Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers OBE, Etheridge, Filmer, Gulvin, Lammas, McDonald, Patterson, Potter, Elizabeth Turpin, Rupert Turpin and Williams.

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct.  Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 2.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

Councillor Maple declared an interest in agenda item No.3 (Conferment of Honorary Freedom to Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and the Chatham Branch of The Royal Naval Association) as a relative is a member of one of the organisations named in the report. Councillor Maple remained in the room during discussion and consideration of the item.

This report has been prepared at the request of the Leader of the Council and invites the Council to consider a proposal to confer the honorary freedom of the borough on the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and the Chatham Branch of the Royal Naval Association in recognition of the contribution of their members to the Falklands War of which it is the 40^th anniversary this year.

Background:

This report provided details of a proposal to confer the Honorary Freedom of the Borough on the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and the Chatham Branch of the Royal Naval Association. This was in recognition of the contribution of their members to the Falklands War, of which 2022 was the 40^th Anniversary. This conferral was in accordance with section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The report stated that the Honorary Freedom of the Borough was the highest civic distinction that could be conferred upon individuals or collective bodies in recognition of outstanding service or particular civic association, ensuring that their memory was maintained within the community.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, supported by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the proposed the recommendation set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council agreed, in pursuance of the power vested in it by virtue of section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), to confer the honorary freedom of the borough on:

a)    the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust from time to time, and indefinitely, in the interests of cementing and fostering the close and longstanding bonds of friendship and mutual respect existing between the Dockyard and its workforce, Medway Council and the people of Medway as well as express admiration at the Dockyard workforce’s contribution to the Falklands conflict; and:

b)    the members of the Chatham Branch of the Royal Naval Association from time to time, and indefinitely, in the interests of the cementing and fostering the close and longstanding bonds of friendship and mutual respect existing between the Branch, Medway Council and the people of Medway as well as express admiration at their members’ contribution to the Falklands conflict.

(Note: this resolution was passed by more than two-thirds of the members voting thereon to take effect, in accordance with section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended)).