HONORARY FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH

 

Council is recommended to agree to present the person 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 Mark Allison as Freeman of the London Borough of Merton.

 

This honour is bestowed on Mark Allison in recognition of the substantial contribution he made to the Borough as a Councillor since his election to the Council in 2002, including serving as Leader of the Council from 2020 – 2022 and Deputy Leader from 2014-2020.

 

Mark held many positions on the Council and made a substantial contribution to the borough, especially in enhancing businesses, economic growth and prosperity, and in protecting those who are more vulnerable and on low incomes. Mark also played an important role in supporting charities in the Borough. As Cabinet Member for Finance, Mark oversaw the management of the Borough’s finances for over ten years. Mark also ensured all Council staff were paid the living wage and introduced bereavement leave for staff who miscarry.

 

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

The Mayor invited Councillor Stringer to move and Councillor Alambritis to second the motion.

 

Councillor Stringer:

 

Thank you Madam Mayor. Deputy Lieutenant, Madam Mayor, Councillors, Officers and observers I’m delighted that we're here tonight awarding the Freedom of the Borough to two people who've given so much of their time and energy to the people of Merton and making Honorary Aldermen and Alderwomen of ten further former colleagues.

 

So can I take this time to also thank all of those who left the Council at the May elections and thank them for all the work they did for our Borough.

 

Madam Mayor I'm going to talk about Mark Allison and why he deserves this

honor of the Freedom of the Borough. First you have the motion in front of you but I'll run through some of the facts; he was a Councillor for twenty years, including ten years responsible for the Boroughs’ finances; seven and a half of those as deputy leader. In Autumn 2020 when Stephen Alambritis, still Councillor Alambritis stood down from ten years at the helm, Mark was elected as new Leader of the Council.

 

Madam Mayor taking on leadership while we're in the middle of a pandemic is a challenge but Mark didn't let that stop him continuing to deliver improvements for Merton residents while still making sure that we were doing everything we can to protect our residents from illness and support the economy during the lockdowns. Mark's achievements are many and I’m sure my colleague Councillor Alambritis will cover some of these but for starters he was key to insisting that we protect the lowest income residents from

council tax even when the government took away that funding, he was crucial in shaping those principles that protected children’s and adult services from the worst of the cuts as austerity started to bite and recent achievements like the OFSTED judgement that our children's services are outstanding is a

testament to his focus on looking after our most vulnerable residents.

 

He also made sure that we had the funds to deliver the things that benefit all

residents like a new leisure centre in Morden and a new library in Colliers Wood.

 

Madam Mayor, his commitment to Merton went well beyond his achievements at the Council he also spent his spare time, when not watching football, working to make life better for local people including setting up a new foodbank service at the start of the pandemic with his wife Jenny over in Pollards Hill and then continuing to regularly volunteer there.

 

He also spent many more hours on the doorstep listening to residents than was expected of him making sure to be in wards right across the Borough always willing to speak to voters especially when they

had concerns to raise.

Madam Mayor I've outlined some of the achievements of Mark but what is hopefully clear is his hard work and his commitment to Merton and beyond this there's how he achieves things. Mark's approach was to develop relationships with people, put his trust in them and encourage those with good

ideas and I know this as someone who was a new Councillor four years ago. Straightaway Mark supported me in my ward work, was always ready to discuss any ideas I had and then when I was put on Cabinet he continued to support me particularly with tricky situations and even when I had very different thoughts on how to help to do things.

 

Madam Mayor I think what makes Mark different is he doesn't just give his trust and attention to allies he is happy to work with and consult with anyone with talents and ideas so as long as they are willing to work collaboratively too. This led to him appointing a Cabinet that was diverse not just in characteristics such as ethnicity and gender but diverse in opinions.

 

So Madam Mayor I'm proud to call Mark my friend, I'm proud of what he achieved in Merton and I'm grateful that we are bestowing this honour on him.

 

Councillor Alambritis:

 

Deputy Lieutenant, Madame Mayor, Councillors, Officers and guests.

 

My wife always asks me what am I up to now as I head into the civic centre for yet another evening?

