- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (26/12/2023)
- Original (As enacted)
Point in time view as at 26/12/2023.
Local Government Act 1972, Section 249 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 17 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.
(1)A principal council may, by a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the members voting thereon at a meeting of the council specially convened for the purpose with notice of the object, confer the title of honorary aldermen [F2or honorary alderwomen] on persons who have, in the opinion of the council, rendered eminent services to the council as past members of that council, but who are not then [F3members] of the council.
(2)No honorary alderman [F4or honorary alderwoman] shall, while serving as a [F5member] of the council, be entitled to be addressed as alderman [F6or alderwoman] or to attend or take part in any civic ceremonies of the council as an alderman [F7or alderwoman].
(3)Services rendered to the council of an existing county, county borough, borough or urban or rural district the area of which becomes wholly or partly included in a new county or district shall be treated for the purposes of subsection (1) above as services rendered to the council of the new county or district, as the case may be.
(4)An honorary alderman [F8or honorary alderwoman] of a principal council may attend and take part in such civic ceremonies as the council may from time to time decide, but shall not, as such, have the right—
(a)to attend meetings of the council or a committee of the council (including a joint committee upon which they are represented); or
(b)to receive any such allowances or other payments as are payable under sections 173 to 176 above [F9or Part 8 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011].
[F10(4A)A principal council may spend such reasonable sum as they think fit for the purpose of presenting an address, or a casket containing an address, to a person on whom they have conferred the title of honorary alderman or honorary alderwoman.]
[F11(5)Subject as follows, a relevant authority may admit to be honorary freemen or honorary freewomen of the place or area for which it is the authority—
(a)persons of distinction, and
(b)persons who have, in the opinion of the authority, rendered eminent services to that place or area.
(6)In this section “relevant authority” means—
(a)a principal council;
(b)a parish or community council;
(c)charter trustees in England constituted—
(i)under section 246 of the Local Government Act 1972,
(ii)by the Charter Trustees Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/263), or
(iii)under Part 1 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.
(7)The power in subsection (5) above is exercisable by resolution of the relevant authority.
(8)A resolution under subsection (7) above must be passed—
(a)at a meeting of the relevant authority which is specially convened for the purpose and where notice of the object of the meeting has been given; and
(b)by not less than two-thirds of the members of the relevant authority (or, in the case of charter trustees, of the trustees) who vote on it.
(9)A relevant authority may spend such reasonable sum as it thinks fit for the purpose of presenting an address or a casket containing an address to a person on whom the authority has conferred the title of honorary freeman or honorary freewoman under subsection (5) above.
(10)The admission of a person as honorary freeman or honorary freewoman does not confer on that person any of the rights referred to in section 248(4) above.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 249 heading substituted (12.1.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), ss. 29(2), 148(1)(d)
F2Words in s. 249(1) inserted (12.1.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), ss. 29(3), 148(1)(d)
F3Word in s. 249(1) substituted (30.12.2007) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), ss. 74, 245, Sch. 3 para. 9(2)
F4Words in s. 249(2) inserted (12.1.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), ss. 29(4)(a), 148(1)(d)
F5Word in s. 249(2) substituted (30.12.2007) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), ss. 74, 245, Sch. 3 para. 9(3)
F6Words in s. 249(2) inserted (12.1.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), ss. 29(4)(b), 148(1)(d)
F7Words in s. 249(2) inserted (12.1.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), ss. 29(4)(c), 148(1)(d)
F8Words in s. 249(4) inserted (12.1.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), ss. 29(5), 148(1)(d)
F9Words in s. 249(4)(b) inserted (30.4.2012) by Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 4), s. 178(3), Sch. 3 para. 1(5); S.I. 2012/1187, art. 2(1)(q)
F10S. 249(4A) inserted (12.1.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), ss. 29(6), 148(1)(d)
F11S. 249(5)-(10) substituted (12.1.2010) for s. 249(5)-(9) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), ss. 29(7), 148(1)(d)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 249 modified (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(7), Sch. 17 para. 22(2) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 para. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/852, art. 9(1), Sch. 5
S. 249 extended (11.3.1996) by S.I. 1996/330, arts. 1(2), 6(1)
S. 249: functions of local authority not to be responsibility of an executive of the authority (E.) (16.11.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/2853, reg. 2(1), Sch. 1
C2S. 249 modified (26.11.2018) by The Local Government (Boundary Changes) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1128), regs. 1(1), 30(1) (with reg. 1(2)(3))
C3S. 249(1) applied (with modifications)(11.3.1996) by S.I. 1996/330, arts. 1(2), 6(2)
C4S. 249(1) modified (28.11.2008) by The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2867), reg. 32 (with reg. 1)
C5S. 249(2)(4) modified (11.3.1996) by S.I. 1996/330, arts. 1(2), 6(3)
C6S. 249(2)(4) modified (28.11.2008) by The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2867), reg. 32 (with reg. 1)
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: