Wigan is to have five more Honorary Aldermen - all are long serving former Labour Metro councillors who stepped down – or were beaten – in May's Metro elections.
All were nominated this week by a cross party committee which included Mayor Ron Winkworth, Independent Group Leader Brian Merry and Conservatives chief Mike Winstanley.
Now the title is set to be awarded to Audrey Bennett, George Davies, John O'N
eill, Alf Robinson and Brian Wilson at special ceremonies in the council chamber at the end of next month and in the New Year.
The title doesn't confer any special privileges or rights - other than meaning an automatic invitation to attend every full council meeting, but is rather seen as a way of marking and honouring a "significant contribution" made by former councillors.
All have served on the Metro for at least four terms (12 years). And it was this basic qualification which ruled out former Community Action Party leader of the opposition Peter Franzen, his brother Sandy, plus Labour's Barbara Jarvis from successful nomination, even if they had chosen to accept.
Accepting the title doesn't prevent a former councillor from standing again for the Metro – but if a standing honorary alderman was re-elected as a councillor they would have to drop the title until they were no longer a councillor.
The full article contains 223 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper.
