Minutes:
The Chair stated that it was with great sorrow that he had to commence the meeting by announcing so much sad news. He confirmed that there were five tributes that needed to be made and that he would be making these in the order in which the sad passings of those concerned had taken place.
The first tribute was to announce that former Councillor Pat Dillon has passed away on 22 July 2024 following a long period of illness. Pat had become a Councillor on 7 May 2015 serving the Pevensey ward until May 2019. During that time Pat had sat on many Committees and would also be remembered as a Bognor Regis Town Councillor and former Mayor of Bognor Regis. Pat had also been Vice-Chair of this Council from 2018 to 2019 and had been a popular and dedicated servant to the local community including roles as Trustee of the Regis Centre and Bognor Regis Shopmobility as well as the Bognor Community Action Network.
The Chair confirmed that Pat would be greatly missed, and he extended the Council’s condolences to Pat’s family and friends. Tributes were then paid to Pat by Councillors Bence, Goodheart, Greenway, Stanley, McDougall, Cooper, Brooks and Stainton.
In recognition of Pat’s commitment to the Alexandra Theatre, a request was made for a feature or room to be dedicated to Pat on the completion of the regeneration works.
The Chair then announced the death of former member of staff Cliff Robinson who passed away on 6 August 2024. Cliff had been responsible for the area planning office at Bognor Regis from 1974 until it merged with the Littlehampton office in 1987. This sad news had been confirmed by the Council’s former Chief Executive Ian Sumnall who had been a great friend of Mr Robinson’s and his family. On behalf of the Council, the Chair extended its condolences to Cliff’s family and friends. A tribute was paid to Cliff by Councillor Bower.
The Chair then announced, with great sorrow, the death of staff member Charlotte Hardy whose very sudden and unexpected passing had come as the most dreadful shock to all her colleagues here at the Council. Charlotte or Charlie as she had been known passed away on 24 September 2024. She had been a member of the Planning Policy team; had been the Council’s Senior Environmental Assessment Officer had been with the Council for over 12 years. For that time, Charlie had been dedicated in assisting with the preparation of the current Local Plan and would be massively missed by her immediate colleagues and all the staff at the Council. The Chair extended the Council’s thoughts and prayers to Charlie’s family and friends at this very sad time. Councillor Lury, as Leader of the Council, and the Vice-Chair of the Planning Policy Committee, paid tribute to Charlie and her work undertaken.
The Chair confirmed that it was with sorrow that he had to announce the death of former staff member Chris Lawrence who passed away on 22 October following a long period of ill health. Chris had joined Arun on 13 November 1978 as a Finance Assistant in the Treasurer’s Department before moving into the world of IT as an IT Advisor. He became Assistant Head of Technology on 23 October 2009 before moving up to IT Manager in 2013. He left Arun due to ill health on 20 July 2017 having given 39 years of service. The Chair extended the Council’s thoughts and prayers to Chris’ family and friends at this very sad time. Councillor Northeast paid tribute to Chris in recognition of his long service given to the Council.
The Chair confirmed that with the greatest sorrow he needed to report that having fought bravely for a long time, Honorary Alderman and former Councillor Paul English had sadly lost his fight and passed away in hospital on Sunday, 27 October 2024. Paul had been a district councillor since 2005 serving the residents of Felpham East. Paul had sat on a range of Committees here at Arun and would be fondly remembered for his passionate chairing of the Standards Committee and the former Overview Scrutiny Committee and also as a Member of the Constitution Working Party. Paul also served as a Member of Felpham Parish Council for 36 years and had been Chair of that Council on numerous occasions. Paul had been given the honour of becoming an Honorary Alderman of Arun District Council on 29 November 2023 in recognition of his long and elite service to the Council and the District of Arun.
As a Council, the Chair asked those present to extend thoughts and prayers to Councillor Joan English and to their family and friends at this very sad time. Tributes to Alderman English were then made by Councillors Gunner, Bence, Goodheart, Lury, Stanley, Andy Cooper and Northeast,
The Council then conducted a minute’s silence to the memory of all who had passed.