Transcript

Please be seated. A very good evening and welcome to the council meeting. I am councillor Will Lane, the Mayor. I would like to extend a special welcome this evening too to the children and parents from St Cuthbert School. to our meeting tonight. You are very welcome. Normally, at full council, we do have a chance for public speaking, but tonight is our annual general meeting to appoint the new mayor, so I'm afraid that tonight there isn't the opportunity to do that. I do understand, however, that you've spoken with councillor Folks, the lead member, I know the officers and Catherine would be very happy to meet with you again straight after this meeting. In June 2017, 72 of our residents tragically lost their lives in the fire at Grenfell Tower. I ask every member of our council to pay our deepest and continuing respects in the conventional manner by marking the moment with 72 seconds silence now. Would everyone please stand? Please be seated. The first item of business this evening is the election of mayor. May I please have any nominations? councillor Rossi. councillor Rossi. councillor Rossi. I nominate Tom Bennett. Can someone to second? councillor Rossi. Yes, I would like to second. Are there any other nominations? There are none, in which case I invite the proposer, councillor Rossi, to speak in support of councillor Bennett. councillor Rossi. councillor Rossi. councillor Rossi. Good evening everyone and thank you Mr Mayor. It gives me great pleasure to propose councillor Tom Bennett as our next mayor. It is an excellent choice. It was a lucky day for me when we selected Tom to be the Redcliffe candidate in 2018. He was young, fresh-faced and enthusiastic and you always think and you wonder whether they're actually going to do anything. But Tom is the real deal. He is hard-working, intelligent, very diligent with casework, kind and a joy to work with. Tom has political aspirations and fought the Ealing Southall seat in the 219 general election. However, he has never allowed his political ambitions to get in the way of the job in hand. That is, to serve the interests of the residents in Redcliffe Ward. Tom has talent and he is a very decent fellow and he is just the sort of person that you would want to be an MP. Indeed, when you go out canvassing with Tom, you find that everyone knows him. He is very popular with residents, especially the ladies. On the council, Tom has distinguished himself by being the Chair of the Environment Select Committee for two years. And he has also been the Vice Chair of the Planning Committee for many years. In his professional life, he runs a small environmental technology firm. I'm not quite sure what it does, but it reflects his passion for improving the environment. Tom studied economics in the United States, where he met the lovely Beatrice to whom he is now married. They will make a very glamorous pair as the mayor and mayoress in this borough. They now have two adorable children, Aurelia and Lorenzo, who are too young to be here tonight. But I hope they will get to share in some of the fun. Tom will make a wonderful mayor. He is very approachable and very keen to find out more about the life of the borough. Though we will miss him in Redcliffe, Hensington and Chelsea will gain a great protagonist, and I hope that he and his family will enjoy the experience enormously. It is a considerable commitment, but I hope it will be a richly rewarding one. And he will also be ably assisted in his role by the exemplary Arian Aretti. Thank you. I now invite the second, Councillor Thalesites, to speak in support of Councillor Bennett. Councillor. Thank you, Mr Mayor. And before starting, can I thank you and your Deputy Mayor for your service over the past year. It is a great thing that you have been the youngest mayoral team, I think, in the history of the borough. And I'm especially admiring of your courage recently in taking to the ring. It's one thing to enter the political arena and land some punches, and another thing entirely to step up to the plate in a boxing ring. So, now, if Tom is elected mayor, as I hope he is, I've heard whispers from Mary Therese and others that Arian might be the Deputy Mayor. And whilst I think Tom is wonderful for all the reasons outlined, I'm going to focus on Arian, who was elected alongside me in 2018 in Holland Park. And who has since then been an amazing advocate for the people and the peacocks of Holland Park. He's proudly British Indian, with a degree in information technology from the University of Strathclyde, as well as holding an MBA. And he also chairs an international relations think tank, reflecting his passion for international affairs. But in addition to his professional background, Arian also has a hinterland. And I know him not just as a friend and a politician, but also probably the most accomplished batsman in the council chamber, who has shown off his skills in the nets and in the strip, the cricket strip in Holland Park, and who I also know as a test cricket enthusiast, who will look forward to his two nations competing in a series this summer. I'm just happy that we've managed to tie him down as Deputy Mayor tonight, since I know that Virat Kohli's retirement last week created a vacancy for that series. As a councillor, Mr Mayor, Arian has served with distinction on the Environment, Housing and Planning and Licensing Committees. He's also a big campaigner, who has fought on issues like bike lanes on Holland Park Avenue, Kensington High Street, and also the installation of noise cameras in Holland Road. Whilst during the cost of living crisis, he worked with St John's Church to set up a free breakfast programme for residents in the ward on Saturday mornings, which was a great example of his civic mindedness and his compassion. But what makes Arian a perfect pick to be Deputy Mayor is the warmth and the energy that he brings in every room. I'm confident that not a single one of us in this chamber could say a bad word about one of the nicest councillors in the borough, someone whose winning smile and cheeky charm puts all around him at ease. And so I know that he'll bring that lightness and that sureness of touch to events across Kensington and Chelsea if he is Deputy Mayor. And I'm excited for him ahead of what will surely be a very fun and memorable year. We now turn to the votes. Would those in favour of electing Councillor Bennet as Mayor please show. The vote is in favour of Councillor Bennet. I therefore declare that Councillor Bennet has been duly elected as Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea for the ensuing municipal year. And there will now be just a brief pause whilst Councillor Rossi goes to the parlour to collect Mayor-elect Councillor Bennet. Councillor Bennet. Councillor Bennet, you have been elected as Mayor and so I now invest you with your badge and chain. I, Thomas Bennet, having been elected the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, hereby declare that I take the said office upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties thereof according to the best of my judgement and ability. Thank you. Colleagues, thank you. Thank you for placing your trust in me by bestowing on me the great honour and responsibility of being our Mayor for the upcoming year. This was not an honour I was expecting to receive but it is one I accept with deep gratitude and humility. I hope to enjoy my year as the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea but first and foremost it is a duty. A duty to represent our borough and all of its residents when called upon and to offer recognition, encouragement and support to the many outstanding causes and people in Kensington and Chelsea. As my Mayoral year commences I look forward to fostering civic pride, civic unity and civic joy across our great borough. I also want to specifically thank my Redcliffe colleagues Marie-Therese and Sydney for your friendship and support over the years and for offering your additional support for the year ahead. I am aware of the extra burden I have placed on you, especially in an election year, but despite this you have given me nothing but encouragement. And of course I want to thank our outgoing Mayor, Will Lane. Will, you have represented our borough with great distinction. You are the youngest Mayor in our borough's history and make me look like an old timer by comparison. But from the outset it was clear how suited you were to the role. And not just because your wisdom greatly exceeds your years, but because patience, good humour and kindness are perhaps the most important qualities required in a Mayor. And those are qualities you possess in spades. Throughout the year, you and your Deputy Laura have been warmly embraced by every corner of our community. Ladies and gentlemen, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the formation of our Royal Borough. And the union of what must surely be the Lennon and McCartney of English local government reorganisation, Kensington and Chelsea. Now, many of you know this story of course, but the original proposal was for the borough to simply be called the Royal Borough of Kensington. But following what we might call a period of sustained advocacy from the residents of Chelsea, Sir Keith Joseph as a local government minister wisely decided to change the name to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. And it was, well, it was a good thing he did. Not least, as I expect, we'd still be getting emails about it today. And I'm sure many colleagues can happily attest that Chelsea residents are no less assertive in 2025 than they were in 1965. And we wouldn't have it any other way. Now, much has changed over the course of 60 years. When Alderman Arthur J. Sims, the first mayor of our newly united borough, addressed this chamber in April 1965, the Rolling Stones were number one in the chart with their new hit, The Last Time. Our railways would not suffer the beaching cuts until later that year. And Mary Quant had just introduced the miniskirt at her shop Bazaar on the King's Road. But while some things may have changed, many things are still the same. 1966 marked the first year of the Notting Hill Carnival, a tradition that demonstrates that this borough is a place of incredible diversity, that attracts and welcomes people, not just from all over the country, but from around the world. In RBKC, we are rightfully proud of our culture, our history, and our sense of community, and the wide array of people that contribute to all of those. As your mayor, it will, of course, be my great honour and pleasure to represent our borough as our big-ticket events like Carnival and Opera Holland Park, where we showcase our vibrant corner of London to the world. But I will be equally honoured to attend the many smaller events across our borough and visit the myriad of local groups and organisations that make this such a special place to live. I look forward to breaking bread with friends at Almanar, to treading the boards with the thespians of Chelsea Theatre, and, of course, to going to see Abdi and the gang at the Earls Court Youth Club, the pride of Redcliffe, for the first time as mayor. Perhaps, though, my most important responsibility as mayor will be partaking in the commemorations of the Grenfell Tower fire. Next month will mark eight years since that tragedy, but the events of that night, its aftermath, and its legacy will be woven into the fabric of this borough forever. The response from the community in the intervening period has been inspiring and humbling. The community that has pulled together, helped each other heal, and honoured the memory of those who were lost. Grenfell, though, will never be behind us. It will always be part of us. And as mayor, I want to say to all those within the wider Grenfell community, I am at your disposal. Any small way I can help in the healing process, in remembering the victims, or in building a brighter future, please do not hesitate to reach out. There is nothing more important to the mayoralty. So, colleagues, it's going to be quite a year ahead, and there's no doubt I'll need guidance and spiritual support. And that's why I'm delighted Dave Matthews has agreed to be the mayoral chaplain for the year. And in a few moments' time, I will invest him with his badge. Dave is the newly appointed Dean of Chelsea, but has also been the associate vicar of St Luke's in Redcliffe Square since 2021. And I'm pleased to say, as the local councillor, that his flock have been exemplary citizens since that time. So, I can only hope, therefore, that he will have the same effect on me. My other big decision is, of course, the selection of my mayoress. Okay, perhaps I didn't have too much choice in that one. Not least as someone who's become accustomed to marital life, and is in no desire to bring it to a grinding halt. But joking aside, those of you who know my wife, Bea, will know how lucky I am to have her by my side. And what a credit to the borough she will be as mayoress. Together, we've brought two wonderful children into the world, Aurelia and Lorenzo, both born here in the borough. And we've certainly come quite some way since we met in a dormitory corridor in Massachusetts some 20 years ago. Although I suspect that even then, as the only Englishman surrounded by Americans, she may have pictured me as someone who might one day dress in robes like these. So I'm glad to finally live up to expectations. I also want to thank the team at the London Air Ambulance Charity for agreeing to be my mayoral charity. For those of you that aren't familiar, the London Air Ambulance Charity is quite possibly the world's leading fast response advanced trauma team. Via their two helicopters, they can reach anywhere within the M25 within 10 minutes to deliver life-saving treatment by the roadside. It's really quite incredible. Through their enormous skill and heroism, they have saved numerous lives in Kensington and Chelsea and across London. And I hope to further raise awareness of them over the coming year