Mary Durcan elected Chairman of the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee

Mary Durcan has been elected as the Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Port Health and Environmental Services Committee.

The committee is responsible for overseeing a wide range of areas including environmental health, trading standards, animal health, pollution control, air quality, street cleansing and refuse collection.

It also oversees the operation of the London Port Health Authority, Heathrow Animal Reception Centre and the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium.

Mary Durcan, Chairman of the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, said:

“It’s a huge privilege to be elected as Chairman of the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee.

“This committee plays a vital role in keeping our streets clean, reducing pollution and ensuring the Square Mile is an outstanding place to live, work, study and visit.

“Our role also extends beyond the City boundaries, maintaining one of the largest municipal cemeteries in Europe, managing the largest Port Health Authority in the UK and protecting the health and welfare of animals across London and the home counties.

“I look forward to continuing our work in these areas and driving the City Corporation’s top agenda in protecting the environment.”

Mary was previously Deputy Chair of the committee and succeeds Keith Bottomley.

Mary has been a Barbican resident for 13 years. She was a senior manager in the NHS and a Magistrate for 30 years in Oxford. She has also been involved in Women’s Aid as a trustee and Chair of a local group.

The City Corporation is responsible for all port health functions on the tidal Thames, including imported food and feed controls, infectious disease controls, food safety and hygiene including water quality, shellfish controls, vessel inspections, and issuing  ship sanitation documentation and environmental controls.

The City Corporation’s Animal Health Service plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with UK and international regulatory standards covering animal health and welfare controls. This includes the operation of Heathrow Animal Reception Centre, which assesses all animals entering the UK through Heathrow Airport.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk