Agenda and minutes

There were no diclosable pecuniary interests.

a)  To agree the minutes from the meeting held on 5 December, 2024

b)  Matters Arising

The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 December, 2024 were agreed and signed as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

To consider whether to exclude the press and public for the item of private business for the reasons shown in the report.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded under Section 100(A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 in relation to the private report referred to in Minute 13 below headed “Nominations for the Coventry Award of Merit” on the grounds that the report involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as it would reveal the identity of individuals to be considered for the Awards and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption under Paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance

The Cabinet Member for Policy and Leadership considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance which indicated that the Coventry Award of Merit was established by the City Council in the 1960s as a means of acknowledging and honouring personal behaviour reflecting the highest ideals of citizenship or outstanding performance in any field of human endeavour which enhances the good name of Coventry and affords inspiration to its citizens.

Any person, company or other organisation shall be eligible for consideration for the Coventry Award of Merit who has:-

•  Rendered outstanding service to the City of Coventry in service to the local community.

•  By outstanding personal effort in the field of sport, industry, government or the arts, brought particular renown to the City of Coventry.

•  Made an outstanding contribution to the national life or in international affairs in any field of human activity in a manner which has brought credit upon the City of Coventry.

•  By personal example of courage or devotion to duty and service to others, demonstrated the highest ideals of citizenship.

The Award has previously taken the form of a citation under the common seal together with a presentation of a gold medallion pendant from a ribbon in the City's colours.  The motif on the medallion is the phoenix, symbolising the resurgence of Coventry from the flames of the Blitz. Appendix 1 to the report detailed the Terms of Reference for the Award and Appendix 2 detailed the list of former recipients.

Nominations for the Award were considered by the Coventry Award of Merit Advisory Panel at their meeting on 13 March, 2025 and a corresponding private item on the agenda (Minute 13/24 below) provided details of the unanimous Advisory Panel’s recommendations in relation to those nominations.

RESOLVED that, having considered the unanimous recommendations of the Coventry Award of Merit Advisory Panel, the Cabinet Member for Policy and Leadership recommends that Council grants the Coventry Award of Merit to the following recipients:-

1)  Pauline Black OBE DL

2)  Professor Stuart Croft DL

3)  Sybil Hanson

4)  Councillor AS Khan

5)  Mark Robins

6)  Jon Sharp

There are no outstanding issues.

There were no outstanding issues.

There were no other items of urgent public business.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance

(Listing Officer: A West: e mail Adrian.west@coventry.gov.uk)

Further to Minute 10/24 above, the Cabinet Member for Policy and Leadership considered unanimous recommendations from the Coventry Award of Merit Advisory Panel held on 13 March, 2025 in relation to nominations received for the Coventry Award of Merit.

RESOLVED that, having considered the unanimous recommendations of the Coventry Award of Merit Advisory Panel, the Cabinet Member for Policy and Leadership recommends that Council grants the Coventry Award of Merit to the following recipients:-

1)  Pauline Black OBE DL

2)  Professor Stuart Croft DL

3)  Sybil Hanson

4)  Councillor AS Khan

5)  Mark Robins

6)  Jon Sharp

There were no other items of urgent private business.