Minutes:
Country Parks
(1) The Chairman paid tribute to the four Kent County Council’s country parks which had been awarded Gold in the South and South East In Bloom Awards this year. Brockhill, Lullingstone, Shorne Woods, and Trosley Country Parks were all awarded Gold, with Brockhill also being named the South and South East Country Park of the Year for the fifth year in a row.
(2) The Chairman was also pleased to announce that eight of the country parks achieved the Green Flag Status this year and Lullingstone Country Park became a Queen’s Green Canopy Ancient Woodland site, one of only 70 across the UK, due to its veteran tree population.
(3) The Chairman asked Members to join her in congratulating the Country Parks Teams on their fantastic successes and praised everyone involved in making the Council’s country parks such wonderful places to visit.
Reconnect Awards
(4) The Chairman referred to the Reconnect Community Awards which had recently taken place at the Ashford International Hotel and said she had attended to present some of the awards including an Outstanding Individual Award, a Young Volunteer Award, a Well-Being Award and a Sports and Activities award. The Chairman said it had been a fantastic opportunity for the Council to celebrate the successes of the Reconnect Programme, and to reward some of the organisations and young people involved.
Kickboxing World Championship
(5) The Chairman paid tribute to a young person from Aylesham who had become a World Champion in the WAKO Children, Cadet and Junior World Championships that took place in Italy in September. Ruby Monger won the World Championship title after previously winning the World Ring Sports Associations -55KG English title in Chippenham earlier this year. The Chairman asked Members to join her in congratulating Ruby on her fantastic successes and wished her every success in the future.
Pictures of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
(6) The Chairman referred to Kent’s primary school children who were invited to draw pictures of Queen Elizabeth II to be displayed in the Stone Hall and the Exhibition Hall at County Hall. The Chairman said the response had been amazing and hundreds of pictures had been received. She asked Members to join her in thanking all those who submitted drawings and invited Members to take some time to view the drawings.
Ukraine
(7) The Chairman reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to those suffering from the conflict in Ukraine, referred to the later item about this on the agenda, and noted the presence of the Ukrainian flag in the Council Chamber.
Former Members
(8) The Chairman, with the deepest sadness and regret, informed Members of the death of Mr George Koowaree, former Liberal Democrat Member for Ashford East from May 2004 to May 2021.
(9) The Chairman said, in addition to his time at Kent County Council, Mr Koowaree represented North Willesborough at Ashford Borough Council and was also Mayor of Ashford in 1996 and 2016.
(10) The Council held a one minute’s silence in memory of Mr Koowaree.