Minutes:
The Mayor sent his best wishes to Councillor Gill Clayton-Hewson on behalf of the Council.
The Mayor reflected on what he referred to as being a proud week for Lincoln following Lincoln City Football Club’s success in winning the Checkatrade EFL Trophy at Wembley Stadium on 9 April 2018. He would be welcoming the Danny and Nicky Cowley on 12 April 2018 for a civic event where they would be presented with the Council’s Civic Award.
All other engagements undertaken by the Mayor were available for viewing via his social media profiles.
The Mayor presented Councillor Tony Speakman with a certificate to thank him, on behalf of the Council and the residents of Lincoln, for his service between 2012 and 2018 following his decision not to stand at the City Council elections on 3 May 2018. The Mayor added that Councillor Speakman was a figure of marvellous integrity.
Councillor Pete West was presented with a certificate by the Mayor to thank him, on behalf of the Council and the residents of Lincoln, for his significant service between 1983 and 2018 following his decision not to stand at the City Council elections on 3 May 2018. The Mayor said that he, the Council and the people of Lincoln were very grateful for all he had done.
Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of the Council, thanked Councillor Speakman for his six years of service representing the Carholme Ward. Councillor Metcalfe said that Councillor Speakman had brought some very good personal qualities to his role as a member of the Council, particularly in respect of his role on the Performance Scrutiny Committee and as Chair of the Audit Committee. He added that Councillor Speakman had demonstrated great attention to detail and independence of mind which had served the authority well and thanked him on behalf of the Council and the city.
Councillor Metcalfe also thanked Councillor Pete West who had first been elected to the Council in 1983 to the Abbey Ward, the residents of whom had shown repeated confidence in him as their local councillor. He said that when you thought of Councillor West you thought of common sense, plain speaking, independent mindedness, honesty and loyalty. These qualities had seen him in good stead as Chair of the Planning Committee and more recently in his current Portfolio Holder for Housing role as a member of the Council’s Executive. Councillor Metcalfe regarded Councillor West as a great friend to the Council and city who would be missed and thanked him for all the hard work, integrity and comradeship he had shown whilst in office.
Councillor Ronald Hills, Leader of the Opposition, thanked Councillor West for his advice and guidance when he first became a member of the Council, especially in relation to planning and the apolitical nature of those respective decisions made over the years. Councillor Hills added that he and Councillor West had become unlikely allies a lot of the time during their time on the Planning Committee and congratulated him on his length of service.
Councillor Hills praised Councillor Speakman as someone who really understood his topic, referring to the Performance Scrutiny Committee and Audit Committee and thanked him for his even-handedness over the years as Chair of the Audit Committee.
Councillor Ralph Toofany thanked Councillor Speakman for what he had done for the city in his time as a member of the Council and that he always considered him as a future Leader of the Council.
Councillor Toofany thanked Councillor West for his service and said that a lot of people would admire what he had done for the city, adding that he would be missed.