Apologies were received from Councillors David Dean, Geraldine Stanford and Simon Withey

No Declarations were made

HONORARY FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH

Council is recommended to agree to present each of the persons named below with a certificate conferring upon them the title of Honorary Freeman of the Borough affixed with the common seal of the Council.

The motion to be duly moved and seconded is:

That, by virtue of the power vested in it by Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council does admit Andy Murray, Virginia Wade, Ann Haydon-Jones and Angela Mortimer as Freemen of the London Borough of Merton in recognition of their achievements in winning a singles title at Wimbledon.

This honour is bestowed on Andy Murray in recognition of his being a British Winner of the Mens Singles Tennis Championship at the Wimbledon Grand Slam event in 2013. Andy Murray has brought significant reputational benefits to Merton as a place to visit and a good place to live, work and play.  As well as enhancing Merton’s reputation, he has also made a major contribution to the development of British Tennis and has raised its profile.

This honour is bestowed on Virginia Wade in recognition of her being a British Winner of the Ladies Singles Tennis Championships at the Wimbledon Grand Slam event in 1977.  Virginia Wade, has brought significant reputational benefits to Merton as a place to visit and a good place to live, work and play.  As well as enhancing Merton’s reputation, she has also made a major contribution to the development and profile of British Tennis and raised the profile of both Tennis and Women in Sport.

This honour is bestowed on Ann Haydon-Jones in recognition of her being a British Winner of the Ladies Singles Tennis Championships at the Wimbledon Grand Slam event in 1969.  Ann Haydon-Jones, has brought significant reputational benefits to Merton as a place to visit and a good place to live, work and play.  As well as enhancing Merton’s reputation, she has also made a major contribution to the development and profile of British Tennis and raised the profile of both Tennis and Women in Sport.

This honour is bestowed on Angela Mortimer in recognition of her being a British Winner of the Ladies Singles Tennis Championships at the Wimbledon Grand Slam event in 1961.  Angela Mortimer, has brought significant reputational benefits to Merton as a place to visit and a good place to live, work and play.  As well as enhancing Merton’s reputation, she has also made a major contribution to the development and profile of British Tennis and raised the profile of both Tennis and Women in Sport.

Note by Chief Executive: Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires a resolution conferring the title of Honorary Alderman to be passed by not less than two thirds of the Members voting thereon.

The Mayor invited each of the Political Group Leaders to speak upon the Motion

Councillor Alambritis­ –

It is with great pleasure I was asked by this Council to write to Andy Murray, to Virginia Wade, to Ann Jones and to Mrs Mortimer with regard to an offer of Freedom of the Borough. That was done on the 18 December 2013. The response from Angela Barrett nee Mortimer was ‘I shall be delighted and honoured to be honoured Freeman of Merton’ .Virginia Wade’s response, ‘Thank you it is a very nice invitation and will be in touch and it is an affirmative. Ann Jones ‘Delighted to accept this titled of honoured Freeman of the Borough of Merton’ and through Andy Murray’s office, another acceptance of the offer.

With regard to this, it with great pleasure the honour is bestowed upon them and not us. With regard to Andy Murray this is in recognition of being a British Winner of the Men’s Singles Tennis Championship in the Wimbledon Grand Slam event in 2013. It also for being a gold and silver medallist in London 2012 Olympic tennis event played here in Merton. Andy Murray has brought significant reputational benefits to Merton as a place to visit and a good place to live, work and play. As well as enhancing Merton’s reputation, he has also made a major contribution to the development of British tennis and has raised the profile of here in Merton, and across the land.

With regards to our three great Wimbledon Women’s champions, it something we wanted to put in place, something we wanted to correct, something we want to look to be, a Council that is steeped in equalities and therefore with great pleasure they are also offered Freedom of the Borough, for their great achievement and also for their work on tennis throughout the Borough ever since then.

Councillor Moulton –

It is a great honour as Leader of the Conservative Group to be seconding the motion, before this Special Meeting and to confer the honour of Freedom of the Borough on these great winners of British Singles Tennis Championships at Wimbledon.

Firstly to Andy Murray for recognition for winning the Men’s Singles Tennis Championship in 2013 at Wimbledon, and for being the inspirational Men’s Olympic Singles gold medallist and Doubles silver medallist at the London 2012 Olympics that was held at Wimbledon. His contribution to the development of British tennis and a role model for up and coming sports men and women as been really huge across our Borough and has raised the profile and reputation of Merton in so doing.

We also seek to bestow the honour of Freedom of the Borough upon Virginia Wade, Ann Hayden Jones and Angela Mortimer as British winners of the Ladies single tennis Championships at Wimbledon in1977, 1969 and 1961 respectively. They have all brought significant reputational benefits to Merton and made major contributions to the development and profile of the sport, and particularly for tennis for British  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.