and support their extraordinary work. And lastly, I want to thank my good friend and colleague, Arian Oretti, the doyen of Holland Ward and the paladin of the Holland Park Peacocks for agreeing to be my deputy mayor. There is no doubt that the mayoral team will be a lot stronger by virtue of having Arian on board. Not only does he have deep links with communities across our borough, he also has that annoying quality of being impossible not to like. So finally, let me just thank you all one more time for the great privilege you have bestowed on me. I take up the mantle with humility and optimism, and I will strive to do our borough proud. I leave you with the words of the RBKC motto taken from Psalm 133, which of course all members know by heart. But for the benefit of our guests, quam bonum in unum habitare, how good it is to dwell together in unity. So I will now invest the mayoress with her badge. Thank you. So item two is the important matter of the appointment and investment of the deputy mayor. Councillor Arian Oretti has agreed to accept the office of Deputy Mayor and I'm sure he would like to say a few words after I invest him with his badge, or chain rather. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, dear councillors, residents, members of the public, friends and family across the world, and representatives of our voluntary and community. I'm deeply honoured and privileged to accept the role of the Deputy Mayor. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for placing your trust in me. I'm excited to support your vision for our borough, its culture, its spirit and its future. I truly believe we will make a fantastic team. As a Deputy Mayor, I look forward to working with you and reaching out to all communities across the borough. I'm committed to engage with residents from every background and to serving with dignity, respect and integrity. Our roles come with great responsibility. I pledge to discharge my duties to higher standards, upholding the values that make our borough a special place to live. As my friend, councillor Talasit mentioned earlier, though I was born in India and have travelled across the world, I would rather live and serve than here. As Mr. Mayor said earlier, the warmth and unity of our people is a testament to our borough's motto. What a good thing is to dwell together in unity, as you said, Mr. Mayor. I would also like to take a moment to thank the outgoing Mayor, Councillor Layne, for a fantastic year of service and to wish him all the best in his future endeavours. My gratitude also goes to my predecessor, Deputy Mayor Laura Burns, her exemplary service and support to the mayor, the borough and the community. I hope to live up to your standards and thank you for all your support for the opportunity to serve. I look forward to working together to make a borough an even better place to live. Thank you very much. Item three is the appointment of the Mayor's Chaplain. The Reverend Dave Matthews, who is Area Dean of Chelsea and the Associate Vicar of St. Luke's Redcliffe Square, has kindly agreed to be my Chaplain during my year as Mayor, and I am pleased now to invest him with his Chaplain's badge. Item four is a vote of thanks to our outgoing Mayor and Deputy Mayor. I now call on Councillor McOver, who will move the vote of thanks. Thank you, Mr Mayor, and may I be the first to congratulate you on your election as Mayor. I know that you and the Deputy Mayor will enjoy the enthusiastic support of this chamber for the important programme that you outlined. Now, it gives me great pleasure to move this vote of thanks to our outgoing Mayor, Councillor Will Lane. Will, together with his superb Mayoress Jenny and excellent Deputy Mayor Laura, have served the borough with distinction at all the civic roles and many hundreds of events. All of us have seen you run these full Council meetings with natural authority over proceedings, as well as a compassion for members of the public who are often speaking in public for the first time. You combined this with a phenomenal fundraising record for the Kensington Chelsea Foundation, your full-time job, and somehow managed to find time to become engaged to the wonderful Kate. We all offer you our warmest congratulations. Now, we know that the Mayor's Office team handle the full range of invitations through the year, but I'm impressed that Will has shaped these events around his own themes of broad inclusion, cohesive communities, and his love of music, history, education, and faith. Now, with his roots and accent firmly firmly from the Wirral, Will reflected that of the thousands of conversations he had as Mayor, not a single person remarked about this, which I take as a welcome sign of the diverse borough we live in. Whether he was speaking to royalty, whether he was speaking to royalty, England footballers, not necessarily the same thing, the Windrush generation, visitors and communities from Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Philippines, Japan, and many more, and across various faiths, visiting churches, mosques, and other places of worship, this is one borough like no other. Now, I said a year ago that Will had set some records as Mayor by his age and by his height, but I understand other records have now been set as well, such as his propensity for dancing. His carnival opening dancing was reported in the Caribbean press, and his VE Day celebration dancing went down well at Royal Hospital. However, I hear that a characteristically subtle intervention by Philip Chebotovsky was needed to prevent Will from taking to the floor at a performance at the English National Ballet School in Chelsea. But mayoral fancy footwork was again much in evidence in our great hall for another mayoral record. Will was the first mayor to host a town hall event without his mayoral chain, and indeed without his trousers, as he took to the boxing ring to close off a most successful £86,000 fund rating year for the KNC Foundation. Even the boxing gloves were auctioned to raise funds. A special mention for Councillor Catherine Folk's also being roped in, literally, for her own bouts in the ring. And the incomparable Gerard Hargreaves leading the ceremonies in black tie with four hours of continuous commentary over 30 rounds of boxing. So we all remember, that year finished off very well. So thank you, Will, Jenny, Laura, for serving the borough in spectacular fashion. We welcome you back, Will, to Queensgate Ward, and our council and our borough much enriched by your sterling contribution. Thank you. Thank you. And I'll call on Councillor Evans to second and to speak. I second. Ladies and gentlemen, honoured guests, and our wonderful departing mayor and deputy mayor. Laura Burns, thank you for being an original deputy mayor. You have brought so much of your vitality, your talent, your beauty, to the deputy mayoralty. One of the, several of the events that you told me you really enjoyed were going to the different embassies. And I went with you to the Nuremberg Christmas Market. And there was Laura engaging with the ambassador. And it went on forever. I don't know if it was her German skills or her legs, but whatever. She did a great job representing the borough. We also had, Laura said, what moved her, and one of her most memorable experiences, was sitting with Father Brian from St. Luke's Church in a teacup at one of the amusement rides. And she said that he had fits of laughter, which he normally is very stern. And they both broke into fits of laughter and couldn't stop. And I think Father Brian will never be the same due to your influence. I thank you for your time. And you made us all proud. You were very well known in your ward, which was Chelsea Riverside. And they will be very happy to have you back. And I know that you will continue representing the borough. You brought a lot of youth and vitality. And the young people really looked up to you. And you set an example for the young people, both in your ward and around Kensington and Chelsea. I wish you good luck. We all do. And we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the warmth and vitality that you brought to the Deputy Mayor T. Thank you. Thank you. I believe some other members would also wish to speak. Councillor Isay. I will welcome you and your deputy, and I believe you will be a good asset for our council and the borough. Please, Mr. Mayor, let me say a few words about the outgoing mayor and his deputy. It is a great honor for me to stand here today and express my deepest gratitude to the two remarkable individuals who have served our community with a distinction. Our youngest outgoing mayor, Consul Will Lane, and his deputy, Consul Laura Bernice. Although some time has passed since the annual general meeting you have visited, I firmly believe it is never too late to show my appreciation for those who have made a meaningful impact on our lives and our community. Consul Will Lane, your presence at our AGM, Adadihie, was not just symbolic. It was a clear demonstration of your commitment and willingness to engage with all residents across our borough. It spoke volumes about your character, your values, and your genuine care for grassroots organizations and the people they serve. Your education, your tireless energy, your hands on approach to leadership have felt a lasting impression. You have shown the leadership isn't just about speeches and ceremonies. It is about action, involvement, and being present where it matters most. You are a true asset to the royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Your efforts have made a difference that will be remembered. In particular, I would like to highlight your efforts to contact with young people in our community. Your involvement in boxing training sessions is an inspiring example. These sessions do more than just teach physical skills. They teach discipline, focus, respect, and resilience. They provide a positive outlet and an alternative to the negative to follow. By stepping into that space, you have not only shared your time and energy, but you have become a role model for us and for the young people in our borough. You have shown that there is another way that a healthy lifestyle, commitment, and hard work can lead to personal growth and community improvement. We need more of that kind of leadership, and I hope Consul and Mayor Bennett will do that role. More leaders who are willing to lead by example. We are not afraid to roll up their sleeves or work directly with younger people. Mayor Lane, your work in this area has not gone unnoticed. And I know many parents, community leaders, and residents are deeply appreciated. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. As you move on from your rollies, please carry with you our appreciation and best wishes. We thank you for your service, and we look forward to seeing you, to see how you continue to make a difference in the future. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Larry. Mr. Mayor, Councillors Lane and Burns, I wish to reiterate the hearty congratulations of my colleagues across the aisle to you upon finishing your municipal terms in office. councillor lane is a fellow member of the younger cohort in rbkc i know that ascertaining cross-generational respect doesn't often come readily on either side of the aisle but you have fulfilled your role with diligence and dignity and more than earned that respect during your maiden acceptance speech last year in this chamber you reminded us that the royal borough of kensington and chelsea is the grenfell council and that the responsibility for the disaster that claimed the lives of 72 of our residents fell on the council whilst in the eyes of residents and the community this council as an institution still has far to go and justice still has not been served the honesty and transparency in which you personally approached your civic role as mayor of the borough has been respected across the aisle and across all our communities i'm glad you've been able to visit my ward of goulburn on multiple occasions and work with some of our most disadvantaged residents you've also launched local businesses including those of a culinary variety i speak on behalf of the entire opposition group in saying that you have been a fair and even-handed mayor during the course of all our full council meetings especially when being in the firing line of some of the most difficult personalities this borough has to offer i also say that on a personal level because i canvassed you during the general election last year at your house and you didn't assume me away or cast any aspersions or expletives on me so on behalf of the opposition group i wish you a hearty congratulations to both of you and wish you greater success in the future thank you all right councillor folks thank you mr mayor and congratulations and welcome to the seat it's such a pleasure to see you there all i can say is to warn you is that you've got some very big gloves to follow councillor lane you have been an absolutely astonishing uh mayor and obviously you've been ably assisted by laura as uh to use mary therese's words to have two such fresh young energetic vital young people has set such an extraordinary example to all the young people in this borough you've really helped break down assumptions that uh that to what sort of people are politicians that they think we're all old and stuffy like some of us might be perceived as but actually there you are vital getting out there and as all my colleagues here have said really making an impact on the community and and that for me is what has been so wonderful is that you have connected with our young people and and who knows how many of them will now continue to be politicians or even future mayors when they've seen the example that both of you have set but as many have mentioned uh in this chamber earlier this year you set this very bold challenge to step into the ring and raise money for your moral morality challenge the kensington and chelsea foundation who do such vital work