Issue - meetings

Report CSD21108

Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 enabled councils to award honorary freedom to “…persons of distinction and persons who have, in the opinion of the council, rendered eminent services to the city, borough or royal borough or parish or community…” 

At a special meeting of the Council on 18^th October 2021 a motion was presented calling for the honorary freedom of the borough to be awarded to Ms Emma Raducanu. The motion was amended and then passed, referring the matter to this Committee to consider.  Council officers had been pursuing this with Ms Raducanu’s team, but there was no further progress to report.

Members recognised that the award of honorary freedom was intended to be a rare and special honour, and agreed that it would be useful to draw up a scheme with some criteria for making future awards.

RESOLVED that

(1)  The current position be noted.

(2)  A scheme of appointment for honorary freedom of the borough should be developed for consideration at the next meeting.