No apologies for absence were received.

No declarations were received.

The Mayor invited each of the Political Group Leaders to speak

Councillor Oonagh Moulton -

I am delighted to move this motion to confer the title of Honorary Alderman on our former councillor Margaret Brierly in recognition of her 20 years of loyal and distinguished for Raynes Park ward.   Margaret has been truly dedicated to the community in which she was born and has served and is recognised for her work not just in her ward, but across the borough.  She has been involved with many voluntary organisations over the years and has a particular interest in health issues and supporting parents.  She has also supported, and been a member of, Merton and Morden Guild for many years.  Margaret has served in senior roles, in our shadow cabinet, and has also held cabinet positions in the conservative administration 2006-2010.  Her service to the borough was honoured in 2004 when she was elected as the Mayor of Merton, the first conservative mayor to do so for some 14 years.  She reprised this role, albeit as deputy, in 2010-2011 when I was mayor.  In addition to her work on the council, Margaret has served as a school governor at Raynes Park High School and Hollymount Primary School.  In addition, she is the vice president of the Wimbledon District Benevolent Society, and committee member of the New Friends of Raynes Park Society.  I think it is hard to find anyone who has worked harder for her community and she is respected by all parties across this chamber for her energy, her integrity and her courage.  We will all miss her and particularly those on the council.  She will have more time to devote to her family and especially to her nine grand-children.   I move that this council should confer the title, Honorary Alderman to Margaret Brierly, and note that she is a worthy recipient of this honour and she should join the role of honour of other distinguished aldermen of this borough.

Councillor Stephen Alambritis –

It gives me great pleasure to second the motion of Honorary Alderman for Margaret Brierly.  The leader of the opposition has faithfully and succinctly placed Margaret as a caring councillor, passionate about health issues, cabinet member for adult social services and was on the Health and Wellbeing Board.  She was mayor of this borough 2004/2005.  What many people don’t know was that she had a Boris Johnson moment herself, which she escaped.  Most of her duties wouldn’t fit into a 9 – 5 day, and she would often leave home early and get home late after attending civic events at other London boroughs.  Councillor Brierly was fortunate enough not to have joined the other London mayors at the occasion of a visit to the London Eye, when it broke down, leaving mayors suspended in the air, on a cold winter’s night for two and a half hours in complete darkness.  Where was Councillor Brierly?  She was safely in Merton, chairing a council meeting.  For that alone, she  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Mayor asked for a proposer and a seconder for the Motion of bestowing the title of Honorary Alderman on former Councillor Samantha George

Councillor Oonagh Moulton –

I am delighted to move this motion to confer the title of Honorary Alderman for former councillor Samantha George in recognition of her 16 years of loyal and distinguished service as councillor in Village ward and for this borough.  Sam has been a pillar of the community and has been recognised for her work, not just in her ward, but across the community.  She has served with distinction in senior roles in a former shadow cabinet in education and then as finance spokesman.   She was deputy leader of this council during the last conservative administration 2006-10, during which period she was also the cabinet member for finance and corporate resources and then for change management.  She has also held the shadow portfolio for culture, leisure and health.  Her service to this borough has been exceptional.   She has served on many panels and committees for the borough, including the South London Waste Partnership Board where she has been a long standing member and including former chair of the council’s pensions advisory committee.  Sam trained as a chartered accountant and has been working for over 20 years for many major UK accountancy firms.  She has also recently been promoted to the position of outsourcing services and she has now got increased international responsibility.  It’s hard to find anyone who has worked harder in the roles than she has, and she has been respected from across all parties for her exceptional financial work and knowledge.  In addition to her service on the council, Sam has been a school governor for three schools, most recently at Ricards Lodge, and has been trustee of a number of trusts.  I move that this council should confer the title of Honorary Alderman to Sam George and it should note that she is a worthy recipient of this honour and she should join the role of honour of other distinguished aldermen of our borough.

Councillor Stephen Alambritis –

It gives me great pleasure to second the motion to confer the title of Honorary Aldermen on former Councillor Samantha George.  I notice that we are joined tonight by Sir John Wheeler, the deputy lieutenant for this borough, and we sometimes have conversations at events and I do recall Sir John Wheeler informing me that in addition to representing the residents of the borough, Councillors do go out with the borough and are seen as ambassadors and representatives of the borough as well.  This is where I want to congratulate former councillor Sam George as I do know that over the years she has represented this borough at City University, the Local Government Association, and London Councils, where we sat together on the audit committee and I do know she was and has been highly regarded for her professionalism and her financial acumen and knowledge and it was also good to know  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.