in this borough on tackling mental health isolation and loneliness and depression in our community and the great thing for me being part of that team was actually that you brought so many diverse people together what what hasn't been mentioned was before the ring there were 12 grueling training sessions that we did in north kensington with fit for life and that to me was wonderful being with young people in the borough hearing from them talking to them doing endless press ups with them and actually uh that was fantastic but also to be working with our youth um workers and youth and it just reassured me well i know already just what wonderful youth services we have to offer in this borough through fit for life through earl's court youth club and all the other youth services that we've got here um so it was absolutely fantastic that you have done that i know that mental health is a subject so close to your heart and it affects so many young people in the borough which is why i really salute your imagination and dare i say risky boxing challenge to highlight this issue to focus on the positive effects of boxing that have already been spoken about here um so i want to say thank you so much for connecting our youth services our young people our community and just showing how much we really care in this borough about the health of our young people and all that we can do to support them here um and also all that you've done in raising an astonishing amount of money for the kensington chelsea foundation it's really fantastic um i hope that your newly acquired six-pack um and boxing skills were worth a broken nose that you had to go through in the end and gosh you were brave in that ring i was really terrified watching you in there um i also want to say uh laura of course you've been absolutely fantastic another wonderful model to our young people and i really enjoyed going to the opera with you and various other things it was fantastic and to your mother jenny what how wonderful it was that you you had this opportunity to work with will together i hope you really enjoyed it um so thank you both so much it's been such a pleasure and uh to have you both representing this borough thank you councilor Okay Councilorון I will take this opportunity to welcome you as our new mayor i've worked alongside with you with environmental collective community and also currently familiar children um and i hope you'll do well for the whole borough. Turning to our outgoing mayor, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to to Will Lane and his deputy Laura Barnes for their endless efforts in reaching out to all parts of our borough, whether there is service for elderly, youth services, schools, and also youth activities. Their support has been truly invaluable, particularly in champion the fundraising efforts others have already mentioned. I was closely following Will on that process and I've managed to sit next to the ring and I think supporting organizations like KC Foundation who does contribute a lot to this borough, not only for the mental health but also the work they do in terms of bridging educational gaps where they bring resource outside the borough to help our communities. So I wish Will and Laura all the best and hopefully we'll see you in the committee meeting in the coming months. Thank you very much. Do any other members wish to speak? Yes, Councillor Ali. It's not often that, thank you Mr Mayor, it's not often that we have to queue for to thank the former mayors but Will has definitely ended so many congratulations. Mr Mayor, many congratulations for your election this evening as well as the deputy mayor. Ms Mayor, I look forward to working with you and I will mention that in my speech. But I'm here to congratulate our friend, I would say rather than wearing a colour of a blue party or a green party or red party, you wear the colour of RBKC and I think if that is something we all so thank you for the good work you have done as well as your deputy Laura Benz for the amazing work. It's been a tough year, I'm sure many events that you had to attend but if I just take a couple of them, I specifically would like to thank you for attending the British Somali graduation ceremony where across across the country across the UK graduates who graduate from Oxford Cambridge and other universities as far as Edinburgh to come to Kensington and Chelsea and celebrate the role of education and the pathway that is a pathway to prosperity to share with us and to to break a bread with us and to to that evening it's something definitely remarkable and I'd like to thank you and and hopefully to continue to inviting you to those wonderful graduation ceremony events you and the former deputy mayor to come and join us yes to speak about the events you've attended including Almanar iftar which I'm hoping the mayor will also attend during Ramadan is a wonderful event across party across the country everyone who's everyone will come to the Almanar iftar for just for communities it's not about the religion you could be Jewish Christian Hindu Sikh any faith or may it may not even have a faith but it still come to Almanar and have a Ramadan iftar with us and that's the beauty of having RBKC a barra which is multicultural a barra which your respected for who you are not specifically the color of your skin or the tribe or the religion or anyone else that different from others and that's what I'm proud of this part this this barra as a Kensington and Chelsea residents and finally the boxing just before the final of the boxing was a been mentioned and I was supporting and cheering you very well done for my age I don't think I would be taking part but yes I was one is young and tempted to do those wonderful things but was really really great and the fundraising you have done and the whole offices if I may take this opportunity to thank the volunteers I'm sure you will thank them our offices to thank and to be there with you and support you as well as the councillors and if I just finish with the last point you also support the local businesses as my councillor colleague mentioned and in Kensington and Chelsea and especially in a ward Goulburn ward which I happen to be starting a business I declared our interests are no problem at all I can you can definitely say that we can say Kensington sauce why I call it Kensington sauce because I love the barra and this is a wonderful place to be and I thank you once again for taking the time and to launch that business and hopefully once again come back and to see you launching your own business and the mayor as we've been mentioned in the technology so we are representative of our community and you've shown that power that that fantastic image and the character you and the deputy mayor former deputy mayor as well as your mum is here from the day you've been selected so I like it so thank you for all and many thanks for you've done and I wish you very well for the future and successful future for you have done when it's again thank you for your service councillor Benton thank you mr. mayor and congratulations I wasn't going to speak but I'll be very quick and and I presume most people are aware I don't particularly mince my words and I'm not particularly I hope that that also has the effect that when I do say something nice then that will be taken as honest as well so I'm just going to reiterate what I said when I first and this is sort of a double whammy what I first said to you when I heard about your your likely appointment which is oh another good one right can I ask the chamber is the motion for the vote of thanks adopted in which case I declare it carried I'll now present the past mayor with his past mayor's badge sorry and I'll also present the outgoing mayoress with her outgoing mayoress badge would councillor Lane like to respond thank you mr. mayor I would like to respond and may I start by adding my congratulations as well to you on becoming mayor it really is one of the most special things that I've done in my life and I know you're going to have the most fantastic year ahead I'm going to stick to my usual operating procedure tonight regarding speeches and meaning chiefly try and keep it short so in short I've had the most brilliant year representing our borough Kensington Chelsea it's it's not something that I take lightly it has been an immense privilege and what one which I am very lucky to enjoy so young none of it would have been possible without without other people the people who I like to say do the real work day in day out first I want Meryl team so that's Tony Gus Philip Ahmed Emily alongside all the other brilliant officers that keep our council going that includes Hannah in comms Douglas in governance Everton fan John who works in the postal team and of course Maxine our chief executive you know chairing full council really is made a lot easier when you have one of the most intelligent people in the entire room right next to you so thank you Maxine for everything that you do I also want to thank my mayoral charity the Kensington Chelsea Foundation it's already been mentioned before they do amazing work in the borough vital work whether it is in mental health whether it's supporting the educational chances of young people that's been mentioned and I think our charity boxing event demonstrated just how dedicated young people and I include council folks in that category are to working hard being disciplined putting themselves not first but putting others first putting their own safety potentially on the line to raise money for some of the most vulnerable people in our borough by the way my nose does feel better now I just see it out but it was it was it was all worth it because the total raise for the year came to over 86,000 pounds 41,000 of which was raised through the boxing event alone it was one of the best things I've ever done can really say that um I also want to thank you my fellow councillors because as mayor one of the most important parts of the role is being a person who's there for all councillors regardless of party view political affiliation and the understanding that you've shown me from all sides of the chamber in attempting to carry out that crucial function function possibly the most important function of the mayor has been very much appreciated and I think that bipartisanship has been sort of no better exemplified in my delight to attend a launch from the leader of the opposition group of the council of Kensington Source which was amazing you know I think I think starting a business at the same time as performing public service really is not something to be taken lightly so it was it was my pleasure to attend that I also want to thank my chaplain Brian who's just mentioned full council well Brian's Thursday morning 7 30 a.m. Bible study class has been the perfect way to recover from full council so thank you Brian for providing that guidance for me this year as I carried out that role I also want to thank my mum just for being steadfast in her love and support for me as she always has been whilst raising my brother and I as a single mum so thank you so much mum and to my beautiful fiance Kate I promise that now I'm not mayor I will have time to actually help plan our wedding it's it's difficult to single out any specific events in the year and I know I probably shouldn't and I'm hesitant to mention any one mayoral event in particular and there are so many good ones my colleague Sam so gracefully mentioned some of these but please do forgive me if I talk about just one and since I know we have pacifists in the room it won't be the boxing one of the boxing one of the events that really does stand out to me was last year when I hosted a reception in the parlor to mark wind rush day I felt genuinely humbled listening to the many lived experiences of people who came here to our borough to contribute positively to everything around us yet did that in the face of severe discrimination and racism perhaps most famously of which the 1958 Notting Hill race riots where those people who came here from the Caribbean were violently attacked part of the response to that was the creation of Notting Hill Carnival in 1964 and make no mistake we're so lucky to have Notting Hill Carnival in our borough had the best time there met the best people it was it was wonderful to do that as mayor that generation in the face of all they suffered made immense contributions to our country in our borough and one of those people who attended the reception was Alison Ingrid Lane but spelled L-A-Y-N-E Williams I hope she wouldn't mind if I now call her a friend when Alison arrived in London in 1969 she pursued a career in nursing and midwithery and gave 35 years of service to our borough and our country even in the face of the hostile and overt racism she received when she was training to be a nurse when I was chatting to her at the reception she told me that her husband her late husband Vernon Williams was a founding member of Carnival in 1964 and I'm happy to say that a photograph of him at Carnival now proudly hangs in the mayor's parlour a few weeks ago Alison and I caught up over tea and she was really generous in gifting me a copy of her signed book which is called Tell Me Something I Don't Know it's named after the catchphrase she coined when she was suffering racism during her life however the indomitable resilience that she showed was the beginning of a great journey of service across eight decades now that I'm no longer mayor I look forward to having the time to read her book and learn about her journey like so many others to make our country, our city and our borough a better place for everyone that's what we all regardless of our political beliefs I think want to do it's what should unite us and in the face of whatever challenges we may face in the future gives us strength to face them together thank you so much now would Councillor Burns like to respond I mean talk about following that jeez but yeah I'll say a few words to add so obviously being deputy mayor