When I said what I was doing namely seconding this motion tonight for Mark Allison, she screamed at me ”What are you doing talking up a QPR fan”

Well here goes

 

It started with an election victory in 2002 for Mark Allison

Mark made it straight into the Cabinet for Special Projects and promptly launches My Merton

My Merton is a MUST read publication with a 86,000 circulation greater than the Spectator at just 83,000 in 2019 and the Liberal Democrat Voice at only 50,000 and the Morning Star at just 10,000

 

Between 2010 - 2014 I made Mark my Cabinet Member for Finance

Our 2011 July Principles when we protected residents from the cost of living crisis were put together by Mark

We Froze the council tax for 6 years

We kept Council Tax low

And it was Mark who insisted on maintaining one of Britain’s most generous council tax rebate schemes

Mark also made sure we protected services for the most vulnerable, through a funding ratio ensuring budget cuts are lower for children’s services and adult social care and so we have outstanding status from Ofsted for our childrens services

Between 2014 – 2020 I made Mark my  Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance

Mark makes sure we get money for a new library, a new day centre, a new secondary school, 23 expanded Primary schools (no portakabins) and a new leisure centre

So not a bad list of achievements for residents of Merton from a QPR fan

Hey, look he has recovered some dignity as I understand he was there at the first AFC Wimbledon match against Sutton United back in 2002 where it all started and now his second team is AFC Wimbledon. Mark thank you very much.

 

I second this motion Madam Mayor.

 

The Mayor then invited Councillor Whelton to speak to the motion.

 

Councillor Whelton:

 

Thank you Madam Mayor, it's a great honour to support this recommendation for former Councillor Allison to be made Honorary Freeman of

this Borough. I've known Mark for the past twenty seven years and we cut our political teeth way back in Sutton a long time ago challenging Borough, and Mark was always a very good friend and support when I was just starting myself in the Labour Party.

 

I've known Mark longer than I’ve known anyone else in this Council chamber, politics there was a challenge but both of us ended up in Merton which was slightly more fruitful territory than Sutton is for the Labour Party.

 

As well as that I've worked closely alongside Mark over the past twenty years I got elected with him at the same time to the Council in 2002

and I also served alongside him as a Cabinet member for the past twelve years.

 

I have to say I think Mark's record speaks for itself, I know the

huge work you've done in Pollards Hill in terms of setting up and continuing to run the fresh foodbank which has helped hundreds and hundreds of people over the past two and a half years in one of the most deprived

areas of the Borough. I also know as well the work he did through Covid.

 

Covid had been one of the most challenging times for this Council and in terms of the support he gave to businesses and the local community as the then Cabinet Member for Finance but obviously subsequently Leader after Councillor Alambritis stood down.

 

It’s sad Mark is no longer with us in this Council chamber but I think this is recognition of his considerable service to the Council and I ask Council tonight to support this thank you Madam Mayor.

 

The Mayor then called for a vote and the vote was carried, unanimously. The Mayor then called for a vote and the vote was carried, unanimously. Mark Allison was invited to receive certificates conferring upon him the titles of Honorary Freeman of the Borough and Honorary Alderman affixed with the common seal of the Council.

 

 The substantive resolution was agreed.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That, by virtue of the power vested in it by Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council does admit Mark Allison as Freeman of the London Borough of Merton.

 

This honour is bestowed on Mark Allison in recognition of the substantial contribution he made to the Borough as a Councillor since his election to the Council in 2002, including serving as Leader of the Council from 2020 – 2022 and Deputy Leader from 2014-2020.

 

Mark held many positions on the Council and made a substantial contribution to the borough, especially in enhancing businesses, economic growth and prosperity, and in protecting those who are more vulnerable and on low incomes. Mark also played an important role in supporting charities in the Borough. As Cabinet Member for Finance, Mark oversaw the management of the Borough’s finances for over ten years. Mark also ensured all Council staff were paid the living wage and introduced bereavement leave for staff who miscarry.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That former Councillor Mark Allison is conferred with the title of Honorary Alderman of the London Borough of Merton in recognition of his loyal and distinguished service to the Council over many years.