In proposing the motion, as set out on the Agenda, Councillor Lloyd Bowen described the commitment that elected Councillors gave when serving residents and standing up for their communities. He said the motion was about recognising those elected Councillors who served their residents, and passed away whilst still in office, whilst giving their last days and efforts to public service. Councillor Bowen quoted from a poem by Linda Ellis called The Dash. Councillor Bowen said some of their former colleagues never had the chance to retire or saw their last term completed and were still working for their residents until illness or sudden tragedy took them away, as they died in service.

Councillor Bowen set out the three proposals from the motion:

1.    To create a permanent memorial and appropriate civic space for Councillors who died during service;

2.    That when a Councillor passes away during their third term without reaching 12 years or three full terms, the title of Honorary Alderman be conferred upon them;

3.    That the records held by SBC be interrogated for those Members that were in their concurrent third term and passed away without reaching the end of the term or twelve years, and be recognised and awarded with the title of Honorary Alderman.

Councillor Bowen said that the motion sought to assure current and future Members and families of those elected that SBC cared, and their service would not go unnoticed.

In seconding the motion, Councillor James Hunt reserved his right to speak.

Members were invited to speak and made comments including:

·         Understood the sentiments and not against the idea but questioned the value of a memorial with the upcoming LGR disbanding SBC in its current form, and uncertainty around where any future office might be;

·         supported the motion;

·         commemorating the work of those that had given so much time and effort to the authority and the people of Swale was worthwhile;

·         a decision could be made on where to place an existing physical memorial if the building was no longer used for SBC at that time;

·         thanked Councillors Bowen and Hunt for bringing the motion forward; and

·         it was an honourable and kind thing to do.

Councillor Hunt said it should be remembered that a memorial was about keeping remembrance alive – not necessarily statues, but boards that gave a history of the people that served, such as the current Honorary Alderman Board in the Council Chamber. He added that after SBC was disbanded in its current form, the boards would still be kept and he hoped that whatever future Council there was, those listed would continue to be remembered.

In summing up, Councillor Bowen thanked everyone for their comments.  He said there was no detail on how a memorial was set up and drew attention to the Boards in the Council Chamber that listed Mayors and Honorary Alderman which could be used. Councillor Bowen said it was not necessary to consider what might happen after LGR, we needed to look at our history and where we were now.

Resolved:

(1)  That a formal memorial be established within an appropriate civic building, such as the Council Chamber or entrance to the Council Offices, to respectfully acknowledge and commemorate the service of those Councillors who had passed away whilst in office.  The tribute should take the form of a plaque or other suitable marker and would serve as a lasting record of their contribution to public life in Swale.

(2)  That in circumstances where a Councillor had passed during their term of office and would have completed twelve years of service (or three full terms) by the end of that term, the Council would, with permission from the family of the Member, confer the title of Honorary Alderman posthumously.  This would allow due recognition to be given to those who had demonstrated enduring service and dedication, and whose full term of office was only interrupted by their untimely death.

(3)  That officers referred back through records of instances that related to Members since SBC was created and include them in any future memorial or award the Honorary Alderman posthumously.