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Special Parish Council Meeting

A special meeting to agree 2025 Freedom of the Parish Recipients

Agenda

You are summoned to attend a special meeting of Eccleshall Parish Council, to be held on Wednesday July 16th 2025 at Broughton Parish Rooms, after the Planning Committee meeting.

 

AGENDA

 

  1. Attendees and Apologies

 

  1. To accept Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests relating to items on the agenda

 

  1. To discuss the Councils powers to award the status – Freeman of the Parish of Eccleshall

  2. To resolve to introduce the status of Freeman of the Parish of Eccleshall (2/3 majority required). Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009

  3. To agree the format this status will take and associated costs

  4. To resolve to suspend Standing Order 3 (d) and to exclude members of the public and press to keep the recipients confidential until they are notified and announced prior to the Civic Service awards ceremony.

  • To discuss nominations for the position and agree the recipients

  1. Meeting close

 

Considerations for this are likely to be:

  • Should be awarded in recognition of exceptional contribution or service to the community over a prolonged period of time to a person of distinction.
  • Can be awarded to any resident of the Parish, or person outside the Parish, who renders an identifiable and consistent contribution/service to the Parish of Eccleshall.
  • Can be proposed by any resident in the Parish or by Parish Councillors.
  • Parish Councillors will have absolute discretion regarding who receives an award.
  • It is not necessary to award if no-one is proposed and it is not a requirement that anyone is appointed even if proposed.

This would be an award, solely in the gift of the Council and confers no material honours or special privileges nor does it entitle the person to participate in the proceedings of the Council meetings or in any ceremonial events. It is purely and simply awarded for merit.

 

S. J. Worden……

Clerk to the council – 10/07/2025

 

S. J. Worden………

Clerk to the council – 10/07/2025

Minutes

Minutes of the SPECIAL Meeting of Eccleshall Parish Council held on

16th July 2025

 

A Special Meeting of Eccleshall Parish Council was held at Broughton Parish Room on 16th July 2025 at 9.40pm, following a meeting of the Planning Committee.

  120/25).   Present were: –    

Councillor B. Delanchy (Chairman)         Councillor R. Langford

Councillor P. Jones                                     Councillor S. Mifflin

Councillor S. Kean                                      Councillor C. Wilkins

Councillor D. Feneysey                              Councillor R. Taylor

Councillor A. Reid                                        Councillor D. Hill

Councillor M. Gosling                                 Councillor D. Hall

 

Mrs Stacey Worden (Clerk)

No members of the public.

 121/25).  Apologies

Apologies were received from Councillors Perren, Ryan-Bloor and Dale.

 

   122/25). To consider Declarations of Interest and Councillor requests for dispensation relating to items on the agenda.

There were no requests to receive, and no declarations of interest were made.

 

   123/25). To discuss the council’s power to award the status – Honorary Freeman or Honorary Freewoman:-

Under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, Parish Councils have the power to award the Freedom of the Parish.

 

   124/25).  To resolve to introduce the status of Freeman of the Parish of Eccleshall (2/3 majority required). Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009:-

The Council resolved unanimously in favour of introducing the status.

 

   125/25).  To agree the format this status will take:-

                    It was resolved that the freemen/women would be presented with a framed certificate at the next Civic Service, booked for Sunday 12th October at Holy Trinity Church. It was also resolved to approve a budget of up to £350 to cover the award costs, including costs of certificates and frames.

 

   126/25).  To discuss nominations for the position:-

                    Following a discussion, it was agreed to award the status of honorary freeman/woman to the following:

John Baldry – for his long-standing commitment to community safety, both as Chairman of the Neighbourhood Watch and lead for the Community Speedwatch.

Jon Ball – for his contribution to keeping the local library open and dedication to supporting day to day operations of the library and its volunteers, as a long standing member of Eccleshall Mercia Rotary Club.

Jon Araklitis  – for longstanding contribution to the community, serving the people of Eccleshall and beyond with fish and chips for 45 years, taking great pride in the quality of his produce and providing given many young people work experience opportunities while they are at college or waiting to go to university as well as supporting local events.

Gill Bertram – for her role as founding member of the Ecclian Society, and contribution to Eccleshall Open Gardens for not only opening her garden but raising funds by selling plants and serving food and drinks in her garden. Gill has also opened her garden for many years raising funds for Katherine House Hospice and puts Eccleshall firmly on the map by attracting visitors from far and wide (even Australia) as part of the National Garden Scheme (NGS).

The Clerk will advise all recipients formally, before the awards are made public.

   127/25). Meeting Close:-

There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.50pm.