The Chair made the following announcements:

·           The Chair thanked her fellow councillors who joined her at the Civic Service at St Mary’s Church in Battle yesterday afternoon as they solemnly declared “that they would do their best during their term of office to exercise the responsibility committed to them wisely, diligently and faithfully, mindful of the good of the community and the needs of the people they served.”

·           At the service, the Chief Executive read that “we should live in harmony with one another and be willing to associate with people of low position.  To be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone and if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”.  She ended with the words ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”  The Chair thanked the Chief Executive for her lovely words well read.

·           August had been quiet Council meeting wise, but both Vice-Chair Councillor Thomas and the Chair had been busy representing Rother District Council at various events.

·           The Chair opened the Polegrove Open bowls tournament on Monday 7 August and, with the Mayor of Bexhill, bowled the first balls on pristine greens; she commended IDVERDE for their immaculate tending of this part of the Polegrove and Bexhill.  The Chair returned on the Saturday to present awards and to thank all those who took part.

·           On 15 August, the Chair unveiled an info board in Barrack Road Memorial Gardens, originally the cemetery of the Bexhill Barracks circa 1798-1820, where soldiers and families of soldiers from King George 3rd's Kings German Legion were laid to rest.

·           The Chair was pleased to be invited to join the Mayor of Bexhill on a part of her walk about along the promenade at Bexhill to celebrate Bexhill Day. Listening to some great music along the prom, the Chair was stopped by several residents to ask what was going on! When the Lancaster flanked by a Spitfire and a Hurricane flew low over the sea the only sound you could hear were the engines as all the people around were silent. Later, the Chair stood with the Mayor and members of the British legion who dipped their flags in honour as the Lancaster appeared again swooping from Beachy Head low over the sea. It was magnificent!

·           On Monday 21 August, the Chair and her husband Ron were guests of the ABF, The Soldiers Charity which is the Army’s national charity, here for soldiers, past and present, and their families for life, at the Brighton Race meeting.  They travelled by train and bus to the event, but being complete novices, they had no idea how to place a bet and were grateful for some gentle guidance and after some light flutters they came home £1.90 up.

·           On 15 September, the Chair and her husband Ron were guests of the Heritage Railway Association and the Kent and East Sussex (KES) Railway.  Hauled by a Crompton slimline Diesel, which used to run on the Charing Cross to Hastings line, they travelled in a Wealden Pullman Car with the Mayor of Tenterden,  Huw Merriman MP, Lord Faulkner, Lord Snape, Viscount Stansgate, board members of the KES railway as well as Steve Oates CEO and Chris Austin OBE from HRA, through some lovely Kent and Sussex countryside.  Councillor Prochak joined them at Bodiam and they listened to the Rother Valley railway Heritage Trust CEO, Mike Hart, speak with gratitude to Rother District Council for their support in progressing the Line from Robertsbridge to Bodiam. It was an excellent occasion.

·           The Vice-Chair of Council, Councillor Thomas had represented the Council at events at both Folkestone and Sevenoaks and the Chair looked forward to reading about them in the Bulletin.

·           The Vice-Chair of Council, Councillor Thomas, thanked the Chair, Councillor Mrs Cook for instigating, organising and leading the Civic Service on Sunday, which had enhanced the reputation of this Council both within the district and beyond.

·           In accordance with paragraph 2.2(a) of the Council Procedure Rules, the Chair exercised her discretion in favour of varying the order of business so that Agenda Item 15 was taken next, followed by Agenda Items 5 and 6 and then Agenda Item 11.

·           The Chair also confirmed that there was an additional agenda item 16, to approve the appointment of two non-executive directors to the board of the Council’s Housing Company.