Agenda item

To consider the recommendations of the Civic Sub-Committee to the Constitution Committee in relation to the following:

 

?         Honorary Aldermen and Freemen

?         Freedom of the Borough – 1^st Battalion, Mercian Regiment (Cheshire)

?         Flag Flying Policy

 

The Committee considered a report setting out the recommendations of the Civic Sub-Committee at its meeting on 3^rd August 2010 in relation to the following:

 

?       Honorary Aldermen and Freemen

?       Freedom of the Borough – 1^st Battalion, Mercian Regiment (Cheshire)

?       Flag Flying Policy

 

Honorary Aldermen and Freemen

 

The Civic Sub-Committee had previously considered a report on matters relating to the Honorary Aldermen and Freemen of Cheshire East Council who had been admitted from the demised authorities.

 

Cheshire East Council now needed to consider its own arrangements. A draft Scheme had been drafted for Members’ consideration as attached as Appendix 5 to the report to the Sub-Committee.

 

The Sub-Committee had resolved that the draft scheme be recommended to the Constitution Committee subject to the following:

 

1.      for the purposes of the scheme, the term ‘eminent service’ shall mean a minimum of 12 years’ service, whether consecutive or otherwise;

 

2.      the rights and privileges previously afforded to County Honorary Aldermen as set out in Appendix 4 shall be conferred on newly-appointed Honorary Aldermen in Cheshire East and incorporated into the scheme accordingly, subject to the following amendments:

 

a.      parking passes shall be provided for Westfields and Macclesfield Town Hall

b.      a life pass to Tatton Park and its facilities shall be granted to an Honorary Alderman and one guest

 

3.      the rights and privileges conferred on Honorary Aldermen under this Scheme shall also apply to newly-appointed Honorary Freemen; and

 

4.      where the title of Honorary Freeman has been conferred on a body or organisation, an appropriate representative of that body shall be invited to attend any relevant functions.

 

The Constitution Committee considered the Sub-Committee’s recommendations.

 

Members agreed that for the purpose of calculating 12 years’ service, Members who had served on both the County and a District Council within Cheshire East, or on the shadow authority, should have the number of years’ service on each body taken into account separately.

 

Members also had regard in particular to the arrangements for providing Honorary Aldermen and Freemen with access to parking facilities and to key civic functions such as the County Show and the RHS Show. Members felt that any arrangements should apply indiscriminately to all Cheshire East Aldermen and Freemen irrespective of the rights and privileges bestowed on them by individual legacy authorities. Members also recognised the need to consider carefully the potential resource implications of any such privileges.

 

During consideration of this matter, Members also felt that the arrangements for serving councillors should also be clarified, particularly with regard to attendance at civic functions.

 

It was clear from the discussion that more information was required in certain areas and that some aspects of the scheme would need to be deferred for further consideration.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the draft scheme relating to the appointment, rights and privileges of Honorary Aldermen and Freemen as set out at Appendix 5 to the report to the Civic Sub-Committee be recommended to Council for adoption and incorporation into the Constitution subject to the following:

 

1.      for the purposes of the scheme, the term ‘eminent service’ shall mean a minimum of 12 years’ service, whether consecutive or otherwise. Where a Member has served on more than one former authority of Cheshire East, whether concurrently or otherwise, including the shadow authority, the service with each authority shall be taken into account separately for the purpose of determining eminent service.

 

2.      Honorary Aldermen of Cheshire East Council shall enjoy such privileges as may properly be conferred by the Council from time to time and in particular shall be entitled:

 

(1) to attend civic receptions and other civic functions or ceremonies to which all Members of the Council are invited and to be provided with a car parking pass, and where the spouses and partners of Members are able to attend so shall the spouses and partners of Aldermen;

 

(2) to attend meetings of the Full Council and be provided with a car parking pass and be allocated a seat in the reserved part of the Council Chamber, and receive Council papers, including Part 1 reports, by email or post as desired;

 

(3) to be notified on a regular basis of significant civic matters by the Democratic Services Manager, including the deaths of Members, former Members and Honorary Aldermen/Freemen;

 

(4) to be provided with a pass on request when visiting Council premises;

 

3.      the rights and privileges conferred on Honorary Aldermen under this Scheme shall also apply to Honorary Freemen;

 

4.      where the title of Honorary Freeman has been conferred on a body or organisation, an appropriate representative of that body shall be invited to attend any relevant functions;

 

5.      a further report be submitted to the Committee’s next meeting dealing with the rights and privileges of Honorary Aldermen/Freemen and serving councillors in relation to attendance at civic functions, including the County Show and RHS Show, and access to Tatton Park, the report to include any resource implications and the rationale for any charges involved.

 

Freedom of the Borough – 1^st Battalion, Mercian Regiment (Cheshire)

 

The Civic Sub-Committee had considered proposed arrangements for the granting of the Freedom of the Borough to the 1^st Battalion Mercian Regiment (Cheshire), including the suggested wording for the resolution to be considered at the Special meeting of Council which was as follows:

 

“That pursuant to the powers contained in the Local Government Act 1972, the Council grant Freedom of Entry to the Borough to the 1^st Battalion Mercian Regiment (Cheshire), and admit the Regiment to the Roll of Honorary Freemen of the Borough, in recognition of the long and close association between the Cheshire East Borough and the Regiment and confer upon the Regiment the right, privilege and honour of marching through the streets of Cheshire East on ceremonial occasions, with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and colours flying.”

 

The Regimental Secretary was co-ordinating a number of homecoming parades across the North West on behalf of the Officer Commanding the Rear Operations Group. Three provisional dates had been identified for Cheshire East.

 

The Sub-Committee had recommended to the Constitution Committee that

 

(1)   the Freedom of the Borough be granted to the 1^st Battalion Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) and a special meeting of Council be convened for that purpose;

 

(2)   the suggested wording for the resolution at the Special Council meeting be approved;

 

(3)   in conjunction with the Officer Commanding the Rear Operations Group and the Assistant Regimental Secretary, the Officers agree the final, detailed arrangements for at least two, and possibly three, homecoming parades to be held in Macclesfield, Crewe and possibly in Congleton during the second week of November 2010 on dates to be confirmed; and

 

(4)   the Mayors of Town Councils in Cheshire East be invited to attend the relevant homecoming parade for their area.

 

Since the Sub-Committee’s meeting, the Assistant Regimental Secretary and Officers had agreed the final, detailed arrangements for three, homecoming parades to be held on Monday 8 November at midday in Macclesfield and 3.15pm in Crewe and Wed 10 November in Congleton at 3pm.

 

The Assistant Regimental Secretary had accepted the Civic Sub Committee’s suggestion that during each Parade the Mayor should announce the resolution of the Council granting the Freedom of the Borough to the Regiment and that on each occasion a senior regimental officer would respond. At Crewe there would be a Reception and a Senior Officer would be formally presented with a scroll and civic gift and sign the Freedom of the Borough Register. The Committee was asked to endorse the revised arrangements and to note that as a consequence there would be no formal ceremony as part of the Special Council meeting at which the Resolution would be considered at the conclusion of the next ordinary meeting of Council on 14^th October 2010.

 

The Assistant Regimental Secretary had also asked that the Freedom be granted to "The Mercian Regiment" rather than the 1st Battalion as they wished to be recognised as a whole Regiment rather than a federation of Battalions. In addition, the Regiment’s 4th Battalion was a TA Company stationed in Crewe which also sent soldiers to serve in Afghanistan. The Mayor had been consulted and supported the request.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the recommendations of the Civic Sub-Committee be approved subject to:

 

(1)   the revised arrangements agreed since with the Assistant Regimental Secretary, which are approved; and

 

(2)   that the Freedom of the Borough be granted to ‘The Mercian Regiment’ and the wording of the resolution to be considered at the special Council meeting be amended accordingly.

 

Flag Flying Policy

 

The Civic Sub-Committee had considered proposals for a flag flying policy for civic buildings in Cheshire East as appended to the report to the Sub-Committee.

 

The policy covered those occasions on which it would be appropriate to fly different flags from the Council’s public buildings, in particular the Union Flag, English National Flag, Cheshire East Borough Flag, Armed Forces Flag and the national flags of overseas visitors. The manner of flying the flag in particular circumstances was also dealt with. The Sub-Committee had agreed that the Union Flag should also be flown at half mast in the event of the death of a soldier from the Mercian Regiment whilst on active service.

 

The Sub-Committee had recommended the proposed Flag Flying Policy to the Constitution Committee.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the proposed Flag Flying Policy in respect of civic buildings in Cheshire East be recommended to Council for approval.