Borough's highest honour for retiring interim chief executive

David Oram, who retires on 31 August after almost 40 years in local government, is set to receive the Royal Borough's highest honour.

At cabinet last night (Thursday 23 August) it was announced by Cllr Richard Kellaway, who chaired the meeting, that a motion would be put to an extraordinary council meeting in the autumn that David should be granted the Freedom of the Royal Borough - in recognition of his services during almost 35 years with the council, the last four of them as its deputy chief executive and then interim chief executive since May of this year.

This honour is conferred only rarely by the council on those who have made a unique contribution to the borough.

Cllr Kellaway said: "David has made a significant contribution for many years to the services we provide for our residents, not least the rejuvenation of Maidenhead town centre and parking provision in Windsor.

"His considerable experience across a wide range of council services, his wise counsel and his willingness to roll up his sleeves and get involved have benefitted elected members and staff over the years. It is fitting that we should propose the Freedom of the Borough in recognition of a career devoted to making a positive difference to our community.

"With the huge successes of this year's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games in our borough, David helped us demonstrate that this council is indeed, world class - a view reflected by the Olympic Delivery Authority's head of transport who has described the work with our Eton Dorney partner organisations as 'stunningly successful' and contributing to the best of the outside London venues."

The significance of the Freedom honour is reflected in the fact that David will be only the 15th person to be honoured in this way. He will join an elite list of honorary freemen, including the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, former chief executive David Lunn, Sir Nicholas Winton, who saved more than 600 Czechoslovakian children during the German invasion of Sudetenland, and England rugby world cup coach Sir Clive Woodward. Freedom has also been conferred on five Army regiments with close associations to the Royal Borough.

David started his local government career with Reading Borough Council in 1974 and joined the Royal Borough three years later as chief assistant valuer. Over the years he was appointed to various roles within the council's property service, becoming head of property and economic development in 1998 when the council because a unitary authority after local government reorganisation. In 2001 he became director of leisure, culture and property services, later encompassing planning and environment. In 2008 he was appointed strategic director of environment and deputy chief executive and then interim chief executive in May of this year.

Notes:
1. Section 249(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 provides that a borough or city council may, 'confer the title of Honorary Freedom upon any person of distinction or person who has, in the opinion of the council, rendered eminent services to the borough or city'.
2. This must be by a resolution, passed by not less than two-thirds of the members at a meeting of the council specifically convened for the purpose,

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