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 Philip Jones as Freeman of the London Borough of Merton.

 

This honour is bestowed on Philip Jones in recognition of the substantial contribution he made to the Borough as a Councillor for the Ravensbury ward in over 39 cumulative years of service, since his election to the Council in 1971, including serving as Deputy Mayor in the municipal year 2007/2008; and his extensive civic service.

 

In particular, Philip was an active member of the local community, chairing the Morden Community Forum, as well as being a member of the Environment Committee and of the Planning Committee, with 10 years as chair of the latter.  He also served as a School Governor for Malmesbury School in his ward and was a Trustee of the Merton and Morden Guild of Social Services, championing the improvement of local health and social care facilities for the residents of Merton and was instrumental in the building of the medical centre on Morden Road. Philip has been a lifelong resident of Morden and a dedicated former employee of the trade union then called NALGO and now known as UNISON.

 

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 the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition to speak on the motion.

 

Councillor Stephen Alambritis:

 

“I, Cllr Stephen Alambritis, being the duly elected leader of the council of the aforementioned borough of Merton on this the 12^th day of the month of July, in this the year of our Lord of 2018

 

do hereby move to recommend to this council to agree to present Philip Jones, with a certificate conferring upon him the title of Honorary Freeman of the Borough affixed with the common seal of the Council.

 

I therefore move and Cllr Oonagh Moulton the leader of the Opposition will second

 

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

 

This honour is bestowed on Philip Jones in recognition of the substantial contribution he made to the Borough as a Councillor for the Ravensbury ward in over 39 cumulative years of service, since his election to the Council in 1971, including serving as Deputy Mayor in the municipal year 2007/2008; and his extensive civic service.

 

In particular, Philip was an active member of the local community, chairing the Morden Community Forum, as well as being a member of the Environment Committee and of the Planning Committee with 10 years as chair of the latter committee. 

 

He also served as a School Governor for Malmesbury School in his ward and was a Trustee of the Merton and Morden Guild of Social Services championing the improvement of local health and social care facilities for the residents of Merton

 

And was instrumental in the building of the medical centre on Morden Road

 

Philip has been a lifelong resident of Morden and a dedicated former employee of the trade union then called NALGO and now known as UNISON

 

Madam Mayor

 

That is the legal stuff out of the way

 

Let us get personal now

 

Philip Mervin Jones was born in Northamptonshire after his parents were evacuated there during the Second World War

 

When the war ended the family moved back to Maycross Avenue in Morden

 

Aged 11 the young Philip with his collection of Eagle comics in his satchel attended Rutlish Boys School in Mostyn Road

 

After school and armed with a good degree from Sheffield University the 21 year old young man enjoyed a career as the Education Officer to NALGO

 

The National and Local Government Officers’ Association was a major British trade union representing ‘white collar’ workers having been set up in 1905

 

By the late 1970s it was the largest union with over 700,000 members

 

Its vice presidents included the Earl of Derby and one Neville Chamberlain

 

And so it came to pass that Philip chose to join the Labour Party

 

Philip first put his hat in the ring as a local council candidate in 1968 but that year saw a rare Conservative landslide and so undeterred in May 1971 Philip stood in Cannon Hill and to great success

 

In 1978 he won a seat in Abbey Ward but it was with Ravensbury Ward that he fell in love and that affair began in May of 1986 until May of this year

 

Philip looked after his residents with an absolute passion

 

He also loved the Labour Party and loved leafletting and canvassing

 

He is one of many candidates up and down this country to have been bitten by a dog while on the stump

 

On this occasion the dog was owned by a rival Tory candidate

 

Being the gentleman that he is Philip did not pursue the matter with electoral services

 

He won that election hands down anyway minus the tip of an index finger

 

Philip Jones was Chair of Planning for many years (The glass building in the Broadway belonging to the CIPD, yes that was passed by Philip)

 

Philip Jones was also Environment Services Committee Chair and his passion for road humps to ease speeding led to the Evening Standard describing Merton as the Borough with the Hump!!

 

Councillor Jones was also Leader of the council and Deputy Mayor to Cllr John Dehaney

 

But let us now leave the past badges of office and wish Philip the best for the future as he:

 

Picks his berries

 

Washes his Jars

 

Washes and hulls the fruit from his garden

 

Crushes the fruit

 

Measures out the sugar

 

Mixes the berries with pectin

 

And cooks to a full boil

 

Yes Philip makes Jam and has been doing so for longer than Jeremy Corbyn!

 

So if you were to go to the Morden Funday Labour Stall on Sunday 22 July there you will see Jam today and jam tomorrow made by Philip

 

Philip will also enjoy many trips to the Ian Allan Book and Model Shop in Lower Marsh by the Cut near the Old Vic as he loves his British Rail Books and has quite a collection

 

And not just a collection of books but memories past of real journeys by train to places like Berlin, Sarajevo, Malaga, Helsinki and Athens, of course with many more train journeys to come

 

Madam Mayor

 

Philip has been on the public service journey all his life from NALGO to Merton and has given his time and best effort to members of the public here in Merton and especially to the residents of Ravensbury Ward who have been well served by him

 

We now wish him all the best in his by now real retirement and I so move the motion to admit Philip Jones as Freeman of the London Borough of Merton.”

