Honorary Freedom and Freedom of Entry

The highest honour that a Council can bestow on a person who has, in their opinion, rendered eminent services to the city or borough is Honorary Freeman. A  resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the members of Council is required to admit the Honorary Freeman, but this does not confer any rights upon them. The resolution would recite the particular grounds upon which the Council have come to their decision and details of the public service rendered by the recipient would be included. In some cases, the freedom resolution is passed at a special meeting of the Council and the formal presentation takes place at a special ceremony later. The newly admitted Freeman may take the appropriate Freeman's Oath and sign the Freeman's Roll, his or her signature being witnessed by the Mayor and Chief Executive.

Associated with the Freedom of the Borough is the Freedom of Entry which is granted to units of Her Majesty's Forces who have rendered conspicuous service and who are associated with the City or Borough. The necessary formal resolution of Council is passed at a special meeting and the "freedom" formally presented at a special ceremony. The granting of the freedom provides a dignified and satisfactory means for the unit to be honoured and entitles them to march through the streets of a town with bayonets fixed, drums beating and Colours flying.