Archived decisions

REPORT OF THE

Leader of the Council

60. HONORARY ALDERMEN.

    1. Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, the title of Honorary Alderman may be conferred on someone who has, "in the opinion of the Council, rendered eminent services to the Council" usually as a past Member. The title cannot be conferred on a serving Member.

    2. At present the Council has 13 Honorary Aldermen: former Councillors Mrs. S. M. Bartlet, D.L.; N. A. Best, C.B.E., D.L.; Capt. M.P.R. Boyle,DL; K.H.N. Bulmer; H.R. Cole; M.T. Hancock, C.B.E., M.P.; M.M.L. Hudson, O.B.E., M.A.; C. M. Jones, D.L., M.A. (Cantab); S. W. Juniper JP; D.A. Keep; P. D. Merridale, C.B.E.; R. T. Millard; and G. W. Porter.

    3. It is proposed to confer the title of Honorary Alderman on a further three former Members: Liz Barron, Edith Randall and Alex Varden.

61. LIZ BARRON

    Liz Barron was elected to the County Council in 1985 and represented the Romsey County Electoral Division continuously until her retirement in 2005. Through the Public Protection Committee, which she joined in 1985 and of which she was Chairman between 1993 and 1997, she developed strong links at national level with the Fire Service. She was a member of the Local Government Association's Fire Services Executive, chairman of the Association's Fire Forum and NJC Employers, a member of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council and the Fire Modernisation Task Group and a non-executive Director to the Fire Service College. She was Chairman of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority from1996 to 2000. She was a member of the County Council's Policy and Resources Committee for several years and the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee. In addition to representing the Romsey County Electoral Division for 20 years, she also represented the County Council on a number of external organizations including the Association of County Councils, the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust, the Hampshire Gardens Trust, and other locally based trusts and groups in the Romsey community.

62. EDITH RANDALL

    Edith Randall was first elected to the County Council as County Councillor for Totton County Electoral Division in 1977. She served continuously until 1993 and was returned to the County Council in 1997 until her retirement in 2005. She was a member of the Social Services Committee and its successor Social Care Policy Review Committee throughout her membership of the County Council. She was wholly committed to children and young people and their education and wellbeing. She was Chairman of the Under-Eights Joint Sub-Committee and its successor the Families and Children's Sub-Committee. She also served on the Education Committee for many years and its successor the Education Policy Review Committee and on the Health Review Committee. She was a member of the local Area Education Buildings Sub-Committee and of the County Council's Gypsy Sites Panel. She also served as the County Council's representative on a number of external organisations including the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Education Trust for the Blind Governing Body, the Southern Regional Association for the Blind, the South East Regional Association for the Deaf General Council, the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Association for the Deaf General Council, the Hampshire Foster Care Federation, the National Council for One-Parent Families, the Hampshire Old Industrial and Reformatory Schools Trust Fund, the Hampshire Pre-School Learning Alliance, Community Action Hampshire, the Hampshire Archives Trust and the Eling Tide Mill Trust Board of Management.

63. ALEX VARDEN

    Alex Varden was elected to the County Council in 1985 and represented the Odiham County Electoral Division until his retirement in 2001. He served on the County Council's Policy and Resources Committee and its Land, Economic Strategy, Procedures and Best Value and Performance Sub-Committees. He was a member of the Chief Officers' Remuneration Review Panel and was Chairman of the Business Panel, the Contracts Panel and the Best Value Review Panel (Policy and Resources). He was Chairman of the Public Protection Committee from 1997 to 2001. He was also a member of the Planning and Transportation Committee and its Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee and served on the Education Committee, and its Resources Sub-Committee. He was Chairman of its School Transport Appeals Panel. He was Vice-Chairman of the Recreation Committee from 1989 to 1993 and a member of its Rights of Way, Arts, Budget and Museums Panels and the Yateley Common Management Committee. He was Chairman of the Libraries Panel. Among the external organisations on which he represented the County Council were the Area Museums Service for South East England, the South and West Concerts Board, Basingstoke and District Arts Association Executive Committee, the Basingstoke Theatre Trust, Farnham Repertory Company Limited Board of Directors and the Princes Youth Business Trust.

    RECOMMENDATION:

    That former County Councillors Liz Barron, Edith Randall and Alex Varden be appointed Honorary Aldermen with immediate effect and that arrangements be made to present certificates of appointment to them at the County Council meeting on 22 February 2006.