Extraordinary Meeting of the Council

Monday, 13th July, 2015 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber at the Council House, Priory Road,

You are hereby summoned to attend an extraordinary meeting of the Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council for the purpose of transacting the business set out in the numbered agenda items listed below.

Agenda - Public Session (Meeting open to the public and press)

Prayers

1. Apologies for absence.

2. To receive any declarations of interest under the Members’ Code of Conduct.

3. Honorary Freemen and Honorary Alderman.

Strategic Director (Resources and Transformation) Dated: 3rd July, 2015

Distribution: All Members of the Council

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• In the event of the alarms sounding, please leave the building by the nearest exit. There are Officers who will assist you in the event of this happening, please follow their instructions.

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• Information about the Council and our meetings can be viewed on the website www.dudley.gov.uk

• The Democratic Services contact officer for this meeting is Steve Griffiths, Telephone 01384 815235 or E-mail steve. [email protected]

Extraordinary Meeting of the Council – 13th July, 2015

Report of the Chief Executive

Honorary Freemen and Honorary Alderman

Purpose of Report

1. To consider Honorary Freemen and Honorary Alderman appointments pursuant to Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Background

Honorary Freemen

2. Section 249(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 provides that the Council may, by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the members voting thereon, appoint to be an Honorary Freeman of the Borough, persons of distinction and persons who have, in the opinion of the Council, rendered eminent services to the Borough.

3. The criteria for appointment as an Honorary Freeman of the Borough were agreed by the Council on 25th February, 2013.

4. David Murray Caunt MBE was elected to the of Dudley in 1970. He served continuously as a Councillor for the ward until his retirement from Dudley MBC in May, 2015. During his lengthy public service, Mr Caunt held various key positions including Mayor of the Borough in 1983/84, Deputy Mayor the previous year and the Chairmanship of the Social Services, Finance, Education and Policy Committees. He also served as the Leader of the Council and represented the Borough on numerous local and national organisations. Mr Caunt received the MBE from the Queen for services to local government in 2010.

5. Councillor David Sparks OBE was elected to West County Council in 1977 to 1986 and to Dudley MBC from 1986 onwards. He has served as a ward Councillor in the Quarry Bank area continuously since 1986. Councillor Sparks has held various key positions including the Chairmanship of the Economic Development Committee, Leisure and Development Committee and the Economic Vitality Committee. He also served as Leader of the Council and has represented the Borough on numerous local and national organisations. In 2014, Councillor Sparks was elected as the Chair of the Local Government Association. He received the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours in 2003.

Honorary Alderman

6. Section 249 (1) of the Local Government Act, 1972 provides that the Council may, by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the members voting thereon at a meeting specially convened for the purpose, confer the title of Honorary Alderman on persons who have, in the opinion of the Council, rendered eminent services to the Council but who are not then Councillors of the Council.

7. Patricia Diana Martin served on North Bedfordshire Borough Council from 1974 to 1983. In 2000 she was elected to Dudley MBC where she served as a Councillor representing until her retirement in 2015. Mrs Martin was Mayor of the Borough in 2009/10, having been Deputy Mayor in the previous year. She also served on the Cabinet/Executive as the Lead Member for Personnel, Legal and Property as well as holding numerous other key Committee memberships during her period of local government service.

8. Should the Council resolve to appoint Honorary Freemen or an Honorary Alderman of the Borough, it has been customary that a presentation ceremony be held to award the honour to the recipient(s).

Finance

9. The costs involved with decisions to make any Freedom of the Borough or Honorary Alderman appointments will need to be identified from within existing budgetary provisions.

Law

10. The legal powers are contained in Section 249 of the Local Government Act, 1972.

Equality Impact

11. This report has no implications for the Council’s policies on equality and diversity. There are no direct implications for children and young people and therefore there has been no consultation or involvement of external groups in developing the proposals.

Recommendations

12. That the Council determine whether to appoint David Murray Caunt MBE and Councillor David Sparks OBE as Honorary Freemen of the Borough.

13. That the Council determine whether to confer the title of Honorary Alderman on Patricia Diana Martin.

14. That the Chief Executive be authorised to take all the necessary arrangements regarding the awards and presentation ceremony.

………………….. Chief Executive