Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest from the members present.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Matthew Atkins, Councillor Tom Coles and Councillor Jason Fazackarley.

Deputations by members of the public may be made on any item where a decision is going to be taken.  The request should be made in writing to the contact officer (stewart.agland@portsmouthcc.gov.uk) by 12 noon of the working day before the meeting (so Monday 14 February for this meeting), and must include the purpose of the deputation (for example, for or against the recommendations). Email requests are accepted.

The Lord Mayor advised that no deputation requests had been received for this extraordinary Full Council meeting.

Council is requested to:

Approve the transfer of the honorary grant of the Freedom of the City of Portsmouth originally having been bestowed onto Portsmouth Command of the Royal Navy on 10^th November 1964 to Portsmouth Naval Base and Portsmouth Ships, this being the successor command having subsumed Portsmouth Home Command within its changed structure over several decades.

That the Council wishes to continue to promote the essence of the original Freedom grant which was to 'pay tribute to the glorious traditions of the Royal Navy over many centuries of gallant and distinguished service to our Sovereign and country and to acknowledge the great part which the Royal Navy plays and has for so long played in the life and the development of the City and further wishing to strengthen and foster the close bonds which exist between the City and the Royal Navy'

It was Proposed by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Seconded by Councillor Simon Bosher

To transfer the Honorary Freedom of the City Grant to Reflect Subsumed Changes in Royal Naval Structure.

The Lord Mayor advised that just a simple majority was necessary in order for the proposal to be carried.

The Leader of the Labour Group Councillor Fielding and Leader of the Portsmouth People Progressive Group, Councillor Udy, also confirmed their support for the proposal.

The proposal was agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED that in pursuance of Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972:-

Council Approved the transfer of the honorary grant of the Freedom of the City of Portsmouth originally having been bestowed onto Portsmouth Command of the Royal Navy on 10^th November 1964 to Portsmouth Naval Base and Portsmouth Ships this being the successor command having subsumed Portsmouth Home Command within its changed structure over several decades.

That the Council wishes to continue to promote the essence of the original Freedom grant which was to 'pay tribute to the glorious traditions of the Royal Navy over many centuries of gallant and distinguished service to our Sovereign and country and to acknowledge the great part which the Royal Navy plays and has for so long played in the life and the development of the City and further wishing to strengthen and foster the close bonds which exist between the City and the Royal Navy'.