Six Conservative councillors included in New Year Honours

Congratulations to the following Conservative councillors who were each awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List:

Cllr Mohammad Bhatti - Chiltern DC. For services to local government and to the community.

Cllr Jeremy Kite  - Kent CC. For services to local government in Dartford.

Cllr Peter Martin  - Leader, Essex CC. For services to local government.

Cllr Dudley Mead  – Croydon LBC. For services to civic society in Croydon.

Cllr Robert Tidy  - East Sussex CC. For services to local government and the community.

Cllr Pam Dixon - Trafford. For services to the community in Altrincham.

Apologies for missing off Cllr Dixon earlier.

Honours list knighted disqualified Labour councillor

The Labour peer, Lord Harris blogs on the knighthood for Steve Bubb, the Chief Executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations.

He says:

I first knew Steve when we were both involved in the Young Fabians in the 1970s. However, we were also the Chief Whips of our respective London Boroughs, Haringey and Lambeth, from 1982 to 1986 and were inevitably at the centre of the campaign against rate-capping -the attack on local authorities by the then Conservative Government under Margaret Thatcher.

It is an irony therefore that, as another Conservative Government again imposes massive cuts on local councils, Margaret Thatcher’s successor, David Cameron, has honoured Steve, who was, of course, one
of the Lambeth Councillors who ended up being surcharged and disqualified from office for defying the central government. Incentivising dissent?

Of course the honour comes from The Queen not David Cameron and a committee - rather than David Cameron was responsible for the nominations. My wider concern is that honours should be going to those who have made a special contribution in providing unpaid voluntary and charitable work. They seem to end up going to an elite of bureaucrats in the voluntary and charity "sectors" - Chief Executives already rewarded with six figure salaries.

Bubb's role seems to be as their shop steward. His group appears to have plenty  of money for PR and lobbying. It has a section on "Cuts Watch." Does Bubb still live in agitprop land going on dems with "Fight the cuts" banners?

> For New Year's Day Sir Stephen called for a new tax on banks to fund charities.

Conservative councillors in New Year Honour's list

Congratulations to Cllr Mimi Harker, the Cabinet Member for Young People, Leisure, Community and Communications on Chiltern District Council. She  was awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours list. It was for her work for the community in Amersham and for ethnic minorities.

She was among several Conservative councillors to gain recognition. Cllr Colin Rigby of Blackburn with Darwen is awarded an OBE. Cllr Tony Roberts, the leader of Newark and Sherwood District, is awarded an MBE. There is also an MBE for Cllr David Folkes of Wychavon District Council and Cllr Brian Hood of Monmouthshire County Council and Cllr Dave Houseman of Leicestershire County Council.

Congratulations to all of them.

Details of how to nominate someone for an honour are here.

Councillors in Queen's Birthday Honours

Coongratulations to the Conservative counncillors included in The Queen's Birthday Honours List.

MBE

Cllr David Caunt, Dudley

Cllr Michael Rye, former leader of Enfield Council on,

Cllr Keith Bland, leader of Warrington Borough Council.

Cllr Malcolm Hanney, Bath and North East Somserset Council.

Cllr Adrian Gunson, Norfolk.

KNIGHTS BATCHELOR.

Cllr Merrick Cockell, Chairman of London Councils and Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensingston and Chelsea.

Bexley honours its TA unit

The London Borough of Bexley has marked the New Year with the announcement that it is recommending that the Freedom of the Borough is awarded to the 265 (Kent & County of London Yeomanry) Support Squadron (Sharpshooters), who are based in Bexleyheath.

The honour is the highest that can be made by the Council and it is awarded exclusively to those who have rendered eminent service to the borough. It has been awarded only twice in the 44 years since the London Borough of Bexley came into existence: to the late Sir Edward Heath KG MBE, who served as Prime Minister and represented Old Bexley & Sidcup in Parliament for many years, and to the 17th Depot Regiment Royal Artillery, who are now based in Kent.

Cllr Bernard Clewes MBE, the Mayor of the Bexley says:

"I am delighted that we are planning to award this great honour to the only military unit based in the borough, particularly at a time when members of our armed forces are making such great sacrifices in the service of their country. We can all take pride in the professionalism and long tradition of service displayed by all our servicemen and women and we are, of course, particularly proud of those who are based in our borough."

The unit was nominated for the honour by Cllr James Hunt and Cllr Nigel Betts and the granting of the Freedom of the Borough was supported unanimously by the members of the Council's Civic Recognition Panel. Its recommendation is subject to the approval of the full Council.

265 (Kent & County of London Yeomanary) Support Squadron (Sharpshooters) are part of 71 Signal Regiment, whose headquarters are also in Bexleyheath. The honour recognises the Regiment's long association with the borough and the distinguished service given by its members throughout its history, both to the borough and to their country.

Territorials from the unit and its predecessors have served in both world wars and on operations in many parts of the world, including Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. Through its attachment to the Royal Corps of Signals, the unit provides the British Army with communications and information technology around the world, including combat situations.

Representatives of the unit are expected to be presented with a certificate recording the granting of the Freedom of the Borough at the Council's annual reception on 22 May.

The granting of Freedom of the Borough will give the unit the "right, privilege, honour and distinction" of marching through the streets of the borough on all ceremonial occasions "with colours flying, bands playing and drums beating".