The Wandsworth Borough Council was scheduled to convene for a special meeting to consider proposals for conferring the title of Honorary Alderman on 11 former councillors. The meeting's agenda also included standard procedural items such as announcements, declarations of interest, and questions to council leadership.

Conferring the Title of Honorary Alderman

A significant item on the agenda was the consideration of conferring the title of Honorary Alderman on 11 former councillors. This proposal stemmed from a meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 27th September 2018. The report outlined the legal framework for bestowing this honour, which, under Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, requires a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the members present at a specially convened meeting. The title is intended for individuals who have rendered eminent services to the Council as past members, and the council's practice has been to equate this with a minimum of ten years of service as a councillor.

The report identified 11 former councillors who were proposed for the honour: Mrs. C. E. Clay, Mr. R. Osborn, Mr. J. A. Cousins, Mrs. T. M. E. Strickland, Mrs. A. Dunn, Mr. J. S. Thom, Mr. M. A. S. Heaster, OBE, Mr. M. D. Johnson, MBE, Mr. L. McDonnell, Mrs. K.R. Tracey, OBE, and Mrs. C. H. Usher. The General Purposes Committee recommended that the Council adopt the procedures for conferring the title and approve the arrangements for commemorative gifts and a ceremony. The cost of these proposals was noted to be met from within existing approved revenue budgets, with no impact on the Council Tax.

The report pack indicated that the General Purposes Committee had recommended the proposed arrangements, including financial implications for gifts and a ceremony, to the Council for approval. The committee also recommended that the Council agree to adopt the procedures set out in Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 for conferring the title on the named former councillors.

Procedural Items

The meeting was also scheduled to include several standard procedural items. These included:

• Announcements by the Mayor: Councillor Piers McCausland, BA, CPE, MCIOB, the Mayor of Wandsworth, was scheduled to make any necessary announcements.
• Declarations of Interests: Councillors were to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests and other relevant personal interests in the matters to be discussed.
• Presentation of Petitions: Any petitions submitted to the council were to be presented.
• Questions to the Leader of the Council: Members were scheduled to ask questions of Councillor Simon Hogg, the Leader of the Council, under Standing Order No. 11.
• Questions to Cabinet Members and Chairmen: Members were also scheduled to ask questions of Cabinet Members and Chairmen under Standing Order No. 11.