Agenda item

The Chairman to report on functions attended since the last meeting and other matters of interest to Members.

Councillor Clive Hooker thanked Councillor Rick Jones, the Vice-Chairman, and Mrs Val Jones, the Vice-Chairman’s Lady, for their support over the previous year. Councillor Hooker noted that Councillor Jones had stood in for him on a number of occasions and had done a magnificent job on his behalf in representing the Council. He also thanked Councillor Graham Pask who had stood in for both Councillor Hooker and Councillor Jones due to ill health. Councillor Hooker also expressed gratitude to the Chairman’s Lady, Mrs Christine Hooker, who he said had been a supportive, patient and wonderful companion when accompanying him at many of the civic events he had attended.

Councillor Hooker referred to the gathering in Shaw House in May 2021 to film his and Councillor Jones Declarations of Acceptance of Office and the exchanging of chains. This had later been shown at the Annual Council meeting and was the first time a Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Council had been installed via a video. He explained it had been undertaken in this manner due to the exceptional circumstances caused by the Covid pandemic.

Councillor Hooker thanked Sarah Clarke, the Monitoring Officer, and Shiraz Sheikh, the Deputy Monitoring Officer, for their support, advice and briefings before and during Council meetings. He also thanked Jo Watt, Georgia Marshall and Vicki Yull for managing his diary and providing him with general assistance. Councillor Hooker referred to the change in Chief Executive during his term of office, and wanted to record his thanks to the previous Chief Executive, Nick Carter, for his services to West Berkshire Council.

Councillor Hooker noted that the past year had seen a slow and steady recovery from the Covid pandemic which had been reflected in the reduced number of civic functions he had attended (55 in total). He commented that things had slowly reverted back to some normality, but the pandemic was still impacting on the way the Council operated with many staff continuing to work from home. He noted that most of the Council’s meetings were being broadcast live on YouTube which had encouraged engagement with the public. Councillor Hooker thanked all Council staff for their patience, dedication and commitment through the transition period, and having run the business of Council in an efficient, caring and professional manner for the benefits of all residents in West Berkshire.

Councillor Hooker then referred to the civic functions he had attended during the year, many of which had been managed and staffed by volunteers. He wished to thank them for dedicating their time and commitment to the organisations and charities they had chosen to support. The volunteering theme had been reflected in the Community Champions Award Scheme, with some of the winners having dedicated their lives to organising events to raise large amounts of money to fund their chosen causes.

Since the last Council meeting in March Councillor Hooker had attended eight functions, including the swearing in of the new High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire, Alka Kharbanda, in the Crown Court in Reading. Councillor Hooker was sure that members joined him in wishing her well in the office over the next year. He also expressed gratitude to Willie Hartley Russell, the outgoing High Sheriff, who had served the county unfailingly during his time in office.

Councillor Hooker noted that Councillor Pask, whilst deputising, had planted a tree in Bucklebury on behalf of the Council as part of the Queens Platinum Jubilee Tree planting initiative.

Councillor Hooker then referred to some memorable occasions for him which included:

·       Welcoming The Princess Royal to Berkshire for the British Horse Society Awards at Newbury Racecourse.

·       The Duke of Edinburgh’s Service of Thanksgiving at Reading Minster.

·       The Reading and West Berkshire Motor Neurone Disease Association gathering at Englefield House.

·       The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service ceremony at the home of the Lord-Lieutenant.

·       The Newbury Remembrance Day Service in Market Square, and the Remembrance Service at RAF Welford.

Councillor Hooker ended by stating it had been an honour to represent West Berkshire on behalf of West Berkshire Council over the past year, and thanked members for the trust placed in him to carry out the role of Chairman. He said it had been a wonderful experience and a privilege.

Councillor Lynne Doherty, Leader of the Council, thanked Councillor Hooker on behalf of all Members for his excellent service as Chairman over the last year, and for the preceding two years as Vice-Chairman. Councillor Doherty also thanked the Chairman’s Lady for her support to the Chairman during his terms of office.