Agenda item

Election of Mayor for 2019/20

For details of the Order of Proceedings please see page 7

Minutes:

The Mayor, Paul Lion, welcomed everyone to the Annual Meeting and gave a brief résumé of his year in office. He thanked Reverend John Quick and Reverend Will Stileman for their spiritual guidance. His aim was now to keep an eye on Councillor Bhangra, to look after his old ward. The Prime Minister had said to him that politics was brutal; the country stood at a crossroads of national politics. Members were local politicians and should look after the local crossroads first. It had been a privilege to serve the borough and its communities. It had opened his eyes to the huge number of volunteers who gave their time selflessly to help others. The news was full of doom and gloom but if you listened to the local communities this was far from the truth. He had visited many local schools during the year and had great fun talking to the future generations. The variety of events he had attended were too many to mention but the chance to raise funds for his two charities, the Royal British Legion and Royal National Lifeboat Institute, had been a fantastic experience.  He thanked everyone who had supported him throughout the year, including the Mayor’s Secretary and the Mayoral Team, his loving wife and family, old friends and new, the presidents of the Rotary and Lions Clubs, Colin Rayner, who had been a fantastic Deputy Mayor, the Leader Councillor Simon Dudley and fellow Councillors.

 

THE MAYOR INVITED NOMINATIONS FOR THE ELECTION OF THE MAYOR OF THE ROYAL BOROUGH FOR 2019/2020.

 

In proposing Councillor Sayonara Luxton for the role of Mayor, Councillor Story stated that it gave him great pleasure to propose Sayonara Luxton as Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for the next 12 months. Sayonara was from Goa and was part of a big family, and had quite a big family herself. She had four brothers, two sisters and four daughters. Sayonara may have been of little height but what she lacked in height she made up for in experience and determination, and certainly made up for in making her presence known.

 

Sayonara had been a councillor in Sunningdale for 12 years. Four years ago she had been Deputy Mayor; three years ago she had been Mayor. As Mayor she had proudly represented the Royal Borough at the many events. As Deputy Mayor, along with the Mayor Dee Quick, she had celebrated the Queen's 90th birthday and presented Her Majesty with a very special birthday present from the Royal Borough, coats for each of the corgis complete with the Royal Borough crest.

 

During her year as Mayor Sayonara raised a great deal of money for charities, including the famous War Horse memorial which was in a very prominent position outside the entrance to Ascot Racecourse. Councillor Story was sure she would raise a lot of money for charities in the coming year as well.

 

Sayonara was a great fighter for the residents of the Royal Borough; she got things done. She had plenty of campaign honours including playing a major role in the campaign to stop Heatherwood Hospital from closing. The result was that a new state of the art hospital was being built and would open in less than three years’ time. More recently she had been part of the campaign to build a brand new leisure centre in Sunningdale, which would serve residents and school children from all over the Ascot area and would have a 6-lane swimming pool.

 

Sayonara was of course very well informed about the Borough; she had held some key positions on the council including Chairman of the Adult Services and Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel, which ensured some our most vulnerable residents were well cared for, and last year she chaired the Audit and Performance Review Panel which ensured the council's finances were in good order. 

 

He concluded that, in short, the Royal Borough could not wish for a more experienced Mayor and he had no hesitation in proposing Councillor Sayonara Luxton as the next Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

 

In seconding the motion, Councillor Dudley stated that it gave him great pleasure to second Sayonara’s nomination for Mayor. She had previously done a fantastic job as Mayor of the Royal Borough and he was sure she would do so again. He was also pleased to second Ian Luxton as her consort for the year.

Ian was born at King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill, London in 1954 and went to Queens’ College Cambridge in 1972 where he graduated gaining an MA. Ian qualified as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse Coopers in 1979 and was transferred to their Dubai office a year later. He liked it so much that he stayed for 14 years becoming general manager of the World Trade Centre in 1990, shortly after meeting Sayonara.

Ian worked with the Al Fayeds in Dubai and moved over to Harrods Finance in London for two years. In 2001 Ian switched to the entirely different trade of motor repair and was now Director of Finance for Nationwide Accident Repair Services and Chairman of M&A Coachworks which repaired the world’s finest car makes. Ian and Sayonara had four beautiful and talented daughters; undoubtedly his greatest achievement as a father and husband.

In conclusion, Ian would once again be an excellent companion and steadfast support for Sayonara during her year as Mayor. He was very pleased to second the nomination and wished them both a fantastic year of public service for the residents of the Royal Borough.

 

It was moved by Councillor Story, seconded by Councillor Dudley and:

 

RESOLVED: That Councillor Sayonara Luxton be elected Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for the ensuing Municipal Year.

 

The Managing Director declared Councillor Luxton duly elected Mayor.

 

Councillor Luxton made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, witnessed by Councillors Story and Dudley.

 

THE MAYOR (COUNCILLOR LUXTON) IN THE CHAIR

 

Paul Lion presented the Mayor with the Mace, the Borough seal and the keys to the Mayor’s Parlour.

 

In making her speech of acceptance, Councillor Luxton thanked Councillor John Story and Councillor Simon Dudley for their kind words of support. She had been delighted to be re-elected to serve as Ward Councillor for Cheapside and Sunningdale.  She felt truly humbled to be chosen by residents in the area to represent them again and also overjoyed to be chosen by her fellow Councillors to serve the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead as a Mayor for a second term.  She had now joined a very special group of Councillors to have served the Royal Borough as Mayor on more than one occasion.  She certainly did feel privileged.


Councillor Luxton explained that the last time she had stood here, she genuinely never thought that she would be doing the role for a second time round.  Although she had really enjoyed being Mayor, it was the hardest job she had ever undertaken.  It was a very demanding role made even more demanding when she had commitments like a huge family, great friends and a very precious dog.


Councillor Luxton explained that her chosen charity for the year was Thames Valley Hospice. She wanted to try and raise as much as she possibly could for the charity.  She did not fully appreciate the important work they did until she had visited the previous year.  The Hospice give friends, families and residents the best care in their precious time on earth.   When she had been Mayor previously, her chosen Charity was the Household Cavalry Foundation.  Shortly after expressing her support to them it was announced that the Household Cavalry regiment were to leave Windsor after 210 years.  She was sure that Thames Hospice was not going anywhere.  In fact, they were building a brand new Hospice to help support more residents so she was hoping for support to raise much needed funds for this Charity. 

 

She paid particular thanks to her friend and fellow Ward Councillor Christine Bateson.  Christine had been a great mentor and she had learnt a lot from her over the years.  Christine was very dedicated, committed to her role as Councillor, hard-working and, like herself, a little bossy at times.

She concluded by thanking Paul Lion, her predecessor and Colin Rayner, the Deputy, for all the great work they had done throughout the year.  

The Mayor presented Paul Lion and Mrs Laura Lion with their Past Mayor's and Past Mayoress’ badges.

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