Agenda and minutes

Dame Joan Ruddock DBE

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and announced that this

special meeting of the Council was to confer upon Dame Joan Ruddock the

Honorary Freedom of the London Borough of Lewisham.

The Chair then announced that, under Section 249(5) of the Local

Government Act 1972, a Borough Council can admit to the Honorary Freedom

of the Borough, ‘persons of distinction and persons who have, in the opinion

of the Council, rendered eminent services to the Borough’.  He then called

upon the Chief Executive to read out the resolution of the Council passed at a

meeting of the Council on November 25 2015.

The Chief Executive formally reported that it was resolved that Dame Joan

Ruddock be admitted as an Honorary Freewoman of the London

Borough of Lewisham ”It is recommended that Dame Joan Ruddock DBE be

admitted as an Honorary Freewoman of the London Borough of Lewisham in

recognition of her service to the Borough and, in particular, the residents of

Deptford whom she served during 28 years as their Member of Parliament.

During that time she worked tirelessly on their behalf both individually as a

constituency MP and also by providing leadership locally and nationally on

issues including women’s rights, climate change and opposition to the

renewal of Trident. Her campaigning skills were deployed many times on

behalf of issues of concern to her constituents and her determination and

compassion was seen clearly in her work with the New Cross Fire Parents’

Committee to secure a second inquest. Her dedication to her constituents and

determination to serve them was reflected in the warmth in which she was

held. She is an appropriate recipient of the highest award the borough can

make.”

Dame Joan Ruddock then signed the Freedom Roll of Honour and her

signature was witnessed by the Mayor and the Chief Executive.

The Chair, after paying his own personal tribute to Dame Joan then called

upon, in turn, the Mayor, the Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP, Councillor Alan

Hall, Councillor Pauline Morrison, Councillor David Michael and Councillor

Joan Millbank to speak in support of the Council’s recommendation.

The Mayor, on behalf of the Council, then presented to Dame Joan Ruddock

a casket containing the Council’s resolution inscribed on a vellum scroll and

sealed by the Council. The Honorary Freewoman then responded and

thanked the Council for the honour that had been accorded to her.

The meeting closed at 8.55pm