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Chairman's Communications

3 April 2008

Members, I am very pleased to welcome Councillor Allgood back today after his operation.

Councillor John West left me a message on Tuesday as follows ...

"Dear Chairman,

I'm so sorry that I've not been able to comply with your wishes for a speedy recovery - instead of 9 days I've now been here for 9 weeks. Thanks to all for your good wishes. I hope to be home soon."

From this you will be aware that he is still in St Richard's Hospital, Chichester. My PA is in regular contact with Bridget and will keep us updated as to Councillor West's progress.

Hosted Events

I have hosted four events since our last Meeting:-

On the 22^nd February I was pleased to welcome representatives of Silchester and Whiteley Parish Councils at Serle's House to present them with their quality parish accreditation.

The Reception in the Great Hall for the volunteers of the Royal British Legion was a great success. I have received many letters from the guests expressing their gratitude for the initiative of putting on such an event. I am also very pleased to say that, in the majority of letters, my office staff were singled out for the efficient way in which they organised the event.

A lunch was held at Serle's House to mark the retirement of Richard Ward.

Finally, the Annual Chairman's Concert was held at The Anvil theatre in Basingstoke on the 5^th March in conjunction with the Hampshire Music Service. It was a wonderful opportunity to see and hear our talented young musicians and I found it a interesting experience to be "piped in" by bagpipes played by one of our young people.

Engagements

February and March have been fairly quiet months as far as engagements go. However, I completed my visits to Council run residential homes by going to Deeside in Basingstoke. Again, I was made most welcome and it is comforting to experience, first hand, the good work our staff are doing. The residents I spoke to were very complimentary about the support and care they receive.

I attended the reception at the Winchester Discovery Centre to mark the launch of Hampshire's 2008 Definitive Map of Public Rights of Way. I had not appreciated just how many miles of rights of way we have in Hampshire and the work involved in documenting them all!

On the 7^th March I attended a service for Women's World Day of Prayer and on the 11^th attended a lunch hosted by Southampton Airport to mark the 40^th anniversary of Aurigny Air Services.

The Vice Chairman and his wife has been deputising for me at a number of charity balls organised by the Districts and Boroughs and also some other events. I am most grateful to him for ensuring that our County Council was represented at these functions.