Minutes:
The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Althea Smith, welcomed everyone to the meeting and announced that the guillotine would fall at 8.35pm.
The outgoing Mayor informed the meeting of an incident that had occurred earlier in the day in which a soldier had been killed outside Woolwich barracks. The meeting sent the soldier’s family and the local community its condolences.
The outgoing Mayor announced that the leaders of each political group wished to make a statement.
Thereafter, Councillors Peter John, Anood Al-Samerai and Michael Mitchell paid tribute to the outgoing Mayor.
The outgoing Mayor asked for nominations for Mayor for the ensuing municipal year 2013/14.
Councillor Peter John, seconded by Councillor Lorraine, moved that Councillor Abdul Mohamed be elected Mayor of the London Borough of Southwark for the municipal year 2013/14.
Councillor Anood Al-Samerai, seconded by Councillor David Hubber, moved that Councillor Wilma Nelson be elected Mayor of the London Borough of Southwark for the municipal year 2013/14.
The nominations were put to the vote in alphabetical order and it was:
RESOLVED: That Councillor Abdul Mohamed be elected Mayor for the 2013/14 Municipal Year.
Councillor Abdul Mohamed accepted the office of Mayor. The outgoing Mayor declared that Councillor Abdul Mohamed was duly elected Mayor of Southwark for 2013/14. Thereafter the outgoing Mayor announced that the meeting would stand adjourned to allow the Mayor-elect to be robed. The outgoing Mayor, followed by the Mayor-elect, were escorted to the Mayoral robing room by the mace bearer.
Upon their return the retiring Mayor, Councillor Althea Smith, invested the Mayor-elect, Councillor Abdul Mohamed, with the badge of office. The new Mayor signed the declaration of acceptance of office and took the chair. The new Mayor stated that his Consort would be his wife, Caroline McDonald.
Thereafter the Mayor appointed Councillor Sunil Chopra Deputy Mayor and announced that his consort would be his wife, Varsha Chopra. The Deputy Mayor was invested with the badge of office.
The retiring Mayor, Councillor Althea Smith, gave her outgoing speech. Thereafter, the retiring Mayor and her consort, her daughter Serena Dyett, were presented with a replica of the Mayoral badge of the London Borough of Southwark.
The Mayor gave his incoming speech and announced that his chosen charity would be the Evelina Children’s Hospital.