Agenda item

To receive such announcements as the Chairman may wish to make to the Council.

The Chairman started her announcements with Awards/Accolades that had recently been granted to Hampshire County Council staff and had pleasure in congratulating them all:

·         Hannah West, a Careers Adviser with the County Council’s ‘Hampshire Futures’ service, part of Children’s Services, has been named Public Sector Careers Adviser of the Year in the UK Career Development Awards.

·         The Highways Team in Universal Services were ‘commended’ in the Decarbonisation category of the national Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) Awards.

·         Sir Harold Hillier Gardens had two exhibits at the Royal Horticultural Show,  Hampton Court and were awarded a Silver-Gilt and Silver medal for ‘The Retreat Garden: A Mindful Garden’ and a Silver medal for the exhibit based on the National Plant Collection which can be found in the Centenary Border at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Braishfield.

·         Dan Randall in Property Services recently passed his Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and is now a Chartered Surveyor after graduating last year from Portsmouth University with First-Class Honours. 

·         Sam Winterburn has just obtained a First-Class honours degree, another Property Services building/surveying degree apprentice graduated from Portsmouth University recently.

·         Adults’ Health & Care held their “Making a Difference” awards when 35 staff received recognition of qualifications gained, and celebrated both nominees and winners in eight different award categories.

·         Hampshire Care Association (HCA) Awards 2023: Manager of the year - Bill Dyet – Malmesbury Lawn (HCC run Care Home); Excellence in dementia care of the year: Malmesbury Lawn team – Malmesbury Lawn

The Chairman reported on a number of events since taking office including:

·         A Royal visit on 1 June when HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, attended the Royal Logistic Corps Freedom Parade in Winchester followed by a Service of Thanksgiving at Winchester Cathedral.

·         The Hampshire County Scouts Annual General Meeting and Annual Review held at Ferny Crofts Activity Centre, Brockenhurst.  Of particular note and interest to Members was that the Scout Team Award went to Gosport; the Adventure Scout Award went to Eastleigh; the Local Hero Award went to a member of Bramshill Scout Group [north Hants] and two Leadership Awards went to Bramshill and Waterlooville Scouts.  The Scout of the Year Award went to a young man from Totton [Netley Marsh Scouts].

·         Attendance at the Hampshire County Youth Bands Concert at Oaklands VI Form School, Waterlooville.

It was with sadness that the Chairman reported on the passing of Mohammed Mossadaq, affectionately known as ‘Moss’ who died suddenly of a short illness.  Moss was an Equality & Inclusion Manager at Hampshire County Council before his retirement and did prominent work in the community, particularly in Eastleigh.  Moss’s invaluable contributions to local government were recognised in 2011 when he received an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.  Moss had been involved with many community organisations and events such as the Asian Welfare and Cultural Association (AWCA) where he was instrumental in launching the organisation’s Community Meals initiative and the Eastleigh Mela, which began as a modest festival in 2006 but had now evolved into a very popular annual event attended by thousands of people.  Moss was also a Trustee for the Eastleigh Gurkha & Nepalese Association (EGNA), volunteered for the Bishopstoke Carnival Committee and was recently recognised as an Eastleigh Citizen of Honour, but regrettably, his declining health prevented him from attending the ceremony to personally receive this rare distinction.

Moss also initiated the Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2014. This prestigious accolade aims to acknowledge and honour individuals, businesses and organisations that had made significant contributions to promoting accessibility, inclusion, and community participation.

A funeral service had been held for Moss in Bradford, commemorating his remarkable life and legacy. His unwavering dedication to promoting equality and fostering a strong sense of community will long be remembered in Eastleigh and the wider community.