the meeting for the consideration of the item.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive questions from members of the public who may wish to ask a general question of the Mayor, Cabinet Member or the Chairman of a Committee in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.

There were 2 public questions:

1.    T: Is it really the case that if a complaint is made against a Council officer that the person making the complaint will be given no information about the complaint - has the Council abandoned the Stages referred to on its website?

As T was not able to attend, a written response would be provided.

2.    Mr Ashraf: Council Leader Chris Read, could you commit to requesting, of all who have taken up your recent flag pole offer, be made aware of the raising of the Palestinian Flag on the 29th of November, so they too, if they wish, can in compassion and solemn solidarity, raise the Palestinian flag?

The Leader, Councillor Read, confirmed that a small number of organisations, all of which were parish councils, had taken up the offer. It was noted that the parish councils were free to use the grant for any flag-flying purpose they chose. Mr Ashraf was advised that a list of the relevant parish council contacts could be provided should he wish to make representations directly to those councils.

In his supplementary, Mr Ashraf asked the Leader to ensure all commitments were fulfilled.

Should it be necessary, in the opinion of the Mayor, to consider excluding the press and public from the meeting in relation to any items of urgent business on the grounds that private information is likely to be divulged.

There were no items requiring the exclusion of the press and public.

To receive a statement from the Leader of the Council in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.

The Leader opened his statement by expressing his condolences on the death of Rachael Booth, Head Teacher of The Willows School, Thurcroft, and paid tribute to her contribution to the school community. The Leader also associated himself with the Mayor’s remarks regarding former Councillor John Blackham and extended his condolences to his family and friends.

The Leader highlighted a number of developments since the previous Council meeting, including:

·       Completion of the 850th new Council home delivered through the Council’s housing programme at Larch Road, Maltby.

·       Activities undertaken during Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, including the illumination of the Town Hall in purple to raise awareness of support services and partnership work to tackle domestic abuse.

·       Extended opening hours at the Borough’s four Household Waste Recycling Centres following the insourcing of the service, with sites now open from 9.30am to 5.00pm daily, including bank holidays.

·       The successful conclusion of the Library Service’s Summer Reading Challenge and the introduction of new free holiday activity places during the October half-term break.

The Leader also provided an update in relation to child sexual exploitation and the forthcoming national inquiry into grooming gangs. He reflected on the impact of the Alexis Jay Report and the significant improvements made by the Council and its partners since 2014, including support provided to survivors, action taken against perpetrators and improvements within Children's Services.

Members were informed that the Council had applied for "core participant" status. The Leader explained that this status would enable the Council to play a more active role in the inquiry, including making submissions and suggesting lines of enquiry. He clarified that Rotherham had not been designated as an area for a local inquiry but stated that the Council’s experience and improvement journey placed it in a strong position to contribute to the national review.

The Leader concluded by reaffirming the Council’s ongoing commitment to preventing child sexual exploitation, maintaining high standards of safeguarding, and ensuring that the lessons learned in Rotherham continue to inform improvements both locally and nationally.

The Leader of the Majority Opposition Group, Councillor Zach Collingham, was invited to respond to the statement. He thanked the Mayor, Members and officers for their support following the sudden death of Councillor John Blackham and paid tribute to his life and service. He reflected on Councillor Blackham's professional background, dedication to public service, contribution to scrutiny and audit work, and commitment to his community. Members heard that Councillor Blackham was widely respected across the Council for his measured, constructive approach and his determination to make a positive difference for residents. Councillor Collingham concluded by stating that Councillor Blackham would be greatly missed and remembered for his contribution to the Borough.

The update regarding the National Child Sexual Exploitation Inquiry and the Council's application for core participant status was welcomed, with Councillor Collingham noting that Rotherham's experience and transformation over the past decade placed it in a strong position to contribute to the inquiry and support learning nationally.

Referring to the Council Plan performance report, Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.

To consider the recommendation from Cabinet to endorse the Care Leavers’ Charter.

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval for the adoption of the Rotherham Care Leavers' Charter. Members were advised that the Charter was founded on the principle that young people leaving care should receive the same opportunities, support and aspirations that any good parent would seek for their own child, reflecting the Council's role as a corporate parent.

It was noted that the Charter had been developed in partnership with care-experienced young people through the Look Ahead Participation Group, ensuring that their views and experiences had directly shaped its content. Members heard that young people had highlighted the importance of suitable housing, practical support, trusted relationships and assistance during their transition to independent living.

