Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Browne, Clarke,  Hubbard, Joy, Mark Prenter, Shokar and Wildey and from Honorary Alderman Harriott.

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

There were none. 

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 Medway NHS Foundation Trust on behalf of the staff at Medway Maritime Hospital. The conferment is in recognition of the contribution of the staff to the community, particularly as 2023 is the 75^th anniversary of the establishment of the National Health Service (NHS).

Background:

This report provided details of a proposal to confer the honorary freedom of the borough on the Medway NHS Foundation Trust on behalf of the staff at Medway Maritime Hospital, in accordance with section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The proposed conferment was in recognition of the contribution of the staff to the community, particularly with 2023 being the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the National Health Service (NHS).

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 the honourable perpetuation of their memory within the community.

The Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Murray, supported by Councillor Gulvin, proposed the recommendation set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council agreed that, in pursuance of the power vested in it by virtue of section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), honorary freedom of the borough be conferred on the Medway NHS Foundation Trust on behalf of the staff of Medway Maritime Hospital, 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 Medway Maritime Hospital and its workforce, Medway Council and the people of Medway as well as express admiration at the workforce’s contribution to the National Health Service.

(Note: This resolution was passed by more than two thirds of the Members present and voting thereon).