A former leader of Wirral Council has been given a special title to mark his 26 years of service.
Pat Hackett, who was a Labour councillor for New Brighton from 1994 until 2020, with a short break between 2008 and 2011, was made an Honorary Alderman by the council’s Regulatory and General Purposes Committee tonight. Mr Hackett led the council between May 2019 and September 2020, a difficult time for Labour after it lost its majority in Wirral at the 2019 local elections.
Speaking at tonight’s meeting, Cllr Andrew Hodson, a Conservative, said Mr Hackett became a councillor in the same year as him. Cllr Hodson added he was very pleased to be able to bestow the title on someone worthwhile, something he thought the committee would agree with.
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Honorary Aldermen and Alderwomen are invited to attend and take part in civic ceremonies such as Civic Sundays, Remembrance Sundays and other appropriate events. As well as this, their names are inscribed on a Roll of Honour Board on the first floor landing of Wallasey Town Hall and they are invited to attend council meetings in a nonparticipating capacity.
Labour councillor Chris Jones, who proposed the motion, said she was “delighted” to agree with the move to make Mr Hackett an Honorary Alderman. Cllr Jones wanted the council to change its procedures so that anyone who has served for 20 years as a councillor is automatically brought up for discussion for the title rather than having to be nominated.
Cllr Hodson agreed with this and the committee unanimously backed the move to make Mr Hackett an Honorary Alderman and change the process for making former councillors Honorary Aldermen or Alderwomen.
