Agenda item

To appoint a Mayor of the Borough of Charnwood for the Council year 2019/20.

In accordance with Council Procedure 9.1 of the Council’s Constitution, Council considered electing a Mayor for the 2019/20 Council year.

It was proposed by Councillor Miah and seconded by Councillor Brookes that Councillor Brenda Seaton be elected Mayor of the Borough of Charnwood for the 2019/20 Council year and until her successor becomes entitled to act as Mayor.

In proposing the motion, Councillor Miah stated he had been elected to the Council at the same time as Councillor Seaton, in May 2007.  What he remembered from those days was the energy and enthusiasm that she brought to the role.  She also brought life experiences which had enabled to be an excellent representative for Thurmaston and the Borough as a whole. 

After leaving school she had undertaken a variety of jobs in Leicester and further afield.  At the age of 35 she had gone back to college and gained GCSE, NVQ and degree qualifications and then worked as a high level teaching assistant at the same school she had left at 16.  She had recently retired from that job to be able to spend more time with her family and on her role as a councillor.  She would be supported by her sister who would be her Mayoress.

During her time as a Borough Councillor, Councillor Seaton had sat on many different committees and, until recently, had been Chair of the Policy Scrutiny Group.  She had taken an active role on committees, asking questions and focusing on issues that were important to residents of the Borough, and seeking to make the Council a better organisation.

She had always taken being a ward councillor very seriously and was a true community councillor.  She took a hands-on approach in Thurmaston that included being a founding member of the Thurmaston Action Group, helping to organise the annual carnival, undertaking numerous environmental projects and seeking to help people in the village.  This was recognised when she was elected as a County Councillor in 2017.

Councillor Miah concluded by stating that Councillor Seaton would be an excellent Mayor and he looked forward to the year ahead.

In seconding the motion, Councillor Brookes referred to Councillor Seaton being known for her straight talking and her sense of humour.  She had married David in 1982 and they had three children.  Councillor Seaton had always been a devoted mother and relished the challenges being a parent brought.

Councillor Seaton had recently retired from being a teacher.  The timing of her retirement was influenced by the anticipation of having grandchildren, a new role which she greatly enjoyed.

Councillor Seaton had been a Borough Councillor for Thurmaston for 12 years.  She was extremely active in the community and never hesitated to get involved with projects.  She had been fundamental in the relocation of Thurmaston library and also involved in planting daffodils with the Thurmaston Action Group, raising funds for the extension of the boxing club and helping to organise the Thurmaston carnival, among others.

Councillor Brookes also referred to the support that Councillor Seaton had provided to him since he became a Borough Councillor and what a good role model she had been.  He thanked her for continued support and wished her all the best in her role as Mayor in the year ahead.

Following the above speeches, the Mayor put the motion to the vote and it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that Councillor Brenda Seaton be elected Mayor of the Borough of Charnwood for the 2019/20 Council year and until her successor becomes entitled to act as Mayor.

Following this, Councillor Seaton signed her declaration of acceptance of office and stated that she was honoured and considered it a great privilege to serve as Mayor.  She stated that she was looking forward to meeting individuals, charities and businesses during her year in office.

Following a short adjournment, Councillor Seaton (Mayor for 2019/20) officiated for the remainder of the meeting.