Next week sees the end of councillor Amanda Grimshaw’s year as Brighton and Hove’s ceremonial mayor and first citizen.
A report issued ahead of next week’s Annual Council on Thursday 21 May, shows she has carried out 363 engagements and events during her term in office.
As well as chairing the full council meetings, Councillor Grimshaw has presented people with their citizenship at ceremonies at Brighton Town Hall, hosted events and receptions for charities, schoolchildren and dignitaries and led the city’s Remembrance services.
The largest proportion of events carried out by the mayor this year were traditional, civic and heritage, followed by meetings, then events for young people, schools and graduation ceremonies.
Listed highlights include hosting a Victory in Japan day service and Harvest Festival at St Helen’s Church, Hangleton with her chaplain Reverend David Hazell.
She has hosted a wide range of groups and organisations at the Mayor’s Parlour, including students from Ashikita, Japan, Lunch Positive, Pelican Parcels and staff and volunteers from Royal Sussex County Hospital.
Councillor Grimshaw supported Allsorts Youth Protect, Brighton Women’s Centre, Hove and Adur Sea Cadets and Rockinghorse Children’s Charity during her mayoral year.
Her charity events included hosting afternoon tea in Pavilion Gardens, a charity dog walk and a sightseeing tour around the city.
After handing over the mayoral chain, Councillor Grimshaw will return to her role representing Hangleton and Knoll ward.
The current deputy mayor, Hollingdean and Fiveways Labour councillor Theresa Fowler is expected to take over the role.
Councillor Fowler and former deputy mayor councillor Ty Galvin have supported the mayor in her role throughout the year.
The Annual Council meeting is due to take place at Brighton Town Hall at 4.30pm on Thursday 21 May. The meeting is scheduled for webcast.
Meet the mayor couple of times, down to earth and approachable. Thank you for your service
Agreed, I met her at a charity event and she was so down to earth and lovely
Amanda is a top woman who has been placed in the most difficult of situations over the past year. She truly does care for Brighton and Hove and the criticism of her has been unjust and unfair. Thank you for all you’ve done Amanda and I hope you have very nice rest at the end of your Mayorship.
I recall that in the past Mayors of both Brighton and Hove carried out around 600 engagements in a year. Do we nowadays have a part-time Mayor?
Being Civic Mayor is a part time role and always has been.
Would you do it as a full time job for £ 20 k a year (the mayor gets paid an extra £6k a year on top of the basic Councillor allowance of £ 14k)
The last mayor also did 353 engagements, so Amanda smashed that one, lol.
An excellent mayor. Thank you for your service, Amanda.