Present at the meeting:
- Councillor D T Molyneux (Chairman)
- Councillor B Merry (Vice Chairman)
- Councillor C Ready
- Councillor C Sweeney
- Councillor P A Tushingham
- Councillor R Winkworth
5 Apologies for absence: Councillor M W Winstanley.
6 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 3 September 2008 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
7 Review of appointment of Honorary Aldermen criteria and update on outstanding nominations: The Committee considered a report of the Principal Committee Officer, for Members to review the criteria which the Council had approved for the eligibility for appointment as Honorary Aldermen (Council minute 45 (2006 refers) . The report also set out to review the position of the outstanding Honorary Alderman nominations.
Former Councillor J A O’Neill had previoiusly asked for a deferment of the honour for the time being.
Since the preparation of the report, former Councillor B M Wilson had now agreed to accept the honour.
In addition, the report set out details of a request from a former Member of the Council for the re consideration of appointment as an Honorary Alderman. The former Member did not meet the criteria approved by the Council.
The report set out details of the alternative option to be considered.
Resolved: The Committee agrees:-
- that the existing eligibility criteria for appointment as an Honorary Alderman of this Borough as approved by the Council at minute 45 (September 2006) remains unchanged and that it be reviewed at a future meeting;
- to defer consideration of the appointment of Honorary Alderman in relation to Mr D M Brown and request that the Principal Committee Officer write to Mr Brown asking for any additional information to support the appointment as Honorary Alderman, which is different from the information previously considered; and
- to defer the appointment of Honorary Alderman previously offered to former Councillor John A O’Neill to a later date at his request and request that the Principal Committee Officer write to Mr O’Neill accordingly; and
- to reaffirm its previous decision to approve the appointment of former Councillor B M Wilson as Honorary Alderman and therefore agrees:-
(i) to hold a special meeting of the Council at 6.00 p.m. on Wednesday, 15 July 2009 for the purpose of formally conferring the title of Honorary Alderman on former Councillor B M Wilson;
(ii) that all meetings for the purpose of conferring the title of Honorary Alderman commence at 6.00 p.m;
(iii) to suspend Rule of Procedure 1.1(iii) to allow the normal meeting of the Council previously fixed for 15 July 2009 to be held following the special meeting; and
(iv) to approve the provision of appropriate refreshments in the Mayor’s Parlour prior to the special meeting of the Council referred to above.
Chairman
