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

The Chairman in his announcements:

• Welcomed Councillor Justin Lavender, recently elected to represent the St Nicholas ward, to his first meeting of Council and Zoe Pemberton who recently took part in Take Over (Herefordshire) Day at the Hereford Academy where she was a pupil.

• Informed Council that he had recently attended The Leadership Trust in Ross with The Princess Royal and was pleased to meet the Duke of Kent during visits to Belmont Abbey and Queenswood.  Due to the county’s strong links to the Dutchy, the Chairman had written to Prince William and Kate Middleton congratulating them on their recent engagement.

• Stated that the Goodwill Group had continued their fundraising efforts, raising money for a variety of good causes.   Recent events which included the Macmillan Coffee Morning, Jeans for Genes Day and Wear it Pink Day had collectively raised in the order of £2,400 and employees and fellow Councillors were thanked for supporting the Goodwill Group’s efforts.  The next event would be the Christmas Fayre at the Town Hall on Wednesday 1 December.

• Advised Council that he had recently delivered a cheque of £220 to Herefordshire Headway following his recent sponsored walk around Hereford Racecourse and was impressed by the various activities being carried out by the charity.  Councillors, staff and members of the public were thanked for their support.

• Informed Members that following its recent refurbishment, Widemarsh Street would be formally reopened on 4 December.

The Chairman took pleasure in congratulating:

·         All the winners in the Pride of Herefordshire Awards. The Royal National College for the Blind was the overall winner and was rewarded for hosting the 2010 World Blind Football Championships in August.

• Robert Weale, a former employee of Herefordshire Council now working for Herefordshire Housing, who recently won a gold medal for bowling at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

• Jacqueline O’Mahony, a Houses of Multiple Occupation and Enforcement Officer with Herefordshire Council, who received the Chief Fire Officer’s Letter of Appreciation for her outstanding work with the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority and other organisations for protecting the most vulnerable members of Herefordshire communities from fire.

• Mike Phillips, Managing Director of West Mercia Supplies who had been honoured at the Institute of Directors Director of the Year Awards, winning the title of top director in the public sector.

• Brimfield and Little Hereford Bowls Club for being one of only 5 clubs in England to be awarded a Highly Commended Diploma by Bowls England in this year's National Club of the Year competition.

• Meg Swain, Assistant Member Support Officer, whose hard work was recently acknowledged at the Herefordshire Group Training Association Awards Evening.  Meg was presented with the Thelma Cornish Trophy for Commitment to First Year Administration Training.

The Chairman had received the following two petitions:

• Petition from Mrs O’Donnell of the Guild of Guides calling on the continuation of the Tourism Information Centre in Hereford was presented to Councillor AMJ Blackshaw, Cabinet Member Economic Development and Community Services.

• Petition from Mr Hannah on traffic congestion on Elm Road, Hereford was presented to Councillor DB Wilcox, Cabinet Member Highways and Transportation.