Agenda item

The Chairman welcomed Members, the press and public to the meeting and reminded everyone that the meeting was being webcast.  He also welcomed, in particular, Councillor J Taylor to the meeting after her recent illness.   

He reminded Members of the recent sad news relating to former Councillor and Honorary Alderman Clive Hodson-Smith, who had passed away in August.  Clive had represented Datchworth & Aston ward from 1975 until1999 and had the title of Honorary Alderman conferred on him in 2007.  He invited Councillor T Stowe to say a few words. 

Councillor T Stowe paid tribute to Clive Hodson-Smith’s dedicated service and recalled his extensive interest in local residents in welcoming them to Datchworth.  He had taken enormous pride in completing his law degree after he had retired as he believed this would help him in his role as a magistrate.  He also referred to his role in setting up the Datchworth Museum, which Members had seen on the recent ward walk.  Finally, on behalf of his family, he thanked all those Members who had attended his funeral.

The Chairman also referred to the recent sad news that Robert Gordon, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council had passed away after having lived with cancer for some time.  Robert Gordon had been first elected to the Council in 1989 and had held cabinet posts for education, children’s services and resources and performance before becoming the Council’s leader in 2007.

He had been a Member of Watford Borough Council from 1982 to 1990, and again from 2002 to 2006.  He had also been the first Chairman of the Hertfordshire Police Authority between 1995 and 1997, and had served as an NHS non-executive director.  Robert had represented Goffs Oak and Bury Green wards as a County Councillor since 2009.  He had received a CBE from the Queen in 2012 for his services to local government.  Formerly, he had been a deputy lieutenant of Hertfordshire and until recently, a governor of the University of Hertfordshire.

The Chairman commented that Rob had been a wonderful colleague, hugely respected locally and nationally and a public servant in the truest sense of the word.  Robert had made Hertfordshire the County of Opportunity and had worked relentlessly to achieve this.  

The Prime Minister, Theresa May, had paid tribute to Rob in a letter to the Deputy Leader of the Council.  She had said that Robert had made a huge contribution to the Conservative Party and to the country during his many years of tireless work as a local councillor.  His service as Leader of the Council had been widely admired, and his leadership would be missed.  The strength of the tributes that had been paid to him from across the political spectrum was a testament to how respected he had been.

The Chairman detailed the funeral arrangements and stated that his thoughts were with his wife Susie, their three daughters and all at County Hall who had worked with him.  As a mark of respect, everyone present stood and observed a minute’s silence in memory of both Clive Hodson-Smith and Robert Gordon.

The Chairman expressed his delight to be joined by a resident of East Herts who had been honoured by the Queen in her Birthday Honours list for 2017.  Sir John Low CBE, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), had been awarded a knighthood for charitable services.  He was a highly respected figure in British life and it was a great privilege that he and his wife, Lady Low, were present at the meeting.  CAF worked with thousands of donors, helping them give hundreds of pounds to charities around the world.  CAF also provided banking, investment and payroll-giving services to charities, conducted research and lobbied government to promote charitable giving. 

Sir John had served as its CEO for the last decade.  During that time, he had overseen a significant increase in the funds raised from donors and amounts distributed to charities.  He had also developed a social investment vehicle to provide charities with early stage capital.  He had restructured and recapitalised the Charity Bank; created an extensive research wing; and, made the Foundation the core co-ordinating voice for the charity sector as a whole. 

He had also served as chairman of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO).  He had been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2008 for services to the voluntary sector and to deaf people.  He had previously been CEO of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, served on the House of Lords Appointment Commission and continued as a member of Council at City University of London.  The Chairman invited Sir John Low to receive a certificate in recognition of his achievement.

Sir John Low thanked the Council and expressed his honour at the recognition he had received.  He told Members that he had lived in the District since the 1980s and had found East Hertfordshire to be a generous place with a rich community life.  He referred to the numerous charitable activities and their contribution to civic life, particularly those in the voluntary sector.  He encouraged the Council to continue its fundraising and partnership activities and to take pride in its selfless efforts in serving the people of East Hertfordshire.

The Chairman was pleased to advise Members that the Council had been recognised in the Gold Stray Dog Footprint achieved in the RSPCA’s Community Animal Welfare Footprint awards 2017.  This was run by the RSPCA to recognise organisations that went above and beyond basic requirements to ensure higher welfare standards for animals in the services they provided.  The RSPCA had received a great number of entries at a higher standard than ever.  The Chairman paid tribute to Linda Last, the Dog Warden, and to everyone in her team involved in this achievement.

The Chairman referred to his golf day at which had been outstanding success, raising £1900 for the Herts Air Ambulance.  He had provided a trophy for the winning team, which was on display in the chamber.  He expressed his hope that this would become an annual event.  The Chairman also referred to other future fundraising events, such as the pantomime, Rapunzel, on 2 December 2017 and a Christmas Jumper Day for Officers and Members.  Further details would be circulated in due course.

As far as tonight’s agenda was concerned, the Chairman advised that he had agreed changes to the running order of the agenda.

In view of the public attendance for the Leisure Strategy item, this would be considered immediately after the Public Question.  Also, he welcomed Duncan Jones from the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership, who was attending for the item relating to Chargeable Green Waste.  Therefore, to avoid detaining him longer than necessary, this item would be considered immediately after the Executive Report.