 

Councillor Oonagh Moulton:

 

“Madame Mayor I am delighted and honoured to second this motion and to place on record our recognition on this side of the Chamber for the long and dedicated public service (some 39 years cumulative) that former Councillor Philip Jones has given to our Borough and to his residents of Ravensbury Ward.

 

Philip has given distinguished service on the many committees on which he has served but he is probably best known for his expertise and length of service on the Planning Committee which he has also chaired for some 10 years.

 

His extensive civic service includes a term as Deputy Mayor from 2007 to 2008.

 

Madam Mayor, Philip has I know been held in high esteem across this chamber and has been widely regarded as one of the ‘wise heads’ and I speak for many of us when I say that we will certainly miss his incisive contributions.

 

Philip we wish you well and look forward to seeing you at future Civic functions and exercising the new rights in your new role as an Honorary Freeman of the Borough.

 

Madam Mayor it gives me great pleasure to second this motion.”

 

The Mayor then invited the following Members to speak on the motion.

 

Councillor Peter Southgate:

 

“Thank you for the opportunity to add my voice to the many in support of the award of the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Merton to former Cllr Philip Jones.  This is an exceptional award for a retiring councillor, but it reflects exceptional service to our borough.  I’ve known Philip for fewer than half those 39 years of service, but he’s always seemed to me an implacable and reliable presence in the sometimes swirling politics of Merton, and I will miss that reassuring presence and sagacity.

 

Nowhere more than on the Planning Applications Committee, on which Philip has served as Chair or member throughout my time on the council.  When I was first appointed to the PAC a former member advised me – if you’re not sure which way to vote, watch what Philip Jones does, he’s usually right.

 

And so it has proved.  I have noticed that Philip tends to bide his time while louder voices argue the merits or demerits of applications that come to the PAC, but his interventions when they came were always well informed and soundly based in policy, and as such were often decisive.  And he has always demonstrated an ability to think and act independently in planning, which is essential if all parties, applicant and objectors, are to have confidence in the process.  His wisdom will be missed. 

 

As will his dry or wry sense of humour.  I remember when the Merton Park Independents first gained the balance of power in 2006, it was suggested to me that we might like to claim a seat in the front row of the stalls as it were, sitting alongside the big boys in the chamber.  Overhearing this, Philip’s advice to me was – I’d stay where you are on the back row, then you can continue to look down on us literally as well as metaphorically.

 

While we were glad of that advice, I hasten to add that we never looked down on our colleagues in either major party – literally but not seriously, to misquote.

 

We have every confidence that Philip will exercise his deserved freedom of the borough by continuing to walk its length and breadth, as he has done for so many years in its service.”

 

Councillor David Williams:

 

“Thank you Madam Mayor.  I first knew Philip when he became a Councillor in Cannon Hill, but through the column he was writing for the Morden Parish News as “our man on the Council” and I didn’t mind that a bit until I became a candidate in Cannon Hill.

 

Philip wrote a regular column for the Morden Parish News and when I did succeed him as a Councillor in the Cannon Hill Ward in 1974 I didn’t manage to keep up the momentum that he did in writing that column and I think that says something about Philip.  That when he sets about a task, that he sticks with it, and we have a great deal to be grateful for across the chamber for the consistency in which he has undertaken his role as a Councillor. 

 

Through the Church, I knew his mother and his late brother and Philip, as others have already said, has been deeply committed to this Borough pretty much all his life and I thought it was actually a bit unfortunate that we didn’t mention in this motion that he was Leader of this Council in 1999 to 2000 at a time of great turbulence in the Labour Group but he stepped forward and fulfilled that role and for those of us who have undertaken it know that it’s more than just being in the Chamber.  You have to do a great deal behind it, including managing your own group.

 

So all credit to Philip for all that he’s achieved, in particular on Planning of course.  He’s also kept us, on many occasions, on the right path with his attention to detail, particularly spelling and grammar when Council documents have been a little weak.  But Philip Jones is a doer, and I’m sure even as an Honorary Freeman, Philip will continue to be a doer for Merton.”

 

The Mayor then called for a vote on the Motion and reminded the Council that under Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, it requires more than a two thirds majority of Members passing the motion for the Honorary Freeman to be bestowed.

 

The vote was carried, unanimously.

 

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 Philip Jones as Freeman of the London Borough of Merton.

 

This honour is bestowed on Philip Jones in recognition of the substantial contribution he made to the Borough as a Councillor for the Ravensbury ward in over 39 cumulative years of service, since his election to the Council in 1971, including serving as Deputy Mayor in the municipal year 2007/2008; and his extensive civic service.

 

In particular, Philip was an active member of the local community, chairing the Morden Community Forum, as well as being a member of the Environment Committee and of the Planning Committee, with 10 years as chair of the latter.  He also served as a School Governor for Malmesbury School in his ward and was a Trustee of the Merton and Morden Guild of Social Services, championing the improvement of local health and social care facilities for the residents of Merton and was instrumental in the building of the medical centre on Morden Road. Philip has been a lifelong resident of Morden and a dedicated former employee of the trade union then called NALGO and now known as UNISON.