is not as hard work as it is being mayor however it's still a lot it's a lot for the year but it's really great basically being invited to so many organisations, hubs and charities in the Royal Borough of Kensington Chelsea is truly humbling and inspiring to see what joy and smiles can happen just when you turn up in a chain it's quite bizarre but it really does have a profound effect you will notice you might not, you won't expect it but it's really, it's incredible so yeah basically it makes all the volunteers and everyone that's involved they're doing so much for this borough feel seen, feel noticed and sort of acknowledging their work gives them something that you can't put a value on that and so it's really truly remarkable so I'm glad if that's all I could do if that's my one favourite thing of the year that would be it the fact that I had that impact on so many people because of the chain mainly but I was there too so I'll take it I'd like to, so I'd like to thank all the volunteers and all the people that welcomed us into their sort of events into everything that we went to everything they invited us to thank you so much for all the hard work you do it's so valuable and so precious it's been a wonderful whirlwind this year and obviously the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation do amazing works and through them we got to see more than we would probably usually see throughout the year so I just want to say thank you so much to the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation keep up the hard work you are appreciated and you are super valuable in this borough so thank you to all who welcomed us with that as well I'd like to thank my fellow councillors you have been really interesting actually some of you have really enjoyed coming to the events with me which has been really cool and you've all given such great advice so past mayors, deputy mayors and people sort of, you know, I guess are seniors if you will that's a horrible word to use but anyway, you know, people that just know our wiser cohorts have given us such really good guidance and tips and they've really helped us throughout this year as well and also on a side note to my Chelsea Riverside team thank you so much for supporting me this year really I appreciate it a lot and I'd like to thank the mayoral team you have no idea the work that the mayoral team do wow, they literally sort out our diaries they get us to where we need to be without them I think we would have failed at the first hurdle because it's a lot of work behind the scenes so thank you so much to Tony, to Gus, to Emily to Philip, to Ahmed you guys rock thank you and you were our rock so thank you so much for that and then last but no means least I'd like to thank Batman sorry, I mean Will for making me your Robin sorry, I mean making me your deputy mayor it was such a pleasure to watch you grow throughout the year and to see you sort of really thrive in your role as mayor and sort of to be there as your sort of second in command if you will was also a real eye-opener for me and I think I learnt a lot along the way so that I really appreciate that thank you so much for choosing me for the last time as the outgoing deputy mayor I'd like to say once again thank you all I shall now just pause for a moment in case any guests would like to leave before we start the remaining business though you are of course very welcome to stay and watch the rest of annual council thank you item 5 is minutes of the council meeting held on 30th of April this year the minutes of the previous meeting have been circulated may I sign them as a correct record item 6 declarations of interest does any member wish to declare a disclosable pecuniary or any other significant interest in any item being considered at tonight's meeting item 7 special announcements by the mayor there are none item 8 the chief executive's communications I have apologies from councillors Hargreaves Marshall North Wheel Ahmed and Adam and I have no apologies for lateness item 9 statement by the leader of the council and response by the leader of the opposition group I now invite the leader of the council to address the meeting for up to 5 minutes thank you and a very good evening to our new mayor well tonight's not about me so I'm going to be very brief tonight is about an historical and important changing of the guard and I always feel proud that we uphold such traditions and place such value and importance on the role of the mayor in this borough like all boroughs we are 60 years old this year something to celebrate and something to reflect on we are custodians of the borough it's streets it's people it's history and it's something that we as a leadership team and as a political group take very seriously and I still find it incredible that I'm only the 7th leader in this council's history Mr Mayor we're really looking forward to listening to residents on the doorstep over the next year as we shape our manifesto to maintain conservative values and leadership in this borough and fight for every ward in the local election which brings me first of all to Councillor Lane he has taken the role of mayor to new heights this year raising £80,000 for the KNC Foundation and visiting all corners of the borough London schools cultural centres religious leaders residents groups street parties sporting occasions all so important for the connection of communities and councils such reach and that wasn't the only reach that proved to be important as he embarked on his final visit to the boxing ring and his three round bout and it's impossible for me to stand here tonight look at Will look at Catherine and not applaud them for their efforts last week in which was no doubt the charity match of the decade and to the new mayor Councillor Tom Bennett we wish you all the best for the year ahead and we all know you're going to just be great so even when talented people leave and start something new like our mayor does every year it means a chance for someone to come in and refresh things and do things in their own way moving things forward which Mr Mayor also brings me to some changes in the leadership team we've also had a refresh on these benches with Johnny taking up the new environment and planning role and Gem starting out in a new position for finance digital and efficiency bringing together our efforts on net zero clean streets enforcement and the built environment makes sense and I know Johnny is keen to get to work and meet residents right across the borough through Gem we're also going to put extra focus on emerging technology and making the most of digital opportunities we want to be at the forefront of working with AI and automation so long as it sits alongside our principles of being prudent with taxpayers money and providing the best possible services it's an understatement but the world is changing at a faster pace than ever before and it is vital that we're in a position to benefit from progress and turn to AI and automation when services can be