The Council Assembly met on Wednesday 20 March 2024 to consider nominations for the Freedom of the Borough award. The meeting, which was an extraordinary session, saw the council agree to confer this honour upon the nominees put forward by the Constitutional Steering Panel.

Freedom of the Borough Award

The Council Assembly agreed to confer the Freedom of the Borough award to nominees put forward by the Constitutional Steering Panel. This honour is the highest award the council can bestow, recognising individuals or organisations who have rendered eminent services to the borough. ¹ The criteria for nominations, established in 2002, allow for suggestions from councillors, officers, MPs, outside organisations, and registered electors.

The report presented to the assembly detailed that two nominations had been received and recommended by the Constitutional Steering Panel on 27 February 2024. These nominations were considered in a closed session, as per the council's procedure rules, due to the likely disclosure of exempt information. The award ceremony for the Honorary Freedom of the Borough is scheduled to coincide with the Annual Meeting of the Council, Mayor Making, and the Southwark Civic Awards at Southwark Cathedral on Wednesday 22 May 2024. The cost of presenting the award, which includes a framed scroll, is expected to be managed within existing resources, particularly as the ceremony will be combined with other civic events.