Issue - meetings

A series of announcements were made to Council.

 1. The recent death of former Warwickshire County Councillor Doug Hall was announced. Doug Hall represented the Council from 1973– 1988. He also served for many years on Rugby Borough Council (serving Brownsover Ward) and as a Parish Councillor. Councillor Alan Webb stated that he had known Doug Hall for many years. He was a truly committed public servant who worked hard to get things done for his constituents. Councillor Izzi Seccombe spoke on behalf of the Conservative Group recognising that when a person stands for public office, they put their lives on hold. Councillors Richard Chattaway and Councillor Jerry Roodhouse echoed these views.

 2. The recent death of Bob Meacham OBE, Independent member of the Council’s Audit and Standards Committee, was announced. Councillor Alan Cockburn stated that Bob Meacham sat as an independent member of the County Council’s Audit and Standards Committee from May 2008 until August of this year. For 10 years between 1981 and 1991 Bob Meacham was Leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council being awarded an OBE in 1986 for services to local government. In addition to his public Service, Bob Meacham was a keen and talented motor racing driver campaigning Lotus, Jaguar and Volkswagen cars over the years. Council stood in tribute to Doug Hall and Bob Meacham.

 3. Councillor Nicola Davies (Chair of Council) informed the meeting that she had recently attended the opening of the Veterans’ Centre in Nuneaton. This, she observed was a good example of the delivery of the Armed Services Covenant. Councillor Bill Olner thanked the Chair for attending the event emphasising that military veterans have a range of experiences that can present challenges at any time in their lives. It would be good, he concluded if there was more than one such centre in Warwickshire. Councillor Bob Stevens explained that the Veterans’ Centre had originally been established in the offices of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. That arrangement had come to an end and new premises were identified. The move to the new facility had been supported in terms of materials and labour by Balfour Beatty.