Agenda and minutes

The Council to consider the following motion:

“That in accordance with Section 249(5) of the Local Government Act 1972, this Council wishes to place on record its high appreciation of, and debt of gratitude to The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and resolves that the Honorary Freedom of the Borough be conferred on The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and its successors for all time and that it be granted the right, privilege and honour of marching through the streets of Wyre Borough on ceremonial occasions with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and colours flying.”

(Note: The 1972 Act requires that to confer this honour “a resolution must be passed by no less than two thirds of the Members voting thereon at a meeting of the Council specially convened for this purpose).

The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment will exercise their Freedom of Entry to the Borough by parading through the streets of Poulton-le-Fylde, followed by a Reception at the Civic Centre, or an appropriate alternative location, on a date to be determined but expected to be in September 2018.

No other business will be transacted at this meeting

The Mayor welcomed the following representatives from the Duke of Lancaster’s regiment to the meeting:

-       Colonel Ray Hughes,

-       Colonel (Retd) Chris Owen

-       Sharon Davidson

-       Major Shaun Dwyer

-       Captain Jonathan Voigt, and

-       Sergeant Gary Smith

-       Plus 5 others from the 2^nd Lancashire Battalion.

It was proposed by the Resources Portfolio Holder and Deputy Leader of the Council (Cllr A Vincent) seconded by the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder (Cllr Murphy) and

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That in accordance with Section 249(5) of the Local Government Act 1972, this Council wishes to place on record its high appreciation of, and debt of gratitude to The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and resolves that the Honorary Freedom of  the Borough be conferred on The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and its successors for all time and that it be granted the right, privilege and honour of marching through the streets of Wyre Borough on ceremonial occasions with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and colours flying.”

The Mayor presented a Freedom Scroll to Colonel Hughes.

Colonel Hughes responded on behalf of the Regiment and presented a silver lion statuette to the Mayor. He said that, for operational reasons, the Regiment would not be able to exercise their right to parade through the Borough until a later date, probably in the summer of 2019.