Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Chandler, Higgins, Holmes, Illingworth, Pearson and Posnett.

Members to declare any interest as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

A personal interest in respect of County Councillor Orson, was noted as being on record for any matters which related to the Leicestershire County Council.

A report is to be presented in pursuance of the provisions of Section 249 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972. The Council is requested to consider conferring the title of Honorary Alderman to one of its former long-serving Councillors, Gerald Edward Botterill.

Before the introduction of the report, the Mayor informed Council that there was an error in the report. At section 4.2, it states that the Council had previously conferred honorary alderman status to four individuals, however it was five. The name omitted was Mr John Croome, who was conferred the status in 1977.

The Leader provided a brief introduction to the report.

Cllr de Burle moved the recommendations in the report and made the following speech:

“We are here to consider the proposal to appoint an honorary alderman for the borough of Melton Mowbray. Members the conferring of the title of honorary alderman is to give recognition to a previous councillor who, over a period of time, has made a significant contribution to the Council and to the community in which they have served. Tonight, it gives me the greatest of pleasure to be proposing that conferral to a gentleman who I admire, respect and holding great esteem and who meets all the criteria for the appointment, Mr Gerald Botterill.

Gerald has lived and farmed in the Borough his whole life. He has served as a member of the parish council for many years and, for decades, as a respected member of the Borough Council. Many Members will remember him as a member of the Planning Committee, a quiet gentleman, a man who [has] not given to shows of flamboyance or self-promotion, a man who said it as he saw it and didn't waste words, a good man. Notwithstanding that, Gerald's contribution was considerable.

I ask you to look a little further back to the 60s 70s and 80s his earlier days at Melton Borough Council, over 30 years ago Melton Mowbray was a very different place. A market town in the centre of a very productive farming community. The cattle market was what made the town, it brought people and money from all over the country and it was that money which supported the prosperity of the town and the retail enterprises within it. It was what the town was built on [and] as a farmer Gerald recognised that things were changing. That if the town was to survive and prosper, the market had to evolve to reflect changing trends and patterns in agriculture especially livestock sales. He became a borough councillor and using his knowledge of farming together with others played a major role in the redevelopment of the market. The market which kept Melton town and its rural community alive. Members, I believe that contribution alone should be sufficient for recognition but there is more even.

Though Gerald is no longer a councillor he is still working as an ambassador for the borough of Melton Mowbray through his farming success, forged over many years with the […] geese. Some may not be aware but the business that Gerald created during his years as a farmer at Croxton Kerrail is famous across the world, the business […] brings wealth to Melton Mowbray, […] the Borough as  ...  view the full minutes text for item CO17