Agenda item
Announcements
To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Leader of the Council, Members of the Executive, Chairs of Scrutiny Committees and the Head of Paid Service.
Minutes:
(a) Sir Tony Lloyd, MP, and Former Member of Parliament for Stretford
It was with regret that the Mayor referred to the recent passing of Sir Tony Lloyd, serving MP and husband to Councillor Judith Lloyd. Sir Tony had represented the Stretford Parliamentary Constituency between June 1983 and May 1997 having been elected three times. Prior to this, Sir Tony had served as a local Councillor on Trafford Council.
As a mark of respect to its former colleague, the Council stood for a moments silence in reflection of his memory.
(b) His Majesty the King’s New Year’s Honours
The Mayor took the opportunity to recognise those citizens and persons connected with Trafford who were named in His Majesty the King's New Years’ Honours List, namely:
Mr. Michael George Eakin from Altrincham, awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Music and to the community in Liverpool, Merseyside;
Miss Katie Gallagher from Urmston, awarded the OBE for services to Digital Technology Industry in the North-West;
Mr. Peter George Buchan from Sale, awarded the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the Nuclear Industry and to Young People;
Ms Amanda Chadwick from Partington, awarded the MBE for services to Children in Hospital;
Mr John Hubert Cox from Hale, awarded the MBE for services to Homeless People in Manchester;
Mr Nicholas Edward Johnson from Bowdon, awarded the MBE for services to the Business and Food Sectors;
Ms Jenny Tompson from Bowdon, awarded the MBE for services to the Business and Food Sectors;
Mr. Edward Everett from Sale, awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the Environment in Sale;
Mr. Daniel Herman from Bowdon, awarded the British Empire Medal for services to Education and to Holocaust Awareness; and
Mr. William Ellis Nixon from Sale, awarded the British Empire Medal for services to Young People in the West Midlands.
The Council joined with the Mayor in conveying the Council’s congratulations for their achievements and richly deserved recognition.
(c) The Leader of the Council’s Announcements
Councillor Ross firstly paid tribute to Sir Tony Lloyd and recognised his service and impact on the Borough of Trafford.
Councillor Ross provided further a summary of the following Council activities since the previous meeting.
- Trafford had won the Keep it Local award at the Annual Locality Awards in Bristol, recognising the impact of Trafford’s Community Hubs since 2020.
- In December, Councillor Ross had written to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities urging him to bring forward a fairer funding review.
- Councillor Ross had also written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a plea to keep the household support fund in place beyond the 31st March 2024, with the Council continuing to lobby the Government on this.
- In December, the first cyclops junction opened in the Borough to ensure better safety for pedestrian and cyclists.
- The Council had hosted the Greater Manchester Active Travel Commissioner, Dame Sarah Storey to show her the Council’s progress with road and junction improvements across the Borough.
- The Leader and Deputy Leader had visited Altrincham Leisure Centre to see the progress being made in the multi-million-pound investment of the centre.
- The Leader had joined colleagues in Stretford to see the regeneration ongoing in the area.
- Community Safety Officers had secured, alongside the Legal team, several closure orders in properties across the Borough, helping to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
- In November, the Waterside Arts hosted its first Prism Festival which had been a success.
- The Annual Time to Shine Awards had also taken place recognising the work of Council staff and teams.
- Councillor Ross mentioned the current situation in Gaza and Israel and the effect it was having in Trafford. The Leader recognised the deep impact upon communities in Trafford and the Council’s role in ensuring that communities were kept safe and felt safe. The Leader and Chief Executive had met with faith leaders over recent months to discuss how the Council could provide support.
(d) Scrutiny
Councillor Acton, Chair of Scrutiny Committee advised the Council that he had recently attended the Executive Committee and presented the Scrutiny response to the Council budget report, as well as a Task and Finish group report on Events at Old Trafford. The Council were informed that the Executive considered both reports and noted the recommendations of both. Scrutiny Committee members and Council officers were thanked for their contributions to both reports.
(e) Health Scrutiny
Councillor Butt, Chair of Health Scrutiny informed the Council of the items that were considered at the most recent Health Scrutiny Committee. This included an update on the Blue Badge service, and a CQC update for Adult Social Care.
