Agenda item

Civic Honours for Sheffield

Report of the Director of Policy, Performance and Communications and Interim Director of Legal and Governance

Decision:

13.1

The report aims to relaunch the existing civic honours so that we have an open, accessible and clearly understood way of honouring people in Sheffield who have made a significant contribution to the city and its communities. This includes Civic Awards, Sheffield Legends and the Freedom of the City.

 

 

13.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

 

 

1. Agrees the outline proposals and actions to enable the re-launch of the civic honours as set out in the report;

 

2. Notes and approves the outline awards criteria for the different types of honour as set out in the appendix, including the principle of public nominations for Sheffield Legends and Civic Awards;

 

3. Notes and approves the principle of a representative panel to:

 a. Make recommendations to the Lord Mayor on Freedom of the City awards; and

 b. approve Sheffield Legends and Civic Awards

 

4. Requests that a further report be submitted to the Committee which provides more detail for approval about the awards criteria, timetable, public nomination process and composition of and recruitment to the independent panel for the awards and honours; and

 

5. Notes the proposals in respect of the employee awards.

 

 

13.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

13.3.1

The activity around civic honours has lost momentum in recent years and we deal with potential nominations e.g., for Freedom of the City as necessary rather than in reference to an annual programme, clearly understood criteria, our values and the contribution of people in the city to life in our communities.

 

 

13.3.2

The proposals will allow us to achieve the following objectives using the established honours and awards:

• To have an active and a clear way for people to nominate someone who has made a special contribution to life in our city and to celebrate their achievements.

• Agree clear criteria and a decision-making process about who receives a civic honour.

• Define a range of awards through which we can recognise and celebrate people from all walks of life in Sheffield.

 

 

13.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

13.4.1

Option 1: Re-launch existing honours as a set of awards, each with a clear purpose and to redefine criteria, reinstate activity and improve what we already have, which are the:

Civic Awards

Freedom of the City

Sheffield Legends

 

And to develop an employee awards scheme

 

 

13.4.2

Option 2: to take no action. However, the current process is not working, and we believe that a widely understood and simple awards process is important to recognise and celebrate the outstanding effort and achievements of many people in the city and to say, ‘thank you’

 

Minutes:

13.1

The Committee received a report of the Director of Policy, Performance and Communications and Interim Director of Legal and Governance aiming to relaunch the existing civic honours so that we have an open, accessible and clearly understood way of honouring people in Sheffield who have made a significant contribution to the city and its communities. This includes Civic Awards, Sheffield Legends and the Freedom of the City.

 

 

13.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

 

 

1. Agrees the outline proposals and actions to enable the re-launch of the civic honours as set out in the report;

 

2. Notes and approves the outline awards criteria for the different types of honour as set out in the appendix, including the principle of public nominations for Sheffield Legends and Civic Awards;

 

3. Notes and approves the principle of a representative panel to:

 a. Make recommendations to the Lord Mayor on Freedom of the City awards; and

 b. approve Sheffield Legends and Civic Awards

 

4. Requests that a further report be submitted to the Committee which provides more detail for approval about the awards criteria, timetable, public nomination process and composition of and recruitment to the independent panel for the awards and honours; and

 

5. Notes the proposals in respect of the employee awards.

 

 

13.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

13.3.1

The activity around civic honours has lost momentum in recent years and we deal with potential nominations e.g., for Freedom of the City as necessary rather than in reference to an annual programme, clearly understood criteria, our values and the contribution of people in the city to life in our communities.

 

 

13.3.2

The proposals will allow us to achieve the following objectives using the established honours and awards:

• To have an active and a clear way for people to nominate someone who has made a special contribution to life in our city and to celebrate their achievements.

• Agree clear criteria and a decision-making process about who receives a civic honour.

• Define a range of awards through which we can recognise and celebrate people from all walks of life in Sheffield.

 

 

13.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

13.4.1

Option 1: Re-launch existing honours as a set of awards, each with a clear purpose and to redefine criteria, reinstate activity and improve what we already have, which are the:

Civic Awards

Freedom of the City

Sheffield Legends

 

And to develop an employee awards scheme

 

 

13.4.2

Option 2: to take no action. However, the current process is not working, and we believe that a widely understood and simple awards process is important to recognise and celebrate the outstanding effort and achievements of many people in the city and to say, ‘thank you’

 

Supporting documents: