This Thursday (12 December) there will be a special council meeting, deciding whether to grant Freedom of the Borough to two local regiments.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has recommended that Freedom of the Cheshire West and Chester Borough is granted to 22 Multi Role Medical Regiment (Army) and the Merseyside Wing (RAF). 

The Freedom of the Borough is the highest award that the council can give out.

Having the Freedom of the Borough allows the units to showcase their work, get out in the community and continue the traditional relationship the borough has with the military.

Tradition allows a military unit with the title to parade through the city/town with fixed bayonets, regimental band playing, and colours flying.

The two HM Services units requesting Freedom of the Borough are Merseyside Wing organisation and the 22 Multi Role Medical Regiment.

The first, Merseyside Wing organisation, currently has 6 or 7 Squadrons that operate in Cheshire West and Chester Council area. 

Their most notable is 610 (City of Chester) Squadron who currently hold the name and squadron badge of the old 610 Squadron RAF, who flew from RAF Hooton Park defending Chester in WW2. 

They are responsible for a number of Combined Cadet Force RAF Sections in Cheshire West, based at some local schools, including the Kings School, Chester, and their cadets attend the annual Chester Remembrance Sunday event.

The report said: "​​The Merseyside Wing organisation provides many events and opportunities which young people of the borough benefit from. 

"The organisation is now looking to formalise and develop its relationship with Cheshire West and Chester Borough."

The other unit is the 22 Multi-Role Medical Regiment (MMR), now based at Dale Barracks, Chester. 

They are the British Army's first Regular Multi-Role Medical Regiment, and provide medical support to deployments worldwide whilst innovating in the delivery of Deployed Hospital Care.

The report states: "They are keen to fully immerse themselves in the civic and community life of Cheshire West and Chester Borough.

"They have already engaged with the Lord Mayor of Chester and the Civic Team and offered their support with a number of civic events."

The costs associated with granting Freedom of the Borough would include, updating the Ceremonial Boards in Chester Town Hall and a reception consisting of tea and coffee. 

There would also be costs for staging a Freedom Parade and these would be in the region of £3,000.

The Chair of the Council currently has no budget to cover such costs. 

However, the report emphasised: "Depending on the location of the parade, the Council Chair could hold discussions with the appropriate Charter Trustees or Town Councils in the borough, to determine their contribution towards a Freedom Parade and also discuss with the military unit to determine their contributions."

You can find the agenda for the meeting here.