Agenda item - Appointment of Honorary Alderwomen and Aldermen

Report of the Monitoring Officer (copy attached).

3.1         The Mayor stated that the Council was asked to consider the appointment of previous councillors as Honorary Aldermen and Alderwomen of the City of Brighton and Hove and that any such appointment was made in recognition of the service given by those past councillors to the Council, Wards they represented and the City. She therefore proposed that the following should be appointed:

            Mr. Bob Carden, Ms. Jeane Lepper, Mr. Brian Pidgeon, Mr. Bill Randall, Mr. Harry Steer and Mr. Geoff Wells.

3.1         The Mayor then called on the Leaders of the various Groups to support the motion.

3.2         Councillor Morgan stated that it had been a great pleasure to serve with the former distinguished colleagues during his time on the council and he was pleased to see them here today to be recognised for the service they had given to the council and the city. He wished them well for the future and hoped to see them at various civic events.

3.3         Councillor Theobald supported the Leader of the Council’s comments and stated that the proposal to appointment each of the recipients was very well deserved and he fully supported the motion and hoped that they would keep in touch.

3.4         Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that it gave him very great pleasure to support the motion and see colleagues from all parties recognised for their services to the residents of the city and the Council. He noted that just as he had been the city’s first Green Mayor, Bill Randall was again making history by becoming the first Green Alderman.

3.5         The Mayor noted the comments and stated that in accordance with legislation a motion to appointment Honorary Aldermen and Honorary Alderwomen had been moved and put it to the vote, bearing in mind that two-thirds of those voting needed to be in favour of the motion.

3.6         RESOLVED: That the following, having duly been proposed and unanimously approved, be appointed as:

(i)        Mr. Bob Carden, Honorary Alderman,

(ii)       Ms. Jeane Lepper as an Honorary Alderwoman,

(iii)      Mr. Brian Pidgeon as an Honorary Alderman,

(iv)      Mr. Bill Randall as an Honorary Alderman,

(v)       Mr. Harry Steer as an Honorary Alderman, and

(vi)      Mr. Geoff Wells as an Honorary Alderman.

3.7         The Mayor then invited each of the newly appointed Aldermen and Alderwomen to come forward to collect a certificate in recognition of their appointment and to address the council.

3.8         Alderman Carden thanked the Mayor and the Members of the Council and stated that he was very honoured to have been able to serve in public life for 24 years and to be recognised in such a way.

3.9         Alderwoman Lepper thanked the Mayor and the Members of the Council and stated that she had been very fortunate to be able to serve on both Brighton and Brighton & Hove councils and East Sussex County Council. She had been able to represent the same Ward for around 26 years but now recommended retirement and wished the newly elected council all the best for the future.

3.10      Alderman Pidgeon thanked the Mayor and the Members of the Council for the honour and was grateful for the recognition he had received from a number of people.  He wished everyone on the council good luck.

3.11      Alderman Randall thanked the Mayor and the Members of the Council and stated it had been a privilege to serve on the council and to work across all political groups for the benefit of the residents of the city.  He wished everyone luck for the future and hoped that the needs and benefits for the city that everyone loved would remain at the heart of the council’s aspirations.

3.12      Alderman Steer thanked the Mayor and the Members of the Council and stated that having served on Hove, Brighton and Brighton & Hove Council’s that it was an honour to accept the appointment as an Alderman.  He also wanted to wish the Council well for the future and was pleased to see the number of new younger councillors taking an active role in public life.

3.13      Alderman Wells thanked the Mayor and the Members of the Council for the honour and stated that he had been very proud to serve as a councillor for 22 years.  He had enjoyed working with all councillors and sparring with them in the Chamber.  He wished the new Council well and good luck for the future.

3.14      The Mayor noted the comments and offered her congratulations to the Aldermen and Alderwoman on their appointments.

3.15      The Mayor also noted that Alderman David Smith who had been made an Honorary Alderman by Brighton Borough Council; and then returned to serve on Brighton & Hove City Council before choosing to step down this May, remained an Honorary Alderman of the City.  She wished to thank him for his service to the City Council and noted that he could not be made an Alderman for a second time.