Minutes:
The Worshipful The Mayor of Medway, announced that former Councillor John Avey had passed away. He had been a Member for Strood South from 2007 to 2019, having previously been a Member of Rochester Upon Medway City Council from 1987 to 1991. He had been the Chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee between 2011 and 2013, having served as Vice-Chairman between 2009 to 2011. In addition to Health Scrutiny, former Councillor Avey was also a long serving member of the Employment Matters Committee and the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee. On behalf of the Council, the Mayor extended condolences to the family.
The Mayor advised that former Councillor Peter Tungate had passed away. He had represented All Saints Ward from 1998 to 2000 as well as during Medway Council’s shadow year in 1997. He served as the Council’s first Deputy Mayor from 1998 to 1999 and had previously been a Member of Rochester-Upon-Medway City Council from 1995 to 1998. He had also been a longstanding member of Kent Wildfowling and Conservation Association.
A Member of the Council provided a tribute to former Councillor Tungate. She said that he had been a loving, kind and generous man who was funny, hard working, with a positive attitude, popular and a champion for the Peninsula. He had particularly enjoyed football and cricket, including playing for High Halstow Cricket Club. He was practically minded and had worked on the railway and had been determined to get a good deal for those he represented.
A tribute to Councillor Tungate, from former Councillor Bill Esterson, was read out to the Council meeting. He was described as a wonderful family man and a generous and supportive friend whose passing was a reminder of how deadly the pandemic was.
The Mayor announced that Sue Alexander, the Chatham Labour Election Agent had recently passed away. On behalf of the Council, he offered condolences to Ms Alexander’s family. Another Member of the Council added that Ms Alexander had been a passionate defender of the health service and an internationalist and had been involved in the work of the Boundary Commission.
The Mayor said that the Council continued to remember those who had lost their lives during the pandemic and looked forward to the continued roll out of the vaccination programme.
It was announced that the Head of Democratic Services, Julie Keith, had retired just before Christmas 2020 after 39 years’ service in local government. Julie had started her career at the London Borough of Greenwich in 1981 and moved to Medway Council as Head of Democratic Services in 1998 before moving on to the London Borough of Bexley in 2001. She subsequently returned to Medway in 2006.
Ms Keith had made a significant contribution to the democratic life of the Council and Members held her in the highest esteem. On behalf of all Members of the Council, the Mayor wished her a very happy retirement. Other Members recognised the contribution she had made to the work of the Council. This included recognising Ms Keith’s expertise, passion for overview and scrutiny and highlighting how good it had been working with her. Members wished her a happy retirement.