To receive the Chairman's announcements and petitions from members of the public.

The Chairman reported that on 26 October, the County received a Royal Visit by HRH The Princess Royal to Global Radiodata Communications Limited facilities for the opening of the new business park. She also visited Milsys (uk) Limited at Rotherwas and Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The Chairman informed Council that he would be attending the opening of the Flood Alleviation Scheme at Ross-on-Wye on Monday 16 November.

Council was informed that Herefordshire Council had been presented with a prestigious award for having the best regeneration team in the region. It received the top prize at the RegenWM awards evening at Birmingham’s Millennium Point on the10 November 2009.

The Chairman updated Council on Herefordshire’s new recycling service. In the first week of the new recycling service more than double the amount of recyclable materials were collected compared with the same time last year.  This year 240 tonnes of recyclable materials were collected, compared with 97 tonnes during the same period last year.  This proves that people in the County are willing to do their bit for the environment.

The Pride of Herefordshire Awards took place on Wednesday 21 October.  Josie Pearson, 23, from Whitney-on-Wye, was named overall winner of the 2009 Pride of Herefordshire awards for her courage at readapting to life in a wheelchair after a car accident left her with serious injuries.

Councillors took part in Remembrance Sunday services across the County last Sunday.  This year’s commemorations have been particularly poignant as we remember those servicemen and women who have been killed or injured in Iraq and Afghanistan and the regiments continuing to serve there. He added that this was particularly poignant following the sad loss of Sergeant Paul Macaleese and Rifleman William Aldridge. He said that he was looking forward to welcoming home the 3rd Battalion currently serving in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

The Chairman thanked those Councillors on behalf of SACRE for attending the multi-faith event at Holmer Primary School which took place on Monday 19 October. Thanks were also given to the Mrs Julie Cecil and the pupils and staff at the school.

It was reported that the Council’s “in-house” fundraising team, The Goodwill Group, had been working hard throughout the year raising money for a variety of good causes.  At the recent annual coffee morning, The Goodwill Group ran cake stalls at several Council offices and raised over £2,500.00.   This sum, together with money raised at other fundraising events, will be divided between St Michael’s Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Care and Hereford Hospital’s Charles Renton Unit.  The Group recently made over £350.00 on Jeans for Genes Day which supports children with genetic illnesses and The Goodwill Group is also continuing to raise funds for Help for Heroes. The Chairman thanked fellow Councillors, Officers and staff for their support

The Chairman reminded Council that when debating item 9 the purpose of the debate would be to focus on the principals and core content of the constitution and the recommendations in the report.

At the close of Chairman’s announcements, Councillor RI Matthews referred to a recent royal visit in his ward and requested that Local Ward Members were informed in advance of any Royal visits that might take place. The Chairman advised that he would pursue the matter following the meeting.

The Chairman received petitions from:

Councillor MAF Hubbard and Mrs B Clay regarding It’s Our City Campaign, which the Chairman presented to the Cabinet Member Economic Development and Community Services.

Councillors: RC Hunt and PJ McCaull presented a petition on behalf of Mrs Smart of Leominster regarding Hay Lane, Leominster, which was handed to the Cabinet Member Highways and Transportation.

Mrs A Crowe, Chairman of Ledbury Traders Association regarding St Katherine’s Car Park Ledbury, which was handed to the Cabinet Member Highways and Transportation.