Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Chairman of the County Council with great sadness reported the death of Councillor Morris Nicholls.
Councillor Nicholls was the County Council’s longest serving councillor, having been elected in May 1981. He had also been a Wheatley Hill Parish Councillor since 1983 and had served on the District of Easington Council from 2001 to 2009.
Councillor Nicholls was Chairman of the County Council from 1997 to 1999 and held the Cabinet Portfolio for Adults Services from May 2007 to May 2015 before taking an active role in the Health and Wellbeing Board and Children and Young People’s Scrutiny.
Councillor Nicholls contribution to the Council would be a huge miss and the communities he represented had lost a hardworking, dedicated and much loved Councillor.
All Group Leaders or their representatives, and Councillor Hovvels, paid tribute to Councillor Nicholls long and valued service and expressed condolences to his family.
The Chairman informed Council that he had attended the funeral of Bradley Lowery who was laid to rest following his battle with a form of rare childhood cancer. Bradley was a truly inspirational, courageous young person who had touched the hearts of thousands if not millions of people from all corners of the world and was guest at County Hall last year when he switched on the Christmas lights.
The Chairman thanked all those across the Council who supported a dress down day in support of the Bradley Lowery Foundation. The total amount raised by this should be announced by the end of the week.
The Council stood for a moments silence as a mark of respect to Councillor Nicholls and Bradley Lowery.