Agenda item

Report of the Director of Law and Governance

  The City Council considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance recommending that  the Freedom of the City be conferred on University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.

  Over the last two years, the Covid 19 pandemic had presented the country, Coventry and its communities with unpredictable and unprecedented challenges. It had affected communities, businesses, organisations, families and friends across the city in many different ways. It had been a time of loss, sacrifice, hardship, struggle and challenge; the impact of Covid would continue to be felt long into the future.

  However, this had also been a time when communities and individuals across the city had shown selflessness, heroism and sacrifice and worked together to face this new challenge together. The City could look forward to the next chapter in its history with confidence as a result of the actions of so many.

  People across the city from all walks of life have shown incredible courage and compassion, and this is particularly true of the health and care workers and those on frontline who have risked their own lives to save others.

  All partners across the Coventry and Warwickshire health and care system had worked together during this unprecedented time.  The staff at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust have at many times been the focal point of this in the city. They dealt with the uncertainties in the extremely difficult early days of the pandemic as it unfolded. They learned and adapted as understanding of Covid developed, taking on different tasks, working in new ways and making sacrifices to continue to provide care for the community they serve. The staff have earned the respect of people across the city and beyond.

The City was proud that the hospital site in Coventry was chosen to be the NHS site where the first Covid 19 vaccination in the world was given. 

NHS colleagues continued to rise to the ongoing challenges and today, we can look ahead to happier, healthier times, and that is thanks to them. In recognition of the incredible work that NHS colleagues had done across the city to combat the dreadful Covid 19 pandemic and to show our appreciation, it was recommended that the City Council confers the Freedom of the City on University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. 

In order to recognise the incredible work that NHS colleagues had done across the City to combat the Covid 19 pandemic and to show the City’s appreciation, an Illuminated Minute under the Common Seal of the Council was presented to the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire Trust for display at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust as a symbolic gesture of the value of the conferment.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

(a)  That the City Council confers the Freedom of the City on University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and that the following formal resolution, in traditional script, be passed:

“That the Council of the City of Coventry, being deeply sensible of the exceptional and outstanding service given by NHS colleagues across the city to combat the Covid 19 pandemic, and being desirous of recognising the commitment, devotion and compassion of those involved in the delivery of health services; and expressing appreciation, support and admiration for the achievements of the diverse teams of clinical professionals and support staff, do confer upon University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust the Freedom of the City.”

(b)  That an Illuminated Minute under the Common Seal of the Council be presented for display at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust as a symbolic gesture of the value of the conferment.