Agenda and minutes

The Mayor’s Chaplain led the Council in prayer.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors J Burrell and

R A S Jones.

To receive declarations of interest from Members including the terms(s) of the Grant of Dispensation (if any) by the Audit Board or Managing Director.

There were no declarations of interests.

The Mayor will invite the Leader of the Council, Councillor J A Kite MBE, to speak on the background to the proposed conferment of the Honorary Freedom of the Borough on Mr Patrick Francis Coleman. Councillor Kite will then propose the following motion:

‘That, in pursuance of section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, this Council do confer the Honorary Freedom of the Borough upon Patrick Francis Coleman in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the lives of the people of Dartford throughout more than forty years of public service and do hereby admit Pat Coleman to the roll of Honorary Freemen of the Borough of Dartford’.

The Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor C J Shippam, will second the motion and speak in support.

The Mayor will invite other Members to speak on the proposed conferment.

At the conclusion of the speeches the Mayor will put the motion to the vote.

The Mayor will then invite Mr Coleman to sign the Roll of Honorary Freemen, which will also be witnessed, and will then present him with an illuminated scroll.

The Mayor will then invite the new Honorary Freeman, Mr Coleman, to address the Council.

At the end of this address the Mayor will invite Mrs Doreen Coleman to come forward to be presented with a bouquet of flowers by the Leader of the Council.

The Mayor will then close the meeting.  

The Leader of the Council, Councillor J A Kite MBE, set out the background to the decision to confer the Honorary Freedom of the Borough on Pat Coleman which had been announced at the Annual Council meeting on 22^nd May 2019.

The Leader of the Council moved the following motion:

‘That, in pursuance of section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, this Council do confer the Honorary Freedom of the Borough upon Patrick Francis Coleman in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the lives of the people of Dartford throughout more than forty years of public service and do hereby admit Pat Coleman to the roll of Honorary Freemen of the Borough of Dartford’.

He explained that this was a very special honour which was only rarely awarded and which reflected the outstanding nature of the service given by Pat Coleman during his 43 years on the Council. He paid tribute to Mr Coleman who he described as a ‘super-charged Councillor’ worthy of the description in the motion as an extraordinary man with a long career of commitment to the Borough and the people of Dartford. He said that his virtues could literally be spelt out in his name:

P – Mr Coleman was a ‘people person’ rather than simply a ‘politician’, although that could easily have applied;

A – Mr Coleman was ‘amiable,’ always friendly and never angry.

T – Stood for ‘tenants’ who were at the very heart of the services for which Mr Coleman had Cabinet responsibility and in which he had a deep interest. He viewed people as being at the heart of Housing Services and had deeply benefitted the lives of thousands of tenants over his long career. This was a recurring thread which ran through his work on the Council.

C – This could have stood for ‘Conservative’ but he was a man driven to serve the ‘Community.’

O – He was ‘onest’ (sic). A person who would always give an honest opinion and ‘considered advice’ which was invaluable.

L – Stood for ‘Local’. He represented the people of Sutton-at-Hone and the Borough for 43 years and his ward was blessed to have him as their Councillor in so many ways. He was truly a man dedicated to his locality.

E – ‘Energetic’. Mr Coleman never missed a meeting or an event, and during his years as Mayor had demonstrated great energy in attending events and raising money for good causes.

M – Stood for ‘Mrs Coleman’ who had supported Mr Coleman throughout his long career, and he would not have been the person he was without her support. He said that the couple were the ‘perfect pair’, the Torvill and Dean of Dartford, but didn’t fall over as much.

A – stood for ‘altruistic’. Mr Coleman had never missed an opportunity to support his Mayoral charities and as a former Bank Manager was in heavy demand to serve as treasurer on many local charities and organisations. He and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.