Agenda item

To make recommendations upon several matters relating to the Honorary Aldermen and Freemen of the Council.

Members considered a report setting out recommendations upon several matters relating to the Honorary Aldermen and Freemen of the Council who had been admitted under the Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008.

A provisional list of Honorary Aldermen and Freemen who were admitted by the demised East Cheshire authorities was circulated at the meeting.

An Honorary Alderman could attend and take part in such civic ceremonies as the Council may from time to time decide but did not have the right to:

?       attend meetings of the Council, Cabinet or a committee of the Council other than as a member of the public (including a joint committee upon which the Council is represented); or

?       receive any of the allowances or other payments to which councillors are entitled.

The admission of a person to be an Honorary Freeman did not confer the rights granted to be an Honorary Alderman.

Every Council should have its own criteria for the appointment of Honorary Aldermen, a list of rights and duties and its own ceremony for their Admission. Section 249 (6) of the Act allowed Councils to spend ‘such reasonable sum as they think fit’ on presenting an address or casket containing the address to the Honorary Alderman. Details of the rights and privileges conferred by the demised authorities were circulated to the Sub-Committee.

Part 1, Chapter 5 – of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 extended existing privileges to include the daughters as well as sons of a Freeman of a city or town, and provided for women to have the right to be admitted and to use the title of ‘Freewoman’. A civil partner would be in the same position as a spouse or surviving spouse of a person admitted to the freedom of a city or town. The honorary titles of Honorary Alderman or Alderwoman could also be awarded. This legislation came into force on 1^st April 2010.

In considering arrangements for Cheshire East, Members sought clarification of a number of matters:

?       whether those included in the list of honorary aldermen and freemen would be prevented from standing for election in 2011

?       whether, if allowed to stand and subsequently elected, they would be able to continue to use their title

?       whether those standing down in 2011 would by then have satisfied the criteria for being appointed as honorary aldermen

?       the definition of ‘term of office’ and the implications of boundary changes and being elected for initial periods of less than four years

The Officers undertook to clarify these matters for the next meeting.

RESOLVED

That

(1)   the Democratic Services Manager write to all Members of the Council with a view to confirming the accuracy of the list of honorary aldermen and freemen;

(2)   all Members of the Council be consulted on what rights and privileges should be granted to honorary aldermen and freemen in Cheshire East; and

(3)   a further report be submitted to the next meeting setting out a proposed scheme for the appointment of honorary aldermen and freemen in Cheshire East.