Nominations for Honorary Freedom of the Borough

Nomination criteria

1. Nominations must show by example that the nominee is a ‘person of distinction and/or a person who has rendered eminent services to the Borough’.
2. In keeping with special nature of the award conferment should be strictly limited to those who have made a very significant contribution to the locality. It should be noted that the Council already has an annual Civic Awards Ceremony which sets out to award those who have made an important contribution to the community especially in a voluntary capacity.
3. Serving Councillors cannot be considered as these is a separate statutory provision for conferring the title of ‘Honorary Alderman’’ on former Councillors.

Nomination procedure

Nominations may be received from Councillors, Officers, MPs, outside organisations in the borough, and members of the public who are on the Electoral Register.

Nominations must be made using the Nomination for Honorary Freedom of the Borough form and they must set out the reason why the Honour should be conferred.

• Nominations must be submitted to the Corporate Committee via the Head of Democratic Services, who must also seek the unanimous agreement of the three Whips before any nomination can be considered by the Corporate Committee. All discussions with the three Whips are to remain confidential at all times.
• Corporate Committee will make a recommendation to the council if it considers that the Honorary Freeman of the Borough would be an appropriate honour.
• The Full Council then has to make a separate decision to confer the Honorary Freedom of the Borough.
• The actual ceremony itself must take place at a separate meeting specially convened for the purpose.
• The award will take the form of the presentation of a suitably worded Scroll and gift followed by a reception.