improved and when spending can be reduced so Mr. Mayor thank you and again best of luck for the year ahead I now invite Councillor Ali to respond for up to five minutes thank you Mr. Mayor may I again congratulate you as I've done before for your electing position as the mayor of the royal borough of RBKC as well as the deputy mayor my good old friend Councillor Arati it was a pleasure to work both of you with different committees while planning and housing and I look forward to working with you I and the Labour group of councillors are both looking forward to working with you once again congratulations to our former leader and the deputy former mayor I keep saying leader maybe one day you will be the leader who knows and that's no challenge to Councillor Elizabeth Campbell but yes former mayor many congratulations for the role you have played as well as former deputy mayor Mr. Mayor this 25 year is an AGM year as you're well aware of I am pleased to say I've been re-elected as the leader of the group and the leader of the opposition and I want to thank my fellow Kensington and Chelsea Labour group of councillors for electing me for the third year and this shows a stable and realistic leadership as I'm the only I'm the first and the only ever British Somali Labour group leader or group leader for any political party in the UK it's an honour to continue to lead the Labour group in Kensington and Chelsea you may remember last year Mr. Mayor that the leader of the council when I was elected a few years back she said that she was looking forward to working with the next leader as Labour group chooses leader every year but that was absolutely short-lived my Labour group of councillors have shown that they have a trust in me and this is why I've been elected for the third year but also to mention that my visionary and stable leadership that continued without reshuffling of every year as the leader of the council has been doing and you've just heard the reshuffle from one councillor to another position but that I don't know I wouldn't say it's stable or a strong leadership but that is a reshuffle which I don't have to do as a leader of the opposition it's continuing to support my fellow councillors and we will see next year what's going to happen on a more serious note Mr. Mayor we are here because of our residents our residents have elected us and we are the voice of our residents in our BKC and our residents across the borough not just the north but south and central of the borough and they have been contacting us to be their voice of this borough and they have been contacting us specifically the ongoing difficulties of human suffering in Gaza Palestine as we have residents who have been mentioning the bloodshed that has been happening and the carpet bombing in Gaza from the Israeli government of the Israeli forces of the last 19 months and the death toll has now passed over 60,000 6,000 innocent people including innocent people as well as minimum of 16,000 children that is unacceptable and furthermore the children and innocent civilians who have survived the relentless bombing of Gaza are still dying due to lack of food and clean water that cannot be that cannot continue Mr. Mayor and we will continue to call a ceasefire as well as the release of the hostages held in Gaza which to have peace and prosperity in that part of the world Mr. Mayor just calling a ceasefire is not good enough and I really urge the Prime Minister of our country the Right Honourable Serkir Stama and the members of the parliament parliamentarians as well as the government that are close to Britain including I would say Donald J. Trump the President of the United States to really work on a peace in that part of the world and to save innocent lives Mr. Mayor this is coming an election year and we the Labour Group of councillors will continue to campaign for safer and healthier homes economic prosperity throughout the borough not just one area but throughout the borough helping to create local jobs for the local people reducing inequality in the borough cleaner and safer streets for our residents and providing much needed improved health services for both our adults as well as disabled members of our communities throughout the borough and throughout RBKC supporting the young people is an important junction for us as a Labour Group of councillors because we want the young members of our community not just to dream of a better life but to build a better life here in RBKC so that they know we are supporting them to fulfill their prides of future rather than just being left alone and on that note Mr. Mayor I wish to thank once again our officers who have been supporting us year in year out for the work they do and once again I want to congratulate Mr. Mayor for your election for election tonight thank you item 10 ratios and appointments to committees the appointment sheet has been circulated in the supplementary agenda pack pages 3 to 10 may I have a proposer and a seconder for the report's reception I'd like to propose and I'm very pleased to second thank you I call on councillors Addenbrooke Larry Wade and Dent Code to move the nomination standing in their names I wish to move the nomination standing in my name I wish to move the nomination standing in my name Mr. Mayor I wish to move the nominations in our name I move the nominations standing in my name does council agree to note the political balance confirm the ratios and appointments to committees and agree the appointment of the chair and vice chair of the overview and scrutiny committee the recommendations are agreed item 11 appointments to outside bodies the appointment the appointment sheet has been circulated in the supplementary papers I call upon councillors Addenbrooke and Larry to move the nomination standing in their names on pages 11 to 13 of the supplementary pack I wish to move the nomination standing in my name thank you I move the nominations in my name are the nominations as set out in the supplementary agenda pack agreed and the leader of the council's nominees to London council noted the nominations are agreed or noted as appropriate item 12 there is no other business to bring to members attention that concludes the business of this annual council to speed things up may I invite everyone to remain seated as we shall now proceed with the meeting of all council's side committees to elect chairs and vice chairs all the relevant papers have been circulated may I ask members of those committees are the memberships on pages 3 to 10 of the supplementary pack noted I declare them noted members are now asked to appoint the chairs and vice chairs of the committees are the appointments listed on pages 19 and 20 of the supplementary pack agreed I declare them carried that concludes the business of this meeting the next meeting of full council is on Wednesday the 25th of June 2025 good evening up and we shall we see you in the next meeting we have to understand what do we begin we have your run the 것으로 Vai switch going in