Agenda item

To consider proposals relating to the award of the Honorary Freedom.

FREEDOM APPLICATIONS COMMITTEE

(Sir David Wootton, Alderman)

26 July 2018

Revisions to the procedures for the award and revocation of the Honorary Freedom

At the meeting of the Court of Common Council on 12 October 2017, a Motion had been considered in relation to the award of the Honorary Freedom. As a consequence of those discussions, the Freedom Applications Committee was instructed to undertake a review of the processes associated with the award of the Honorary Freedom, as well as the introduction of a process by which the Honorary Freedom might be rescinded. This work had now been completed and the Court was recommended to endorse the procedures that had been proposed.

The Chairman spoke to introduce the report, explaining that the proposals represented a significant change of approach, whereby the award of an Honorary Freedom would now pass through the committee system in an open and transparent manner. At present, there was no system in place to remove an awarded Honorary Freedom and this would also be a change.

Resolved – That the Court of Common Council:

·         note that the Freedom Applications Committee had deliberated over the processes for awarding and removing the Honorary Freedom; and

·         endorse the respective procedures for the award and revocation of the Honorary Freedom agreed by the Freedom Applications Committee, as set out in the report.