Members of the Council are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest, in connection with any matter to be debated or determined at this meeting and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

The Members of the Council were invited to consider whether they had any disclosable pecuniary and/or any other relevant interest in connection with any matters to be determined at this meeting and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

No such declarations were made.

To receive the Civic Mayor's announcements and any apologies for absence.

The Civic Mayor announced that apologies had been received from Councillors Jo Bird, Kate Cannon, Mike Collins, Wendy Clements, Chris Cooke, Tony Cox, Emily Gleaves, Liz Grey, Paul Hayes, Jenny Johnson, Mary Jordan, Moira McLaughlin, Lesley Rennie, Jason Walsh and Alison Wright. Further apologies were then received from Dave Brennan, Helen Cameron, Clare O’Hagan, Chris Spriggs and Joe Walsh.

The Council is requested to consider the following recommendation from the Licensing and General Purposes Committee at its meeting on 20 January, 2022 (minute 15 refers):

That the Council be recommended to confer the title of Honorary Alderwoman on former Councillor Jean Stapleton in accordance with Section 249(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minute and report attached.

The Council considered the recommendations from the Regulatory and General Purposes Committee held on 20 January, 2022 (minute 15 refers) in relation to the conferment of the title of Honorary Alderwoman on former Councillor Jean Stapleton, in accordance with Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972.

The report informed that Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 provided that the title of Honorary Alderman or Honorary Alderwoman might be conferred by the Council on persons who were persons of distinction and/or who had, in its opinion, rendered eminent service to the place or area. The title was to be conferred by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the Members voting on it at a meeting of the Council specially convened for the purpose.

It was moved by Councillor Andrew Hodson and seconded by Councillor Chris Jones that the Council be recommended to confer the title of Honorary Alderwoman on former Councillor Jean Stapleton in accordance with Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Following speeches from a number of Members who all expressed their own fond memories of working with former Councillor Jean Stapleton, the motion was put and it was –

Resolved (unanimously) - That the title of Honorary Alderwoman be conferred on former Councillor Jean Stapleton in accordance with Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Council is requested to consider a proposal to admit Baron Field of Birkenhead as an Honorary Freeman of the Borough.

Report attached.

The Council considered a report from the Director of Law and Governance on a proposal to admit Baron Frank Field of Birkenhead, as an Honorary Freeman of the Borough.

The Civic Mayor read out a statement from Councillor Moira McLaughlin, who had given her apologies for not being at the Council, as she was in London to meet with Frank Field. In her statement she thanked all the Party Leaders for the support they had given to the nomination in advance of the meeting and expressed her fulsome support for the proposal to give local recognition of the lifetime’s work Frank Field had given as MP for Birkenhead for 40 years and for his many national achievements.

Following speeches from a number of Members, all of whom echoed the sentiments expressed in Councillor McLaughlin’s statement, with their own personal insights, the motion, having been moved by the Civic Mayor, seconded by Councillor Tom Anderson, was put and it was –

Resolved (unanimously) – That,

(1)  in pursuance of the provisions of Section 249(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 and in recognition of his dedicated service to the borough during his 40 years as MP for the Birkenhead Constituency, Frank Field be admitted as an Honorary Freeman of this Borough; and

(2)  officers be requested to take all of the necessary actions associated with (1) above and arrange a small civic reception for Frank Field’s family, friends, colleagues and some invited guests to take place on a date to be agreed.