Agenda item - Mayor's Communications.

71.1.      The Mayor informed the Council that she had been made aware that Councillor Mitchell was unwell and unable to attend the meeting and therefore Councillor Barradell would be responding to matters in her stead.  She was also aware that Councillor Cobb was absent due to a family bereavement and stated that the council’s thoughts were with her.

71.2.      The Mayor noted that in March 2015, the Council had agreed to support ‘Time to Time’ with an organisational pledge.  This was in support of a Notice of Motion that ‘This Council believes that mental health should be given equal priority with physical health as outlined in the government’s mental health strategy.’

The Council’s action plan to reduce stigma and provide support for people experiencing mental health problems had now been approved by Time to Change. The Time to Change Employer Pledge was an aspirational statement with meaning, indicating to employees and the public that an organisation wanted to take action to tackle the stigma and discrimination around mental health, focusing on the workplace in particular.

71.3.      The Mayor then invited Councillor Penn to come forward to sign the Council’s organisational pledge to Time to Change, as mental health lead for the Council’s elected members.

71.4.      Finally, the Mayor stated that she wished to offer the Council’s congratulations to the Member Development Working Group and the Democratic Services Team who had worked to secure the Council’s award for the South East Charter for Member Development.  The award from South East Employers and the Local Government Association following an external peer assessment was given in recognition of the Council’s commitment to and support for Member Development.  She then invited Councillor Mo Marsh as Chair of the Member Development Working Group, and Mark Wall as Head of Democratic Services to come forward to accept the award on behalf of the Council.