Meeting documents

 

Agenda Item No:  6

22nd February 2011

                  

 

 

Corporate Report Format

 

 

To the Chair and Members of the

ELECTIONS AND DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURES COMMITTEE

 

FREEDOM OF ENTRY CONSIDERATION – 219 SQUADRON, 150 (YORKSHIRE) TRANSPORT REGIMENT, ROYAL LOGISTICS CORPS (V)

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

1.         This report recommends conferring the Freedom of Entry on 219 Squadron, 150 (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps (V) in recognition of the service provided by the Corps.  The Royal Logistics Corps headquarters has been located in Doncaster since 1919.  The Corps has given support to the Authority and residents of the Borough, during times of conflict and peacetime. The Council has maintained a close relationship with the Corps over many years, however the Freedom of Entry has not been granted to them. 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

2.         It is recommended that the Elections and Democratic Structures Committee acknowledge the service given by 219 Squadron, 150 (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps (V) during the last century, by recommending to the Full Council the bestowing of the Freedom of Entry on the unit as part of the Armed Forces Day Celebrations in Doncaster on Saturday 25 June 2011.

 

BACKGROUND

 

3.         The Freedom of Entry for a military unit bestows the same honour and respect as conferring the Freedom on an individual. This allows the unit to march through the town and bear arms.  In accordance with the Council Constitution, any such requests to confer the Freedom are initially considered by the Elections and Democratic Structures Committee, which then makes a recommendation to Full Council.  An Extraordinary Council Meeting will need to be convened for this purpose.  In order for the resolution to be passed, a two-thirds majority is required.

 

4.         The Corps has been based in Doncaster since 1919.  The Corps became the 150^th Northumbrian Regiment Royal Corps of Transport Volunteers in 1967. Then in 1993, the Royal Logistics Corps was formed and the Doncaster based unit was honoured with the title 219 (South Yorkshire) Squadron, with similar squadrons being formed in Hull, Leeds and Tynemouth.  All of these other squadrons have received the Freedom of Entry in their respective hometowns, Doncaster is the exception.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.         The Corps has continued to train in readiness for time of military crisis. They have assisted the regular Army during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and have served in Northern Ireland and Bosnia, despite their numbers being reduced from 296 to 190 men. Over 4000 service personnel have been attached to the Squadron over the past fifty years.

 

6.         219 Squadron has been quick to react to local problems and has responded             practically.  They have:

 

·             Provided manpower to help rebuild parts of Bentley and Toll Bar                                  following flooding.

·             Assisted the Emergency Services at major road traffic accidents                                 and major incidents.

·             Assisted and provided practical support during excavations of                          archaeological finds and Roman artefacts at the site of the                                            Minster of St. George.

·             Provided a Guard of Honour at the War Memorial and a Parade                                   Commander and Marshals to facilitate Remembrance Sunday                          Observances and processes involved, for the last thirty-four                                      years.

·             Supplied and staffed water stations during marathons and local                                    road races.

·             When DMBC gifted a red telephone box to Herten in Germany,                                     delivered it.

·             Arranged displays and information presentations to local                                               schools pyramids.

·             Continually organised fundraising events for local Doncaster                                         based charities.

 

OPTIONS CONSIDERED

 

7.         Option 1

 

            To recommend to the Full Council the granting of the Freedom of Entry to the             219 Squadron.

 

            Option 2

 

            Not to recommend the granting of the Freedom of Entry.

 

8.         Subject to this Committee supporting Option 1 above and Full Council subsequently passing the resolution to confer the Freedom of Entry to the 219 Squadron, 150 (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps (V), the following options are put forward with regard to planning the ceremony:

 

·                   Option (A) - A Parade through the town from either Scarbrough                                     Barracks or the periphery.  The Salute to be taken at the Mansion                                     House, with a ceremony to include an inspection of the troops and                              presentation of a Freedom Scroll to the Regiment.  The main body of                  troops would return to Scarborough Barracks. The Council would                                 provide light refreshments to Officers and invited guests in the                          Mansion House.

 

 

 

·                   Option (B)  - Parade to start in the town with the Salute taken at the                  Mansion House. Parade to continue to Scarborough Barracks. The                                  ceremony would include an inspection of the troops and presentation                     of a Freedom Scroll to the Regiment.

 

·                   Option (C)   - The Freedom of Entry could be conferred as part of the Armed Forces Day Celebrations in Doncaster on Saturday 25^th June 2011.   219 Squadron, 150 (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps (V) would participate in the Parade to the Minster of St. George with other military contingents and related groups.  They would take part in a Celebratory Service that would be themed around the Freedom of Entry.

 

The Salute would be taken at the Mansion House as the Parade passes. There would then be a range of activities within the Town Centre area that would culminate in a ceremony to include an inspection of the troops and presentation of a Freedom Scroll to the Regiment.  This would be the highlight of the event and would close the celebrations.  

 

The troops and dignitaries could then go to Scarbrough Barracks to a reception subsidised by the Corps and co-funded by the Council.

 

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDED OPTION

 

9.         Option 1 set out in paragraph 7 above acknowledges the service given to the Borough by 219 Squadron, 150 (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps (V) and is consistent with the honours bestowed upon similar squadrons elsewhere in the Country.  Option (C) detailed in paragraph 8 is the most cost effective option for hosting the ceremony and would allow the public and families of Servicemen and women the opportunity to view the ceremony.

 

10.       The 2010 Armed Forces Day event was successful and over 66,000 people were present in the town centre (source: automated visitor counter, Frenchgate Centre) and were able to observe and participate in the various activities.

 

11.       There is funding available from the Ministry of Defence towards Armed Forces Day that would help to offset the costs involved. The Council is currently bidding for this funding.

 

RISKS AND ASSUMPTIONS

 

12.       Should the Council agree to confer the honour of Freedom of Entry on 219 Squadron, 150 (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps (V), arrangements will need to be put in place with key partners such as the Police to ensure that public safety is not compromised.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

13.       Section 249(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 allows ‘the Council of a district having the status of a city, borough or royal borough, by a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the members voting thereon at a meeting of the Council, specially convened for the purpose with notice of the object, to admit to be honorary freemen of the city, borough or royal borough persons of distinction and persons who have in the opinion of the Council, rendered eminent services to the city, borough or royal borough’.

 

14.       The Freedom of Entry allows a service unit linked to the Borough, to ‘march    through the town with bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying’.

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

15.       There is no identified budget for the conferring of the Freedom of Entry on      219 Squadron, 150 (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps (v).  The indicative total cost of conferring the Freedom is estimated at      £4,500.

            This is based on:

            Freedom Scrolls                                                                               £2000

            Buffet for 100 people at £15.00 per head                                      £1500

            Programmes and printing                                                                £  500

            Car parking dispensations

            and other miscellaneous expenses.                                               £  500

            Total expenditure                                                                              £4500

 

16.       If the Freedom of Entry takes place on Armed Forces Day, 150 (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps (V), have indicated that they will be willing to host and subsidise the meal provided to guests at their Barracks. 

             This would significantly reduce the costs incurred.

 

17.       Although the Council was successful in bidding for Ministry of Defence            funding towards the Armed Forces Day event for 2010, this is not guaranteed          for the event on 25th June 2011.

 

18.       The cost of the Freedom of Entry consideration will be found from within the               Civic Office budget in 2011/12.

 

CONSULTATION

 

19.       There has been no formal consultation on the proposals set out in this report.

 

 

REPORT AUTHOR

 

Kay Bennett               Civic Office Manager

                                    01302 734004         

                                    kay.bennettt @doncaster.gov.uk

 

 

Rob Vincent

Chief Executive