The Charter set out commitments across housing, education, employment, health and wellbeing, including housing and tenancy support, access to apprenticeships, work experience and employability opportunities, guaranteed interviews for Council vacancies where essential criteria were met, and support to access health and wellbeing services. Members were also advised that eligibility for the Council's Rothercard discount scheme would be extended to care leavers up to the age of 25.

Councillor Cusworth emphasised that the Charter represented a wider commitment to tackling stigma and discrimination, promoting positive outcomes for care-experienced young people and ensuring their voices remained central to decision-making. The importance of support from partner organisations, including housing providers, educational establishments, health services, employers and community organisations, was also highlighted.

Tribute was paid to the young people who had contributed to the development of the Charter, and Members were invited to demonstrate their support by signing the Charter following the meeting.

In seconding the report, Councillor Baker-Rogers stated that the Charter would be a great source of support and make a significant contribution to care leavers achieving their full potential and their best possible outcomes.

Councillor Beresford confirmed that there was a dedicated housing officer to support care leavers.

Councillors A Carter, Harrison Monk and Currie expressed their support for the Charter.

Councillor Harrison asked why the Council Tax reduction of 100% stopped at age 21 when other provisions were provided until age 25. He asked if the discount could be tapered down rather than stopped altogether. Councillor Cusworth agreed to raise the matter with officers.

Resolved:

That Council:

1.    Adopt the Rotherham Care Leavers’ Charter as a statement of the Council's commitment to Care Leavers and care experienced young adults in Rotherham.

2.    Recognise the role of all elected members as Corporate Parents and support the principles contained within the Charter in their decision-making and leadership responsibilities.

3.    Support the promotion of the Charter across the Council and partner organisations to strengthen opportunities, services and outcomes for Care Leavers. 

Mover: Councillor Cusworth                    Seconder: Councillor Baker-Rogers

To note Cabinet’s response to the Health Select Commission Scrutiny Review – Menopause.

Consideration was given to the report which presented Cabinet’s response to the Health Select Commission’s recommendations following their review on menopause. Councillor Baker-Rogers thanked the Health Select Commission for its work on the spotlight review into menopause and perimenopause. The review considered the experiences of women across the Borough and identified opportunities to improve awareness, support and partnership working.

Cabinet welcomed and supported the intent of all the recommendations. However, it was noted that some recommendations required action from organisations outside the Council’s direct control, including NHS bodies, GP practices and education providers, and were therefore only partially accepted.

Members were advised that the proposed response would build on existing work, strengthen partnership arrangements through the Rotherham Women’s Health Network, and support collaborative action to improve services and support for women across the Borough.

The Chair of the Health Select Commission, Councillor Keenan, welcomed Cabinet’s positive response to the menopause and perimenopause review. She highlighted the significant impact menopause could have on women’s health, wellbeing, employment and family life, and noted that evidence gathered during the review demonstrated a need for greater awareness, information and support. She welcomed Cabinet’s commitment to progressing the recommendations, including awareness-raising initiatives, menopause champions and strengthened community support, and stated that the review would help ensure women felt better informed, supported and able to access appropriate help.

Councillor Steele praised the positive impact that Scrutiny was having and Councillor Currie voiced his support for the recommendations.

Resolved:

That Council note the response to the recommendations, as detailed in the Cabinet report of 14 September 2026.

Mover: Councillor Baker-Rogers                       Seconder: Councillor Read

To receive an update from ward councillors from Rawmarsh East on the activities supporting Thriving Neighbourhoods across the Borough.

Further to Minute No. 55 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 19th

November 2018, consideration was given to the Ward update for Rawmarsh East as part of the Thriving Neighbourhood Strategy. An update report had been provided as part of the agenda and each Ward Member was invited to speak.

In moving the report, Councillor Hughes highlighted the close collaboration between Members representing Rawmarsh East and Rawmarsh West, noting that despite the administrative boundary, the wards continued to work together on shared priorities and projects.

Councillor Hughes thanked Members from across the Council for their support of the local food bank following an appeal for assistance, noting that their contributions had helped the service continue operating and had created links with other organisations able to provide support. Members also heard about work undertaken to address deprivation within the ward, including collaboration with the Community Pantry to improve access to affordable food for residents. The importance of literacy and community activities was highlighted, with reference made to local participation in the Summer Reading Challenge and the range of activities available through local library services. Investment in community facilities and play equipment was also identified as a priority for the ward.

