Brighton former councillors to be honoured with title

Mr Mac Cafferty, who led the Green-led administration from 2020 to the local elections in May, will receive the title of Honorary Alderman of Brighton and Hove.

The ceremonial title is conferred for "exceptional service to the council" over more than a decade.

A total of nine former councillors will become Honorary Aldermen and Alderwomen at a special meeting of the council on Thursday.

Three other former Green councillors, Lizzie Deane, Leo Littman and Alex Phillips, will receive the honour.

Alex Phillips, who served as Mayor of Brighton and Hove at the start of the pandemic, apologised and stood down as a councillor after being found to have overclaimed taxpayers' money for childcare expenses.

Former Green councillor Alex Phillips will also be honoured by councillors (Image: The Argus)

Four former Conservative councillors - Dawn Barnett, Mary Mears, Vanessa Brown and Dee Simson, will also be awarded the title of Honorary Alderwoman of the city.

Tony Janio, who served as Conservative group leader before quitting the party to sit as an independent councillor, is also included among the list of former councillors to be honoured.

Former councillor Dawn Barnett (Image: The Argus)

According to the council, the title does not grant the holder any rights or remuneration and is “regarded as a mark of recognition for the work and commitment given by a former councillor to the authority, their ward and the city”.

The title is awarded to former councillors who have served on the city council for at least 15 years, or 12 years for those who have had “notable service” on the council, such as chairing a committee.

Other former councillors honoured with the title in previous years include Geoffrey Theobald, Lynda Hyde and former Labour council leader Warren Morgan.

The ceremony will take place at 3pm on Thursday, July 20.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "The titles of alderman and alderwoman exist in order to honour councillors for the hard work they have put in on behalf of their constituents for the city's benefit."