Agenda item

The Chair of Council, Councillor Duncan Anderson, delivered his inaugural speech

“Deputy Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Mayor Jones, Canon, Councillors, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I don’t think there is any other way I could begin but in thanking Glynis and Linda, for their kind words today in nominating me and the support and comradery I have been fortunate enough to enjoy in their company over the past six years.

Both of them alluded to my quite, diplomatic approach to politics, let me tell you the luxury of adopting such an approach is afforded to me only because I have these two formidable women backing me up.  

I also want to thank my mother, Fiona, both for agreeing to support me through the coming year as my mayoress, but also for raising me in the face of no little adversity, to be the kind of person who can stand here today worthy of the honour of being made mayor.

Thanks to go to everyone who has encouraged and supported me since I first entered politics, from my first election to today, I could not have got here without you.

But what all of you want to know is what am I going to do with my time in office, so let’s us start from where we are.

Doncaster’s Mansion house, one of few such still surviving, has been at the heart of civic life in this city for hundreds of years, and though the day to day business of politics and government may have moved out, this building still has a part to play, as a historic, cultural and social centre.

Supporting and championing the Mansion House is an integral part of the role of Civic Mayor and I will be picking up that baton and working with the Friends of the Mansion House and Council Officers to make sure this building is preserved and used to its best.

This Mansion House is a treasure and the opportunity to experience and enjoy it is the birth right of everyone in Doncaster.

To that end I will be organizing a series of events here.

When I have talked to my predecessors about their time in the chains, the most common theme has been that it has given them a new appreciation of the work volunteers of every kind do to hold society together. 

So throughout my year in office, I will be inviting volunteers from across Doncaster to take tea with me at the Mansion House, as a show of our appreciation for the work they do.

I hope to work with all of you Councillors to identify the groups in your wards who deserve to be celebrated, and invite you to attend when I am hosting them.

I hope that this will not be a one off this year but a mayoral tradition that will be taken up by those that follow me.

Traditions are a big part of this job, but they don’t just maintain themselves, I intend using my time to revive some of the old ones that in the disruption of the last few years have fallen out of use, we are already making plans for the return of the mayor’s dinner, and just this morning I have cornered Canon Stevens to talk about organising a civic service.

Of course, one of the most important civic traditions is the selection of the Mayor’s charitable causes. 

I am proud to be the first Mayor in Doncaster to be openly a member of the LGBT Community. Though let’s not kid ourselves, 530 years’ worth of Mayors, not all of them were straight, they just didn’t have the good fortune that I have had to live in a time where I can be both open about myself, and still raise to the position I now have.

It is with that in mind that I have chosen Doncaster Pride and the People Focused Group, as my causes for this year.

It is with pleasing synchronicity that my year as Mayor will coincide with much of Doncaster’s year hosting the UK’s national pride event, and I am excited to support them both on the main event and all things they do in-between,  the outreach and community building, which is while somewhat less flamboyant and attention grabbing, certainly no less important.

The People Focused Group are a peer support network working with many different communities across Doncaster, including the LGBT community. They promote wellbeing in a myriad of ways all of which empower and centre the people who they benefit.

I will of course be availing myself of all the old fundraising standbys, I expect to have torn my share of raffle tickets by the time this is over, but I also have something a bit more interesting planned.

I will be seeking sponsorship for a challenge I have set myself. I will be walking from the steps of the Mansion House to the top of the tallest mountain in Yorkshire, a distance of some 70 miles as the crow flies and more like 120 miles as the Mayor walks even before you account for elevation.

I hope in this, both to raise money and draw attention to the good work being done by Doncaster Pride and The People Focused Group.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Mayor for the work he has done in the last year, many of the threads I will be picking up were started by Ian.

And thanks to all of you for being here today to make this such a special occasion”.