Seconding the report, Councillor Shepherd highlighted environmental improvements undertaken within the ward over a number of years. He outlined the development of the local Friends of Green Spaces group, established with support from residents and volunteers to improve and maintain local green spaces. Members were advised that the group had undertaken regular litter-picking and environmental improvement activities, removing significant amounts of waste from parks, woodlands and public areas, as well as supporting community initiatives such as poppy displays, bulb planting and wildflower projects. Tribute was paid to the volunteers, neighbourhood officers and Street Scene staff whose ongoing efforts had contributed to making the ward cleaner and greener.

Resolved:

That the update report be noted.

To receive an update from ward councillors from Rawmarsh West on the activities supporting Thriving Neighbourhoods across the Borough.

Further to Minute No. 55 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 19th

November 2018, consideration was given to the Ward update for Rawmarsh West as part of the Thriving Neighbourhood Strategy. An update report had been provided as part of the agenda and each Ward Member was invited to speak.

In moving the report, Councillor Baker-Rogers highlighted the ward’s priority of improving the health and wellbeing of local residents. Members were advised of investments made in Rosehill Park, including the provision of outdoor gym equipment, refurbishment of the children’s play area and improvements to tennis court facilities. The contribution of community activities such as the junior park run and the Santa Dash was also recognised.

Councillor Baker-Rogers noted that efforts had also been made to support residents who were less able to access the park, including funding weekly chair exercise sessions for older residents. Thanks were expressed to Council officers, partner organisations and fellow ward councillors for their support in delivering these initiatives and improving services for local residents.

Seconding the report, Councillor Steele emphasised the strong partnership working between Members representing Rawmarsh West and Rawmarsh East. He highlighted a range of community activities supported within the ward, including seasonal events in Rosehill Park, work to establish a Friends group for the park, support for community centres and older residents, community skips and environmental improvement projects. He also praised local volunteers and residents for their contribution to strengthening community life and improving the local environment.

Resolved:

That the update report be noted.

To be moved by Councillor A Carter and seconded by Councillor Tarmey.

An amendment to the original motion was accepted by the mover and seconder of the original Motion and, therefore, further to Procedure Rule 18(14) the amendment was incorporated into the Motion for debate (inclusions highlighted in bold italics). 

The original Motion was moved by Councillor Adam Carter and seconded by Councillor Tarmey. The amendment was moved by Councillor Read and seconded by Councillor Baker-Rogers.

The substantive motion was therefore:

Summary/Background:

This council believes that Rotherham is a place of heritage, enterprise, community spirit and shared pride. 

This council notes with concern the rhetoric used by right wing political parties and others, who seek to portray Britain and Britain’s towns as broken, failing and divided. Such language does not reflect the hard work and co-operation of residents, volunteers, small businesses, public servants, community groups, faith organisations, charities, schools, sports clubs and many other local campaigners who improve our area every day.

INSERT:

This Council further notes that pride in place is strengthened when residents can see real improvements in their daily lives: good jobs, thriving high streets, quality housing, safe neighbourhoods, reliable public services and opportunities for future generations. Council believes that the best answer to those who seek to divide communities or undermine confidence in local areas is practical action that improves people's lives and strengthens community cohesion.

True pride in Britain is not found in division. It is found in building up our communities, backing local people, celebrating our shared heritage, investing in the places we call home, and ensuring that everyone who contributes to local life is seen, valued and thanked.

Council further believes that civic pride is a practical commitment to improving the area now and for future generations. It means cleaner streets, thriving high streets, well-used parks and green spaces, active community venues, inclusive events, visible heritage, vibrant local culture, and opportunities for residents to shape the future of their neighbourhoods.

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

1.    Affirm at every opportunity its pride in our local area and publicly reject attempts to talk down Britain, our towns, or the people who live and work in them.

INSERT:

2.    Reject calls from those that would cut the Council’s events programme that brings our communities together, regeneration schemes that create jobs and leisure opportunities, affordable housing programme that brings security to Rotherham families, and enforcement services that help to keep our streets safe and well presented.

