To consider any announcements by the Mayor or the Leader.
Minutes:
The Mayor reported on various events where she had represented the Council since the last meeting.
Church services included Maltby Civic Service, where a group of young people called the Environmentalists who were junior litter pickers and kept their area litter free, received the Maltby Town Council award for Young Person of the Year.
There was also the Rotherham Parade and Service celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. This was an extremely moving and thoughtful service along with the National Union of Mineworkers Memorial Day Service where Sheffield Cathedral presented a fantastic backdrop for the display of the banners from many Yorkshire pits with those from Kiveton Park, Treeton, and Dinnington Collieries among the banners from around Yorkshire. Most prominent was the banner for Kenningly Colliery. Kenningly Colliery would close on 18th December, 2015 bringing to an end the deep mine coal industry not only in Yorkshire, but in the UK as a whole.
It was an honour for the Mayor to represent Rotherham at the Inauguration of the new Master Cutler, Craig McKay, who announced that one of his two charities for the year would be Rotherham’s own Hospice.
The Mayor was also privileged to host the presentation by the Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire of the British Empire Medal to one of Rotherham’s citizens, Mrs Janet Swift. An amazing woman and one of Rotherham’s unsung heroes.
The Aagrah Business Group last week chose to stage their prestigious Annual Business Awards at Magna with about 1,000 people attending. Their Managing Director, Mohammed Aslam MBE, informed the Mayor that his decision to move from Leeds to Rotherham was evidence of a mark of confidence in Rotherham.
The Mayor also unveiled the Civic Society’s blue plaque on the Three Cranes Building on High Street dedicated to former Member of Parliament, Stan Crowther.
As well as attending the proposed Anne Frank +You Exhibition and learning of the work that the Anne Frank Trust had done with schools in understanding the consequences of unchecked prejudice and discrimination whilst at the same time exploring, understanding, respecting and celebrating cultural diversity, every effort must be made for this to happen in Rotherham.
The Mayor also attended the opening of Baby Blossom Boutique pop up shop in the Imperial Buildings. The owner, Katie, was a credit to the town, a young woman working hard to turn her dreams into reality and assisted by the Prince’s Trust.
But sadly not all was good news. Once again there had been a pointless attack on one of Rotherham’s senior citizens. The Mayor asked the Council to join her in sending best wishes for a speedy recovery to Mr. Tommy Ward of Maltby who was badly beaten in an attack at his home.
But to end on a cheery note this month saw the Chuckle Brothers light up of the Heart of Steel. This was a great evening with a good turn out and excellent entertainment from the Schools Brass Band. This saw people coming together to celebrate something positive which symbolised the real spirit of the town.