Agenda item

At the conclusion of item 5 above, the meeting will stand adjourned and reconvene at 2.00pm in the Council Chamber in the Civic Office, Waterdale, Doncaster.

It was MOVED by Councillor Neil Gethin and SECONDED by Councillor Paul Wray, that the Council place on record its thanks and appreciation to Councillor Majid Khan for the manner in which he had fulfilled his role as Chair of Council for the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

Councillor Majid Khan responded as follows:-

“Distinguished guests, colleagues, friends and family.

I wish Mayor Curran all the best in her role as the Civic Mayor of Doncaster.

I hope it is as fulfilling and inspiring for her as it has been for me.

My year as Mayor has been an eye opening and amazing experience.

I’ve seen first hand the fantastic work which the voluntary, community and charity sector are carrying out.

I thank the dedicated, hardworking and selfless volunteers across our Borough who help to make Doncaster an open, inclusive and welcoming place to be.

I would like to thank Councillor Gethin for his support in managing the Ward work in Bessacarr, Cantley and Lakeside.  I know it is not been easy for him to look after the Ward on his own.  Without him, I would not have been able to carry out my role in the way I have.

I would like to thank my wonderful wife Sobia, for managing with three children and still keeping her sanity. Hamza and Zahraa for acting as my unofficial Consorts.  My family and the wider community for their help, support and understanding.

I am grateful to Cannon Stephens for acting as my Chaplain and ensuring that my moral compass was always pointing true North.  Our fantastic Labour Mayor, Ros Jones, who has always made herself available to me and Jo Miller, who fully supported me and gave valuable advice whenever it was required.  Unfortunately for us, her missionary work in Doncaster is coming to an end.

Many thanks to David, Amanda, Paul and David Milnes for their support and ensuring that I was fully briefed and on time every time.

David Chorlton, Chris Dungworth, Mandy Burns and Marcus Isman-Egle saw my vision for the Civic Mayors Awards.  We were able to work in partnership with local businesses and the DfE to deliver an awards programme to recognise the valuable contribution that the young people of Doncaster make.

I am grateful to Nadeem and Tariq Shah of VIGO Group, for agreeing to continue their sponsorship of the Civic Mayors Awards.

There have been too many events to list or to rank in any kind of order of importance, but my opening Civic Service at the Minster saw all of Doncaster’s religions come together, and my end of year Iftar meal held last week opened up Doncaster’s Jamia Sultania Mosque to all and allowed the people of Doncaster to break our fast together.

The Doncaster I have seen is one where our communities do come together for mutual benefit, and I have tried my best to ensure that these communities come even closer to work as one Doncaster.  Our Doncaster is a vibrant, forward thinking, embracing Borough, and it is the responsibility of every one of us to ensure that it remains this way.

Each one of us has a role to play in continuing to help Doncaster transform and perform.”

Flowers were presented to the out-going Chief Executive, Jo Miller, to mark her final Annual Council, and the Chair thanked Jo for her service to Doncaster.

The Chair then announced a short recess and determined that the meeting would reconvene at 2.00 pm.