3.    Ask Cabinet to consider:

a.    INSERT: How the council can continue to support events like Rotherham Day and Rotherham Show, DELETE [launching of an annual “Pride in Rotherham” programme,] bringing together residents, businesses, schools, voluntary organisations and community groups to celebrate what is best about our area.

b.    DELETE [establishing a Civic Pride Week, including] INSERT: Showcasing events in town centres, villages and neighbourhoods such as local history walks, community clean-ups, cultural showcases, school projects, heritage displays, sports taster sessions and celebrations of local food, music and creativity.

c.     DELETE: [expanding the Community Champions scheme to recognise residents and organisations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

To be moved by Councillor Cusworth and seconded by Councillor Clarke.

It was moved by Councillor Cusworth and seconded by Councillor Clarke that:

Summary/Background:

This Council recognises that all councillors are corporate parents and reaffirms its collective commitment to supporting our care leavers.

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

1.    Support the illumination of the Town Hall in blue on a suitable date during Care Leavers Month in November, as a visible demonstration of that commitment, excluding 2–11 November inclusive and 29 November in recognition of previously scheduled awareness events.

On being put to the vote, the Motion was carried.

To be moved by Councillor Yasseen and seconded by Councillor Bower.

It was moved by Councillor Yasseen and seconded by Councillor Bower that:

That this Council notes:

·       Educational inequality can emerge in the early years and widen through school and into further education, training and work. This is a longstanding emergency, not a new or sudden issue: evidence and warnings have accumulated over a generation, while too many barriers remain.

·       Rotherham’s overall attainment is often close to or above the national average, but this masks significantly poorer outcomes for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and areas. National evidence shows particularly low attainment and progression among White British boys eligible for free school meals; local data should establish whether the same pattern exists in Rotherham.

·       In 2024/25, 44.2% of Rotherham children eligible for free school meals achieved a Good Level of Development at age five, compared with 64.9% of all children. The report also records a 14.4 percentage point early years gender gap, with boys less likely than girls to achieve this measure.

·       In 2024/25, the KS2 reading, writing and maths gap between disadvantaged pupils and others was 25.7 percentage points in Rotherham, compared with 21.7 nationally.

·       In 2025/26, 45.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals met the standard in this measure, well below the Borough average of 61.8% and 48.4% of eligible pupils nationally.

·       Rotherham’s 2025 Attainment 8 score was 41.8, compared with 46.2 nationally; and 30.7% for children eligible for free school meals, well below the Borough average.

·       Index of Multiple Deprivation (2025) identifies 17.2% of Rotherham children aged 0–15 as living in neighbourhoods among the 5% most deprived nationally for education, skills and training, including 7.6% in the most deprived 1%.

·       Nearly half of Rotherham’s children aged 0-15 live in income deprived families: 46% (Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index 2026) , compared with 38% nationally. Ofsted reports that 13,132 pupils (31.5%) are eligible for free school meals, compared with 27.4% nationally. Council figures show that 12,650 children were FSM-eligible in 2023/24, an 84% increase since 2015/16.

·       Rotherham’s 2022/23 higher education progression rate was 38% by age 19, compared with 48% nationally. The latest national figures show that 28.6% of FSM-eligible pupils had entered higher education by age 19 by 2024/25, falling to 13% for FSM-eligible White British boys (least likely to progress to higher education). These gaps underline the need for practical, needs based support across all communities.

·       The Council’s ‘No Family Left Behind’ Strategy, developed following a motion passed in September 2024 (Led by Cllr Yasseen and Cllr Currie) provides an existing framework for joining work on child poverty and family educational success.

·       Sheffield Hallam University launched the South Yorkshire Boys’ Impact Hub in February 2026, it brings together educators, researchers and policymakers to address educational barriers facing boys and young men from lower income backgrounds.

·       SYMCA already brings education and employment partners together through its Aspiring Pathways programme.

That this Council believes:

·       Every child and young person has talents and potential which deserve to be realised. Poverty, low ambition and other disadvantages often restrict the opportunity to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

To note the minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held on 14 September and 12 October 2026.

Councillor Thorp referenced the 12 October Cabinet meeting where he had asked about the £4.5 million ransom strip money from Worrygoose Lane. He stated that he had been promised documents detailing designs and pricings for a road safety scheme but had not received them.

Councillor Read asked Councillor Thorp to email him the specific details so that he could look into the matter further.

Resolved:

That the reports, recommendations and minutes of the meetings of Cabinet held on 14 September and 12 October 2026 be received.

Mover: Councillor Read                          Seconder: Councillor Alam

To note receipt of the Audit Committee minutes.

A correction to the Minutes was required to list Councillor Thorp as an attendee.

Resolved: That the reports, recommendations and minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee, as amended, be noted.

