The Cardiff Council held its annual meeting on May 23, 2024. The meeting included tributes to former councillors, the election of the new Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor, and various administrative appointments and announcements.

Tributes to Former Councillors

The meeting began with tributes to former Councillor Monika Walsh and former Councillor Just One Thing. Monika Walsh, originally from Liverpool, served Cardiff Council for over three decades and held multiple mayoral roles, including Lord Mayor in 2016. She raised over £100,000 for Cancer Research UK while being treated for cancer. Just One Thing, originally from Lahore, served as a social worker and magistrate before being elected for Riverside Ward in 1995 and 2008. He was instrumental in raising funds to open the Dasme Singh Sada Gurdwara on Tudor Street.

Election of the Lord Mayor

Councillor Hugh Thomas proposed Councillor Jane Henshaw for the position of Lord Mayor for the 2024/25 municipal year. Jane Henshaw, born in Wrexham, has a background in education and acupuncture and has been a councillor for the Splot ward since 2017. She has held various roles, including Deputy Lord Mayor, and is committed to tackling inequality and poverty. The nomination was seconded by Councillor Rodney Berman, and Jane Henshaw was elected as the 119th Lord Mayor of Cardiff.

Election of the Deputy Lord Mayor

Councillor John Lancaster proposed Councillor Helen Lloyd Jones for the position of Deputy Lord Mayor. Helen Lloyd Jones has a background in environmental issues and engineering and has been active in various community and environmental initiatives. The nomination was seconded by Councillor Andrea Gibson, and Helen Lloyd Jones was elected as the Deputy Lord Mayor for the 2024/25 municipal year.

Thanks to the Outgoing Lord Mayor

Councillor Hugh Thomas and other council leaders expressed their gratitude to the outgoing Lord Mayor, Councillor Bablin Molik, for her service. Bablin Molik was the first woman of color and the first Muslim to serve as Lord Mayor of Cardiff. She attended around 270 official engagements and raised significant funds for her nominated charity, U-Can Productions, which supports children and young adults with sight loss.

Administrative Appointments and Announcements

• Apologies for Absence: Apologies were received from Councillors Waheeda Abdul-Sathar, Owen Jones, Jacky Jones, and Heather Joyce.
• Declaration of Interests: All members declared a personal interest in item 14 regarding members' remuneration and allowances.
• Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on March 28, 2024, were approved with amendments.
• Cardiff Undertaking: Members reaffirmed their commitment to the principles set out in the Cardiff undertaking.
• Charity for the Year: The new Lord Mayor, Jane Henshaw, announced Cardiff Food Bank as her nominated charity for the year.
• Pre-Election Period: The pre-election period for the UK parliamentary election on July 4, 2024, will commence on June 3, 2024. Detailed pre-election guidance will be provided by the monitoring officer.
• Leader's Announcements: Councillor Hugh Thomas highlighted the council's achievements over the past year and outlined the challenges and priorities for the year ahead, including addressing the housing emergency, improving educational outcomes, and making Cardiff a greener city.

Conclusion

The meeting concluded with the confirmation of various appointments to committees and outside bodies, the approval of the program of meetings for the municipal year, and the agreement on members' remuneration and allowances. The meeting ended with an invitation to join the Lord Mayor in committee rooms 2 and 3.