NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Planning and Regulatory Functions Committee

15 November 2022

Conferment of the Title of Honorary Alderman

1.0

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

1.1

For the Committee to consider whether it would wish to make a recommendation to the County Council to confer the title of Honorary Alderman on former Members of the Council.

2.0 POWERS AND CRITERIA

2.1 Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 provides that the title of Honorary Alderman may be conferred by the County Council on persons who have, in its opinion, rendered eminent service to the Council as past Members of this Council, (or a predecessor Council), but who are no longer Councillors. The title is to be conferred by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the Members voting on it at a meeting of the County Council specially convened for the purpose.

2.2 A number of long serving Members ceased to be County Councillors, following the elections on 5 May 2022. Of those retiring Members, 5 had served as Members of the County Council for more than 20 years - (20 years’ service on the County Council or any of its three predecessor County Councils, the York County Borough Council and the pre-1974 Borough Councils of Harrogate and Scarborough is the criterion for previous service agreed by the County Council, in 1985, for the conferment of the title of Honorary Alderman). Those retiring Members (with their years of service in brackets following their name) are Val Arnold (21), Helen Swiers (21), Caroline Patmore (25), Peter Sowray (33) and Cliff Trotter (25).

2.3 In view of the length of service provided by former County Councillor John Blackie (this was 22 years of continuous service up until his death in July 2019) the Committee is asked to consider that he be conferred with the title of Honorary Alderman, posthumously.

2.4 Although the title of Honorary Alderman must be conferred by the County Council, at a special meeting set up for the purpose, the County Council’s constitution delegates, to this Committee, the power to make recommendations to the Council on the matter.

3.0 FORMER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WHO SATISFY THE CRITERIA

3.1 The Committee is asked whether it wishes to invite the former Members of the County Council, identified at paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3 above, to accept conferment of the title of Honorary Alderman, of North Yorkshire County Council, and whether it wishes to take the action identified at paragraph 2.4, and, if so, is asked to make the necessary recommendations to the County Council.

3.2 In the past, arrangements have been made for the Extraordinary meeting of the County Council, which is required to confer the title of Honorary Alderman, to be held on the day of an ordinary meeting of the County Council, thereby maximising the number of Members of the Council able to be present. It has been customary to present each new Honorary Alderman with a framed illuminated address and Honorary Alderman’s badge.

3.3 A date and time of 1.30pm on 16 November 2022 has been arranged for the Extraordinary meeting of the County Council.

4.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

4.1 There is a cost associated with the purchase of the Honorary Alderman medals, which is met by the Chairman’s office.

5.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

5.1 There are no significant legal implications.

6.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

6.1 There are no significant equalities implications.

7.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

7.1 There are no significant climate change implications.

8.0

RECOMMENDATION

8.1

That the Committee decides what, if any, recommendation it wishes to make to the County Council about the conferment of the title of Honorary Alderman on past Members of the County Council.

BARRY KHAN

Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) and Monitoring Officer

County Hall

NORTHALLERTON

Report author:

Daniel Harry

Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager

North Yorkshire County Council

7 November 2022

Background Papers

The County Council Constitution - New Council Constitutions (northyorks.gov.uk)