The Director of Law and Governance submitted a report requesting that Members of the Committee give consideration as to whether to recommend to Council that the title of Honorary Alderman be conferred on former Councillor Pat Hackett.

The Head of Legal Services reported that former Councillor Pat Hackett had been a Member of the Council from 10 May 1994 and had represented New Brighton Ward as a Labour Party Member until 25 September 2020 (with a short gap in service from May 2008 until May 2011).  Pat Hackett had served as Leader of the Council between 14 May 2019 until retiring from the Council in September 2020 and he also served as Mayor of Wirral for the Municipal Year 2016/17.  The Council had previously determined that former Members who had served twenty years on the Council or a predecessor Council were eligible for nomination to this award and therefore former Councillor Pat Hackett is eligible to have the title of Honorary Alderman conferred upon him.

Members were informed that Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 provides that the title of Honorary Alderman or Honorary Alderwoman may be conferred by the Council on persons who are persons of distinction and/or who have, in its opinion, rendered eminent service to the place or area.  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 Council specially convened for the purpose.

It was reported that successful nominees for the office of Honorary Aldermen and Alderwomen of this Council had previously been awarded a suitable badge at a special ceremony.  Currently, former Councillor Pat Hackett was the only former Councillor eligible to be appointed as an Honorary Alderman based on the Council’s criteria.

Members were further informed that the intention would be to present former Councillor Pat Hackett with a badge of office, the total cost of which would be approximately £682.75 and there would also be the small cost of inscribing his name on the Roll of Honour Board which could be met from existing budgets.

Councillor A Hodson announced that he became a Councillor in 1994 at the same time as Pat Hackett and therefore was very pleased for this matter to be considered and for the title of Honorary Alderman to be bestowed on someone worthwhile for the honour.

Councillor C Jones reflected these comments and recommended that the Constitution and Standards Committee consider exploring the possibility of a protocol in order that anyone with 20 years’ service could be automatically considered for the title of Honorary Alderman or Alderwoman to be conferred upon them rather than having to be nominated.

On a motion by Councillor C Jones and seconded by Councillor A Hodson, it was –

Resolved –

(1)  That the conferment of the title of Honorary Alderman on former Councillor Pat Hackett be recommended to Council in accordance with Section 249(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.

(2)  That a recommendation be made to the Constitution and Standards Committee to explore having a protocol in place in order that anyone with 20 years’ service could be automatically considered for the title of Honorary Alderman or Alderwoman to be conferred upon them.