Marion James awarded Freedom of the Borough

14 July 2026

Marion James has been awarded the Freedom of the Borough by Sutton Council in recognition of her extensive service to the community.

The highest honour the council can bestow was unanimously approved by councillors at an extraordinary meeting held on Monday, July 13, 2026. The award celebrates James's decades of dedication, particularly her significant contributions to social care and her unwavering advocacy for vulnerable residents.

Councillor Sunita Gordon spoke of James's deep commitment to public service, noting her founding of the Sutton Carer Centre and her subsequent role as CEO of the North West Carer Centre. Before becoming a councillor, Marion James was the founding chief executive of the Sutton Carer Centre, and later became CEO of the North West Carer Centre. These roles were instrumental in helping families and carers receive the support they needed. As the founding chief executive of Sutton Carers Centre, she helped countless residents access employment, training and opportunities to improve their lives and laying the foundations for vital support which many Sutton families rely on today. Gordon emphasized that James's election as a councillor in 2014 brought decades of experience, integrity, and a belief in dignity and opportunity for all residents.

During the meeting, councillors and invited speakers paid tribute to James's impactful career. Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of the Council, highlighted her refusal to compromise when advocating for residents and her support for the borough's most vulnerable, including carers and young carers.

Councillor Rob Beck focused on James's crucial role in corporate parenting, the council's responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of looked-after children and care leavers. He noted her dedication as chair of Sutton's Corporate Parent Forum, ensuring care leavers were central to discussions. Marion James championed the well-being of Sutton's children, young people, adults, and families. She played a leading role in the Council's decision to make 'Care Experienced' a local protected characteristic in Sutton and advocated for the rights of care-experienced individuals, successfully championing for their access to local accommodation and the strategic use of Council housing stock. She also oversaw the development of three residential children's homes that continue to deliver effective services in the Borough.

Former Councillor and Leader of the Council, Ruth Dombey, described the demanding nature of leading adult and children's services, a role James undertook with commitment, compassion, and courage. Dombey also acknowledged James's behind-the-scenes work supporting council officers and voluntary sector partners, and her pivotal role in advocating for carers, which led to caring being recognised as a protected characteristic in the borough.

Simon Breeze, Chief Executive of Community Action Sutton, spoke on behalf of the charity sector, stating that James embodied the best of a public servant and worked tirelessly to support and advocate for charities in the borough.

Members of Parliament Bobby Dean and Luke Taylor also spoke in support of the award. Bobby Dean MP described James as having silk and steel, possessing both conviction and care. He highlighted her private gestures of kindness, noting that if you had a life event, obviously obviously you had a baby, but if there was something else going in your life, she was the first to reach out, the first to send a card, the first to send flowers, the first to recognise whatever's going on in your life. These gestures reveal her character as someone who really paid attention to you as a person and did these things because she cared, rather than for reward. Luke Taylor MP noted James's widespread respect and her unwavering fight for the most vulnerable.

Nick and Elena from Nicoll's accepted a certificate and flowers on behalf of Marion James. It is understood that Marion was unable to attend the ceremony due to health reasons, though the specific status of her health is not detailed. The official scroll is to be presented to her in due course, though the meeting information does not specify if this will be a public event. Her husband, Mike, also expressed gratitude for the recognition of her dedication to the London Borough of Sutton and its residents.

More information about the council meeting can be found in the Public reports pack.

Councils Involved

Sutton

Meetings Involved

the Council of Sutton Council on 13 July 2026

People Involved

Councillor Chandra Alapati Liberal Democrat Belmont

Councillor Yusuf Abd El-Razzak Liberal Democrat Sutton North

Councillor Rukhsar Askari Liberal Democrat The Wrythe

Councillor Rashi Barsaiyan Vice Chair of the Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee Liberal Democrat Belmont

Councillor Sunita Gordon Lead Member for Resources Liberal Democrat Wallington North

Councillor Sam Martin Deputy Leader of the Council, Vice Chair of the Beddington and Wallington Local Committee Liberal Democrat Wallington South

Councillor James Appleby Liberal Democrat North Cheam

Councillor Isabel Araujo Liberal Democrat Carshalton Central

Councillor Joseph Barkham Liberal Democrat Belmont

Councillor Rob Beck Chair of the North Cheam, Stonecot and Worcester Park Local Committee Liberal Democrat Stonecot

Councillor Paul Cole Vice Chair of the People Committee, Vice Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board Liberal Democrat St Helier East

