29 09 2005

 

 

 

 

 

The Mayor (ex-officio); Chairman of the Policy and Organisation Board (Councillor Hook) (ex-officio) (P); Councillors Allen (P), Carr (P), Carter (P), Mrs Cully, Dickson (P), Edgar (P), Edwards (P) and Farr (P)

 

It was reported that, in accordance with Standing Orders, Councillor Cully had been nominated to attend this meeting in place of Councillor Mrs Cully.

 

 

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Board held on 12 July 2005 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

 

 

 

The Chairman reported that he had only received positive feedback for the Honorary Freedom Presentation/ Parade on 24 August 2005.  In this light he wished the Officers on behalf of the Sub-Board to write to Mrs Bridge, the former Mayor’s PA, to thank her for the hard work she had put in to make this event a success.

 

An observation was made that a number of Members worked therefore they found it difficult to attend day time civic events during the week.  This situation could also apply to members of the public when events of this nature were put on in the Borough.  It was agreed that when future civic events were arranged Members’ work commitments would be taken into account with an alternative option of a weekend date for the event.

 

(i)         That the positive feedback for the Honorary Freedom Presentation/ Parade be noted;

(ii)        That Councillors’ work commitments be taken into account when arranging future Civic Events; and

(iii)       That a letter be sent to Mrs Bridge, the former Mayor’s PA, to thank her for her hard work towards the above event on 24 August 2005. 

 

 

The Sub-Board Members had before them copies of letters from Surgeon Captain J K Campbell, RN, Commanding Officer, Royal Hospital Haslar and Fort Blockhouse regarding (i) the transfer of the Honorary Freedom of the Borough from Royal Hospital Haslar to Fort Blockhouse prior to the military withdrawal from Haslar on 31 March 2007 and (ii) Royal Hospital Haslar exercising its Honorary Freedom of the Borough during the week beginning 26 March 2007.

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i)         That the proposed transfer of the Honorary Freedom of the Borough to Fort Blockhouse be approved in principle by the Sub-Board and the detail of the transfer be brought back to the Sub-Board nearer the date of the withdrawal from Haslar in March 2007; and

 

(ii)        That the request to exercise the Honorary Freedom of the Borough in March 2007 be approved and the Mayor be asked to canvass the Commanding Officer, Royal Hospital Haslar and Fort Blockhouse on the possibility of a Sunday date for the event.

 

 

The Chairman thanked Mrs Jenny Rundle, temporary Mayor’s PA, for the work she had undertaken for the Royal Marines Honorary Freedom Presentation/ Parade on 9 November 2005.  He also welcomed Mrs Lindsey Holloway, new Mayor’s PA, to the meeting.

 

The Chairman outlined the programme, drafted by the temporary Mayor’s PA, following an earlier meeting of participants for the event as follows:

 

 

One hymn would be included in the service ‘Eternal Father Strong to Save’ and the Mayor would read out the resolution approved by full Council on 29 June.  Lieutenant General Fulton on behalf of the Royal Marines would read out the Declaration of Acceptance as an Honorary Freeman. 

 

There was a limit on numbers on health and safety grounds for the Reception in the Town Hall after the ceremony and this had to be taken into consideration by the Royal Marines and the Council.  Three Gosport families namely the Ashby, Flory and Piner families would be involved in the ceremony which would make a good media story for the event.  In addition arrangements would be made for the RMLI Cadet Marching Band Interpretation Board to be on display prior to the event in the Discovery Centre.

 

The Sub-Board in conclusion debated a youth involvement for the event and it was recommended that a boy and a girl be invited from each school in the Borough to join the Civic Procession in front of the Councillors on the day.

 

RESOLVED: 

 

(i)         That the update for the event on 9 November 2005 be noted; and

(ii)        That the Mayor and Leader of the Council jointly sign a letter to each school in the Borough inviting a boy and a girl to represent their school in the Civic Procession.

 

 

The Chairman advised that he wished to involve young people more in the Remembrance Sunday Arrangements.  He felt that the present ceremony did not appeal to young people and that it was important that they had some involvement in future services so that the act of remembrance would be continued.

 

The Sub-Board considered ways of involving young people in the service and felt such options should evolve from the service in 2006.  They felt that the music for the service should be reviewed and initiatives initially discussed included readings, prayers, wreath laying on behalf of political groups, parade format for cadet groups prior to the start of the ceremony and more explanation of the service by the vicar.  In addition the properties adjacent to the War Memorial Hospital should be made aware of the service start and anticipated finish times.

 

 

That Sub-Board Members and Officers be requested to consider how young people could become more involved in future Remembrance Sunday Observance Services together with more musical support and a report on these issues be submitted to a future Sub-Board meeting.

 

 

The Chairman reported that the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict would occur in 2007.  The venue and date for a commemoration service had apparently been discussed in government circles. However the Chief Executive of the Falklands Veterans Foundation based in Gosport was keen to have a commemoration service in Gosport and he had put to the Council a suggested date of Sunday, 17 June 2007.  The Chairman wished the Sub-Board to support this event and requested that future Council funding be ring fenced for this event, which he anticipated, would be arranged jointly by the Council and the Falklands Veterans Foundation.

 

 

That approval be given to the Falklands Veterans Foundation’s request to have a Falklands Conflict 25th Anniversary Commemoration Service in Gosport on Sunday, 17 June 2007.