Agenda item - Mayor's Communications.

7.1            The informed the council that she was very happy that Robert Brown MBE had agreed to be her Consort during her mayoral year and she invited him to come forward to be presented with his badge of office.

7.2            The Mayor then noted that in keeping with the ‘Robert’ theme, she was also very pleased to say that Father Robert Norbury had agreed to be her Chaplain for the mayoral year.

7.3            The Mayor stated that she wished to recognise the decision taken by Councillor Geoffrey Theobald to stand down as Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Group.  Councillor Theobald had served on East Sussex County Council, Brighton Borough Council and now Brighton & Hove City Council and had chalked up an innings of 50 years not out!  It was truly a remarkable period of public service and she expected the innings to continue for a few more years albeit now as the night-watchman.

7.4            The Mayor stated that she was also aware of another landmark 50 - in that the theme for Pride this year was the Summer of Love.  It would be marking the 50^th year anniversary of the beginning of decriminalisation of homosexual acts and she was looking forward to joining the celebrations on August 5^th this year.

7.5            The Mayor stated that she intended to put the ‘Mo’-factor in mobilise and help galvanise the goodwill, creativity and compassion that our communities provide.  She would be paying particular attention to the five charities that she had chosen to support this year; Albion in the Community, the Martlets Hospice, RISE, the Clock Tower Sanctuary and the Sussex Heart Charity. These were organisations that gave support too and gained support from the people of Brighton and Hove and her hope was that there would be reciprocity and mutual gain between our communities and charities.

7.6            Finally, she was looking forward to starting her mayoral engagements and in the first two weeks would be attending:

·           Ladies Day Cricket in aid of RISE;

·           A vintage tea party for Alzheimer sufferers at the Autumn Lodge Care Home,

·           Martlets Hove Carnival,

·           the 67 Centre’s 50^th Birthday,

·           a Children in Need celebration,

·           Zanzibar’s schools project and exhibition,

·           Brighton & Hove Filipino Community Organisation New Officers Inauguration and Oath Taking,

·           A Young people’s concert of American music,

·           Hosting a reception for the Dutch Ambassador and

·           Attending the Fringe Production, Alan Turing the Musical

7.7            She believed that these wonderful and varied events reflected the diversity of our inclusive and welcoming city and she hoped would be the perfect start to her special year ahead.