Agenda item

(1)      The Mayor spoke of the sad and sudden death of Councillor Ron Hughes who had passed away at his home on 9th April, 2016.  Ron had been elected to Rushmoor Borough Council in May, 2010 to serve the residents of Manor Park Ward.  He had been a Cabinet Member since 2014, holding the Health and Housing Portfolio.   Cr. Hughes had previously served as Chairman of the Community Policy and Review Panel and Vice-Chairman of the Corporate Services Policy and Review Panel. 

Cr. Hughes had been a well-known, well respected and popular representative of his Ward and would be greatly missed at the Council.

The Leader of the Council also spoke in tribute to Cr. Ron Hughes.

(2)      The Mayor thanked all Members who had supported his Charity Jazz  Ball, which had been held at Princes Hall on 4th March, 2016.

(3)      The Mayor reported that, on 12th March, 2016, the Council had granted Freedom of the Borough to 10 The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment.  Around 150 soldiers from the Regiment had marched through Aldershot, led by the Brigade of Gurkhas Band and their Regimental Pipes and Drums.  The Mayor had had the privilege of inspecting the troops before formally presenting the Freedom Scroll to the Regiment.  The Mayor expressed his pride at the important event for the Borough and the people of Aldershot.

(4)      The Mayor reported that, on 8th April, 2016 he had attended the funeral of Past Mayoress, Mrs. Sheila Frost, at St. Peter’s Church in Farnborough.

(5)      The Mayor advised Members that he had been honoured to have been invited by the President of the Army Boxing Association to attend the Inter-Service Boxing Championship Finals at the Combat Centre in Aldershot on 13th April, 2016.

(6)      The Mayor reported that, on 18th April, 2016, a 2¾ miles charity walk around Southwood and Cove had been held, taking in the three churches within the Parish of Cove, which had been led by Mrs. Jo Gosney.  It had been an interesting and informative walk, which had been followed by cream tea at Southwood Community Centre, which had been prepared by members of Southwood Church.  The walk had been very well supported and £280 had bee raised for the Mayor’s Charities. 

(7)      The Mayor reported that this was the last Council meeting before the local elections on 5th May, 2016 and that two Members would not be seeking re-election.  Firstly, Cr. Alan Ferrier and, secondly, Cr. David Welch. 

Cr. A.M. Ferrier

Cr. Ferrier had been a Member for Fernhill Ward since 1983.  Cr. Ferrier had served on the Cabinet as the Corporate Services portfolio holder from 2001 to 2007.  Over his time on the Council, Cr. Ferrier had served on most of the Council’s committees and panels across the various decision making structures.   In 1990 to 1991 and 2008 to 2009, Cr. Ferrier had had the honour of serving as Mayor of the Borough. 

In addition to being Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Cr. Ferrier had also held the post of Chairman of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee and Standards and Audit Committee and also Vice-Chairman of the Borough Services Policy and Review Panel and the then Development Control Committee.

The Mayor paid tribute to Cr. Ferrier’s wealth of knowledge and expertise in licensing matters over many years and Cr. Ferrier had been the most regular member of licensing hearings.   Prior to Cr. Ferrier’s 33 years’ service with Rushmoor, he had been a Parish Councillor on Baughurst Parish Council for fourteen years.

Cr. Ferrier’s experience and expertise at Rushmoor would be greatly missed and Members showed their appreciation for his long service to the Council and the residents of the Borough.  47 years’ service in local government was an outstanding achievement.   On behalf of the Council, the Mayor wished Cr. Ferrier well for the future.

Cr. D.M. Welch

Cr. Welch had been first elected to the Aldershot East Ward and had served from 1976 to 1979.  Cr. Welch had been re-elected to the then Newport Ward from 1979 to 1980 and then again from 1982 to 1994.  He had represented the Alexandra Ward from 1999 to 2002 and had served the residents of Rowhill Ward from 2002. 

Cr. Welch had had the honour of serving as Mayor of the Borough on two occasions – from 1988 to 1989 and again from 2007 to 2008.

Cr. Welch had served on the Cabinet from 2001 to 2005 when he had held the Community Portfolio and again from 2010 until 2014 when he had been the Cabinet Member for Health and Housing.   Over the years, he had served on many of the Council’s committees and panels and, most notably, had been Chairman of the Corporate Services Policy and Review Panel, Chairman of the former Health Committee and Chairman of the former Health and Housing Committee.   Cr. Welch had also held the post of Vice-Chairman of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee and the Leisure and Youth Policy and Review Panel.  He had also served on numerous other groups and outside bodies around the Borough, particularly Age Concern and the Rushmoor Swimming Association. 

The Mayor paid tribute to Cr. Welch’s experience and expertise and long service and, on behalf of the Council, wished Cr. Welch well for the future.

Several Members then paid tribute to Crs. Ferrier and Welch.  Crs. Ferrier and Welch both thanked the Mayor and Members for their kind words and best wishes for the future.