Southwark Council has agreed to award the Freedom of the Borough to individuals and organisations who have rendered eminent services to the area.

The decision was made during an extraordinary meeting of the Council Assembly held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour the council can bestow.

Nominations for the award are considered by the Constitutional Steering Panel before being presented to the Council Assembly. The conferment requires a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the members present at a specially convened meeting.

Nomination Process and Criteria

The criteria for nomination, established in 2002, require that nominees are persons of distinction who have rendered eminent services to the borough. While the Constitutional Steering Panel assesses these nominations, the specific methods for evaluating 'eminent services' beyond this general statement are not detailed in the meeting information. Nominations can be submitted by councillors, officers, MPs, outside organisations, and registered electors.

Presentation Ceremony and Costs

The presentation ceremony for the awards is scheduled to coincide with the Annual Council meeting, Mayor Making, and the Southwark Civic Awards at Southwark Cathedral on May 20, 2026. This consolidation is intended to reduce costs compared to previous years when the Freedom of the Borough was a standalone event. While the cost of each scroll of honour is approximately £200, and the council has an adequate supply of robes, additional costs may arise from a civic reception. In recent years, these receptions have seen significantly reduced costs due to more modest selections of food and drinks.

Recipients will be presented with an ornate scroll of honour. Individual recipients are also entitled to wear a ceremonial robe at civic events.

Conditions for Organisational Awards

Conditions apply to awards conferred on organisations. These include that the award does not grant any rights or privileges, is not an endorsement of services or goods, and that any use of the award in promotional activities requires prior council approval. Organisations are also reminded that the award cannot be used to suggest individuals associated with them are themselves recipients, and the award is automatically withdrawn if the organisation ceases to exist or operate in the recognised activity. The full conditions for organisational awards can be found in Appendix A Conditions Applying to an Award.