COUNCILLOR CALLS FOR 'FREEMAN' NOMINATIONS TO BE OPENED UP FOR 'UNSUNG' HEROES

1.02.28pm GMT Wed 19th Mar 2008

Liberal Democrat Councillor Alan Faulkner has called for nominations for the honour of becoming a Freeman of Torbay to be opened up so that local "unsung heroes" can be nominated, and not just the great and the good.

The Council has formed a 'Civic Working Party' to consider nominations for the honorary position.

Councillor Alan Faulkner has written to Council Officers asking for his suggestion to be put on the agenda of the meeting. His letter says:

"The above working party is set to consider new freeman of the borough. Can you please arrange for this letter to be distributed with the agenda of the above working party. My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I are concerned that we may be getting ahead of ourselves by immediately considering nominations.

In recent years members of the public have had the opportunity to nominate people for national honours. In light of this we feel that Torbay Council should open up the nomination of people to the freedom of the borough position. This would increase openness and transparency. It would ensure that more than just the great and good of Torbay could be considered and unsung heroes of our community could get recognition.

We would have to ensure that there were clear criteria on who can be nominated and the fact that final selection would be for the Council. However such an idea cannot be unique to Torbay and perhaps you could conduct some research prior to the meeting of the working party to see how other local authorise may involve the public in the selection of those to be locally honoured."

Councillor Alan Faulkner said: "I really hope that the members on the Civic Working Party agree to open up the process so that the "unsung heroes" can get a look in."