Minutes:
The Chief Executive Mr Andrew Barratt made the following announcement-
“Thank you Mr Mayor at the meeting of Tamworth Borough Council held on Tuesday, 20th July 2021 it was resolved that pursuant to section 249 sub section 5 of the Local Government Act 1972 this Council does hear by confer the title of Honorary Alderman of the Borough upon Mr John Faulkner In recognition of his eminent service to the Borough of Tamworth whilst he was an elected member of the Borough Council, with that I would ask Mr Faulkner to join the Mayor on stage to receive his certificate thank you.”
Mr John Faulkner made the following announcement –
“Thank you for this honour, but more than thank you for putting up with me over the last 23 years.
It has been said that democracy begins in conversation and debate. Good decisions are made taking in to account all view points.
It is a sad fact in the age of social media that we seek out views which only support our way of thinking; even sadder that there are those who seek to silence and trivialise those with whom they do not agree.
Some think that politics is about personalities, or between goodies and baddies. To my mind is it about the future and how we can best get there together.
I wish you all the best in your deliberations, those here now and those who will follow. Thank you.”
Councillor J Oates made the following announcements -
“Thank you Mr Mayor I do have a number of announcements so I will go through those.
If you will remember Mr Mayor, not at the last Council meeting but the one previous to that we congratulated and thanked Councillor Paul Brindley , Mr Lee Bates , Zoe Adelle Clark-Coates and Eric Horabin on their awards under the Queen Honours that they received for services and efforts made in Tamworth, well this evening Mr Mayor I would like to add another congratulations to a local individual and on the 23rd July this year the German Ambassador in London presented local politician Terence Alec Dix or Terry or uncle Terry as some of us know him with the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. This was for his tireless work and effort since he was Mayor of Tamworth and in forging Twinning links with Bad Laasphe and also for the effort‘s and the work he’s done around the war graves in Cannock Chase where there are nearly 5000 fallen German and Austrian soldiers are buried so for these two things and the amount of work he’s done over the last 40 years he received the Federal Cross of Merit. For those who are not aware of what this is I believe it’s on par with the honours that we receive in this country for the Queens honours and it is awarded for achievement in the field of political, socio-economic and intellectual activity that has served the reconstruction of the fatherland and should mean an award to all those whose work has contributed to the peaceful rise of the Federal Republic of Germany. So Mr Mayor I would like to announce that Terry Dix of Tamworth has received this award from the German Government and I think that should be recognised.
Mr Mayor if I may continue to the other two announcements.
I think it should be recognised the wonderful work and achievement of not a Tamworth resident but a celebrity has done in terms of supporting the Tamworth Cancer and well-being Centre and that is the work of the comedian Joe Lycett who has again raised £30,000 for the centre and I think that should be noted Mr Mayor by this Council and I for one would like to send my thanks to Joe Lycett for using his famous celebrity status and actually supporting what is an essential piece of work that takes place in Tamworth.
Mr Mayor I will finish with my third announcement and that is, you will remember at the Annual Council meeting I suggested I would like to improve engagement across all Councillors where ever possible, bit later on we have a report that relates to this but for now I would just like to draw members attention to the creation of a Housing Committee which will be managed as part of Councillor Farrell’s Housing Portfolio.
We are still at shadow stage of this, just waiting for some final tweaks before we bring it to Council as an amendment to the constitution including Constitutional review, however that committee will be starting to meet this week in shadow form and will begin to form itself and gel itself together so that announcement is the creation of a Sub Committee of Cabinet which relates to the Housing and Homelessness Portfolio. Thank you Mr Mayor.”
Councillor K Norchi made the following announcement-
“Thank you Mr Mayor, it was simply to let everyone know at the meeting tonight that I will not be seeking re-election back to Council next May I’ve had a wonderful and challenging time over nearly 20 years that I’ve been on the Council and I thank all the people of the Bolehall and old Glascote ward for giving me the chance to be their councillor.
The reasons are simple I want to spend more time with my family and friends. As we know time creeps on and one never knows, also I shall be reaching the age of 70 at the end of November and as you’re probably aware by now I’m throwing a party down at the Swifts the doors are open, if you don’t come through it it’s your own fault. Also my dear mother and I’m sure that dear mother will make it, will be 90 at the end of January next year and obviously a bit more time spent with mother would be great. Just to finish Mr Mayor if it hadn’t been for that wonderful person the late Peter Seekings I would never have arrived on the scene of Council or local politics. There’s many thanks to be given out to people I’m not going to start tonight. Thank you very much. Thank you Mr Mayor.”
Councillor Mayor M Oates made the following announcement-
“Thank you councillor Norchi, I regret that you’re leaving us and thank you for all your hard work that you have done over the years I know you have worked for the benefit of Tamworth especially. Thank you sir.”
Councillor J Oates made the following announcement-
“Thank you Mr Mayor and I know it’s not within the rules but I would like to respond to Councillor Norchi’s announcement if I may as Leader of the Council
I would too like to thank Councillor Norchi for the efforts and the work he has done as a Councillor representing the ward of Bolehall.
Casting my mind back I remember there was some discussions many years ago about the Local Plan and the impact on the area that Councillor Norchi represents and I lived in the area at the time, Councillor Norchi was physically going out and knocking doors asking people’s opinions on that piece of Local Plan he was there in the forefront taking the abuse as well, but he was there and he was doing proper grassroots Council stuff and I remember that vividly.
Mr Mayor I’m looking around the room and I’m trying to work out who else was on the Council when he joined us in 2002.
I have fond memories of working with Ken I will support him within his last few months on the Council and anything you need give me a call.
The one thing I will always take away from Ken and I was told many years ago as a child if you don’t take anything away from conversation then there’s no point in having the conversation. Well the thing I take away from Ken sorry Councillor Norchi is every time he has met me in the members room since 2006 the first thing he said is “are you growing a beard or acting the goat” and that’s never gone away, but thanks Ken for all your efforts and representation given to the people of Bolehall.
We will support him for his next few months on the Council till he finishes and if he needs anything give me a shout.
I look forward to having a pint with you either before or after you finish next May but thank you very much Councillor Norchi.”