Councillor Sam Cumber Chair of the Sutton Local Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton North

Councillor Tom Foster Liberal Democrat Hackbridge

Councillor Asif Hirani Liberal Democrat Sutton South

Councillor Shimino Jesudas Liberal Democrat Cheam

Councillor Naveen Samrat Liberal Democrat North Cheam

Councillor Melody Thorpe Chair of the Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee Liberal Democrat Cheam

Councillor Judy Walsh Liberal Democrat South Beddington and Roundshaw

Councillor Lisa Webster Vice Chair of the Carshalton and Clockhouse Local Committee Liberal Democrat Carshalton South and Clockhouse

Helen Bailey

Councillor Trish Fivey Liberal Democrat Sutton South

Councillor Pete Chubb Vice Chair of the Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee Liberal Democrat Carshalton South and Clockhouse

Councillor Qasim Esak Chair of the Scrutiny Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton West and East Cheam

Councillor Rob Leah Liberal Democrat Beddington

Councillor Cryss Mennaceur Deputy Mayor, Chair of the Pension Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton Central

Spencer Palmer

Richard Simpson

Councillor Richard Choi Liberal Democrat Sutton Central

Imran Choudhury

Councillor Richard Clifton Vice Chair of the Planning Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton South

Councillor Jo Elgarf Vice Chair of the Licensing Committee Liberal Democrat Worcester Park North

Councillor Joicy Joseph Liberal Democrat St Helier West

Councillor Stephen Kingdom Vice Chair of the People Committee Liberal Democrat Cheam

Councillor Sunil Kumar Liberal Democrat South Beddington and Roundshaw

Councillor Nick Mattey Deputy Leader of the Labour Coop and Independent Group Labour Coop and Independent Beddington

Councillor Luni Sabharwal Liberal Democrat Worcester Park South

Councillor Muhammad Sadiq Mayor Liberal Democrat Wallington South

Councillor Cumar Sahathevan Vice Chair of the North Cheam, Stonecot and Worcester Park Local Committee, Chair North East Surrey Crematorium Board Liberal Democrat Stonecot

Councillor Colin Stears Chair of the Hackbridge, St Helier and The Wrythe Local Committee Liberal Democrat The Wrythe

Councillor Sue Ebanks Liberal Democrat Beddington

Councillor Jenna Hartley-Smith Liberal Democrat Worcester Park South

Councillor Edward Joyce Vice Chair of the Scrutiny Committee Liberal Democrat South Beddington and Roundshaw

Councillor Jayne McCoy Chair of the Planning Committee Liberal Democrat Wallington South

Councillor Louise Phelan Chair of the Licensing Committee, Vice Chair of the Sutton Local Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton West and East Cheam

Councillor Jake Short Chair of the Hosuing, Economy and Business Committee Liberal Democrat Carshalton Central

Councillor Noor Sumun Liberal Democrat Carshalton South and Clockhouse

Councillor Aaron Goater Chair of the Beddington and Wallington Local Committee Liberal Democrat Wallington North

Councillor Janey Gould Deputy Leader of the Reform UK group Reform UK St Helier West

Councillor Andrew Jenner Chair of the Carshalton and Clockhouse Local Committee Liberal Democrat Carshalton Central

Councillor Barry Lewis Leader of the Council Liberal Democrat Wallington North

Councillor Alison Long Leader of the Reform UK group Reform UK St Helier West

Councillor Gemma Munday Chair of the People Committee Liberal Democrat St Helier East

Councillor Dave Tchil Leader of the Labour Coop and Independent Group Labour Coop and Independent Hackbridge

Councillor Vanessa McCain Liberal Democrat Sutton North

Councillor Israel Owoade Liberal Democrat Worcester Park North

Councillor Ed Parsley Vice Chair of the Hosuing, Economy and Business Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton Central

Councillor Ian Simpson Vice Chair of the Hackbridge, St Helier and The Wrythe Local Committee, Vice Chair of the Pension Committee Liberal Democrat The Wrythe

Councillor Jason Stone Liberal Democrat North Cheam

Councillor Christopher Woolmer Chair of the Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton West and East Cheam

Topics

Councillor Sunita Gordon Freedom of the Borough Community Action Sutton Social Care corporate parenting Sutton Council Marion James Nicoll's Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of the Council Councillor Rob Beck Ruth Dombey, Former Councillor and Leader of the Council Simon Breeze, Chief Executive of Community Action Sutton Members of Parliament Bobby Dean and Luke Taylor Caring being recognised as a protected characteristic