To elect a Mayor for the Council year 2024 – 2025
Minutes:
Before calling for nominations for the election of the new Mayor, the outgoing Mayor welcomed newly elected Councillors Olu Adeniyi, Esther Barrott, Thomas Bidwell, Shelly Bushnell, Nick Hilton, Dipesh Patel, Dominic Ramsay, and Beni Yianni to the Council and took the opportunity to make a short speech to the Council about her Mayoral year, thanking those that had supported her and summarising her tenure having had the honour to complete a second consecutive year.
Councillor Hart’s Speech on her Mayoral Year:
I am now going to give you a brief resume of the past year. As I said last year, what a year it’s been, only the third Mayor in Crawley’s history to do a second consecutive year.
This past year has been a more ‘normal’ year, if being Mayor in Crawley is ever normal. Certainly, for me it’s been one of the most privileged times of my life – meeting and interacting with so many of the residents of Crawley. We’ve celebrated birthdays – 50 years of the Town Twinning with Dorsten, the 50th anniversary of the Ifield Barn Theatre and the 70rh anniversary of the Crawley Horticultural Society.
There were also visits to the many and various communities of Crawley, celebrating the diversity and inclusivity within the town.
Thank you for putting your trust in me for a second time. Thank you for supporting me.
My very special thanks go to Hayley, a great support, advisor and general keeper of the diary!
Finally, I want to say thank you to the Crawley AFVBC – my charity for the year. We’ve had some wonderful times together raising money for the veterans of Crawley. Thank you to the residents for every penny that they have donated.
It was then proposed by Councillor Jones, seconded by Councillor Ayling, that Councillor Sivarajah be appointed as Mayor for the forthcoming year. A vote was taken.
RESOLVED
That Councillor Sivarajah be elected as Mayor for the Council year 2024/2025.
The newly elected Mayor was invested with the Mayoral Chain and made the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
Councillors Nawaz and Lanzer welcomed the new Mayor on behalf of the Council. In response to the congratulations, the new Mayor, Councillor Sivarajah, made a speech conveying the honour to be elected Mayor of Crawley. She announced that her husband would be her Consort for her year in office, and also announced that her Mayoral charity would be the Russell Martin Foundation.
Councillor Sivarajah’s Investiture Speech:
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed councillors, Today, I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude and humility as I express my sincere thanks for the honour you have bestowed upon me. It is with great pride and privilege that I stand here today, ready to represent not only our beloved town of Crawley but also to serve as a voice for our esteemed monarch, the King.
I am deeply honoured and humbled by the trust and confidence you have placed in me. To each and every one of you, my fellow councillors, I extend my heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support and belief in my ability to serve our community.
I am acutely aware of the immense privilege and responsibility that comes with representing our town. It is a responsibility that I do not take lightly, and I pledge to serve with integrity, compassion, and dedication. As your Mayor, I am committed to advocating for the needs and interests of all our residents, working tirelessly to ensure that Crawley remains a vibrant and thriving community that we can all be proud to call home.
My Consort for the coming year will be my husband Jey and I thank him for supporting me with my forthcoming Mayoral year.
In addition to my duties as Mayor, I am excited to announce that I will be working closely with the Russell Martin Foundation charity, which is my mayoral charity for the year. As someone who has dedicated their professional life to working with children, I firmly believe that education is the key to unlocking a brighter future. Every child deserves the same opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed, regardless of their circumstances. On behalf of the community, I am committed to supporting their efforts in any way that I can.
In closing, I want to thank you once again for your support and confidence in me. It is truly an honour and a privilege to stand before you today as your Mayor, and I am committed to serving our town with the utmost dedication and integrity. Together, let us continue to work tirelessly for the betterment of Crawley, ensuring that it remains a beacon of hope and opportunity for generations to come.