Honorary Freedom of the Borough
The Freedom of the Borough is the highest award that the council can bestow.
It is a power that is very rarely used and is normally only awarded to local people who have made a significant contribution to the locality or have achieved something outstanding. It can also be bestowed on sports teams, rescue services or forces units based in the borough.
The award of the Honorary Freedom of the Borough does not convey with it any legal rights or responsibilities, other than a ceremonial role at Civic functions. The award dates back to the middle ages when Freemen had commercial privileges and a route into a position of power in a town or city.
The most recent person to be awarded the Honorary Freedom of Lambeth was the Late Alfie Howard (pictured below), whose award was made in November 2006. Alfie received the award in recognition of his dedicated service to Lambeth as the Borough’s Town Crier for over 60 years. See a list of previous recipients.
Legal powers
Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 provides inter-alia:
- (5) The council of a London Borough may, by a resolution passed by not less than two – thirds of the members voting thereon at a meeting of the Council specifically convened for the purposes, with notice of the object, admit to be Honorary Freeman of the Borough persons of distinction and persons who have, in the opinion of the Council rendered eminent services to the Borough.
- (6) The council of a London Borough may spend such a reasonable sum as they think fit for the purpose of presenting an address to a person or a casket containing an address to a person upon whom they have admitted to be an Honorary Freeman of the Borough.
By virtue of Schedule 1 to the Local Authority (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000, the council’s functions relating to the admission of a person to be an Honorary Freeman of the Borough cannot be discharged by the Cabinet.