32.1           Apologies for absence were received from Councillors G J Bocking, Mrs J E Day, A J Evans, D T Foyle, B C J Hesketh, J R Mason, Mrs H C McLain, M G Sztymiak and P N Workman.  

33.1           The Committee’s attention was drawn to the Tewkesbury Borough Council Code of Conduct which was adopted by the Council on 26 June 2012 and took effect from 1 July 2012.

33.2           There were no declarations of interest made on this occasion.

When the continuous alarm sounds you must evacuate the building by the nearest available fire exit. Members and visitors should proceed to the visitors’ car park at the front of the building and await further instructions (staff should proceed to their usual assembly point). Please do not re-enter the building unless instructed to do so.

In the event of a fire any person with a disability should be assisted in leaving the building. 

34.1           The evacuation procedure, as set out on the Agenda, was advised to those present.  

In accordance with the resolution of Council at its Annual meeting on 26 May 2015, the Council is asked to confer the title of Honorary Alderman, under Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, upon former Councillors:

Brian Calway

Brian Jones

Allen Keyte

Tony Mackinnon

Margaret Ogden

Jude Perez

Audrey Ricks

Gordon Shurmer

Bill Whelan

Claire Wright

Certificates will be presented to the Honorary Aldermen.

Following the close of the meeting, the Mayor will host a reception in honour of the newly appointed Honorary Aldermen.   

35.1           The Mayor thanked those present for attending the meeting to witness the conferring of the Office of Honorary Alderman on ten former Councillors. He expressed what an honour and privilege it was to have the opportunity to bestow such a title upon those that had done so much for the Borough during their time in Office. The Mayor indicated that, unfortunately, two of those being honoured, Brian Calway and Gordon Shurmer, had been unable to attend the meeting that evening and, in particular, he expressed the best wishes of the Council to Brian Calway who was unable to attend due to ill-health.

35.2           Councillor Robert Vines expressed his great pleasure in being able to formally propose the ten former Councillors for this honour. He explained that they had all served the Office of Councillor with integrity and had each shown a unique ability to represent their own Wards and the Council in the best possible way. With that in mind he proposed that, in recognition of their public service to their community and the Borough, the under-mentioned persons have conferred upon them the title of Honorary Alderman:

Brian Calway

Brian Jones

Allen Keyte

Tony Mackinnon

Margaret Ogden

Jude Perez

Audrey Ricks

Gordon Shurmer

Bill Whelan

Claire Wright

35.3           The Motion was seconded by Councillor Kay Berry who indicated that it was with great pleasure that she seconded the honouring of the ten past Members with the Office of Honorary Alderman. She was of the view that all of them had done a tremendous amount of work for the Borough and their local communities during their time in Office as Councillors.

35.4           Upon being put to the vote, the Motion was carried and each new Honorary Alderman in attendance was presented with their certificate and gifts to mark the occasion.

35.5           Councillor Dave Waters stated that, it was with great pleasure that he was able to speak about Brian Calway at this important occasion. He explained that he had first met Brian in the early days of the campaign to retain Alderman Knight School when Brian had suggested the campaign would be better led by someone with a personal connection to the school rather than a politician. He mentioned that Brian had spent his life in public service, serving in the ‘Blues and Royals’ as a trooper followed by a full career in the police force and then, during retirement, as an Enforcement Officer with Tewkesbury Borough Council. On retirement from paid work, Brian had thrown himself into public service as a Councillor; being elected onto the Borough Council in 2003. He had also served on Tewkesbury Town Council as well as Gloucestershire County Council and had been Town Mayor in 2003/04 as well as Borough Mayor in 2008/09. He had represented Prior’s Park Ward along with former Councillor Claire Wright with zeal, enthusiasm and passion to do the best for his constituents; he had also been a major participant with the Prior’s Park Neighbourhood Project and one of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.