Mover: Councillor Baggaley                    Seconder: Councillor Ismail

To note receipt of the Health and Wellbeing Board minutes.

Resolved: That the reports, recommendations and minutes of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board be noted.

Mover: Councillor Baker-Rogers             Seconder: Councillor Cusworth

To note receipt of the Licensing Board Sub-Committee and Licensing Sub-Committee minutes.

Resolved: That the reports, recommendations and minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Board Sub-Committee and the Licensing Sub-Committee be noted.

Mover: Councillor Garnett                       Seconder: Councillor Steele

To note receipt of the Planning Board minutes.

Resolved: That the reports, recommendations and minutes of the meetings of the Planning Board be noted.  

Mover: Councillor Mault                          Seconder: Councillor Jackson

To note receipt of the Standards and Ethics Committee meetings.

Resolved: That the reports, recommendations and minutes of the meetings of the Standards and Ethics Committee be noted.  

Mover: Councillor Clarke                        Seconder: Councillor Harper

To put questions, if any, to the designated Members on the discharge of functions of the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11(5).

There were no questions to designated spokespersons.

To put questions, if any, to Cabinet Members and Committee Chairpersons (or their representatives) under Council Procedure Rules 11(1) and 11(3).

There were 22 questions:

1.    Councillor Thorp: I was talking with someone from RMBC ground maintenance at the Swinton roundabout who explained that the 2 roundabouts are cut weekly with no traffic management even though there is a 45 degree slope onto the road, could you tell me why these 2 roundabouts are so different to the likes of Worrygoose roundabout that has no slope?

Councillor Allen, Cabinet Member for Communities, explained that maintenance arrangements for roundabouts were determined through site-specific risk assessments that considered factors such as traffic volumes, vehicle speeds, road layouts, visibility and risk control measures. It was noted that Worrygoose Roundabout had been assessed as presenting a higher level of risk due to its location within a largely dual carriageway network with higher traffic volumes and speeds, whereas Swinton Roundabout had been assessed as lower risk and could be maintained using specialist equipment designed for steep slopes. Councillor Allen offered to arrange further discussions with appropriate Street Scene officers to provide more detailed information on the risk assessments and maintenance requirements for specific roundabouts.

In his supplementary, Councillor Thorp welcomed the offer of further discussion and raised concerns about the cost and frequency of maintenance on roundabouts. It was noted that the roundabout was cut only a limited number of times each year and that additional funding had been required to undertake further maintenance. He stated that the costs of maintaining the roundabout were significant and suggested that alternative approaches could be explored. Councillor Thorp emphasised the importance of maintaining the appearance of Swinton roundabout and expressed a desire to ensure that current standards were not reduced.

Councillor Allen welcomed any suggestions on how the Council could improve.

2.    Councillor Bacon: Persistent littering, ASB, and Flytipping continue on the A57. When will the Council finally implement a PSPO on the Aston & Todwick A57 and work with stakeholders to crack down on racing and ASB?

Councillor Alam, Cabinet Member for Finance and Community Safety, explained that, as Councillor Bacon was already aware, the Council had considered this as an option, including officers attending a public meeting organized by the MP. However, it was not seen that a PSPO would add anything to the enforcement powers which already existed across agencies. The Council therefore had no current plans to introduce a PSPO in the area to deal with nuisance vehicles. It would, however, keep the matter under review. Should information, and reports, demonstrate that a PSPO could be beneficial to tackle problems on the A57, then officers would again consider the feasibility of introducing a PSPO.

In his supplementary, Councillor Bacon challenged the suggestion that policy decisions should be influenced by a public meeting with the Member of Parliament and expressed concern about ongoing anti-social behaviour across Aston, Todwick, Dinnington and surrounding areas in the south of the Borough. He asked whether the Council would consider appointing a dedicated Anti-Social Behaviour Officer for the southern area, similar to arrangements operating elsewhere in the Borough.

Councillor Alam stated that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96.

Any other public items which the Mayor determines are urgent.

The Mayor invited all Members to attend a festive gathering at the Town Hall on 9 December. Members were advised that the event would provide an opportunity to meet representatives from local communities and the Mayor’s chosen charities, and would include a performance by a local school choir. The Mayor noted that attendees would have the option of supporting the Mayor’s charities through voluntary donations or by contributing a new, unwrapped toy to the Toy Appeal. Members wishing to attend were asked to confirm their attendance through the Mayor’s Office.