EXCEPTIONAL service looks set to be rewarded by the city council as part of a new scheme that will designate honorary aldermen and honorary alderwomen.

Former council leader Bob Price and current Lord Mayor Jean Fooks are likely to be nominated for the new award, which seeks to recognise eminent elected service.

Mr Price was the council and Labour group leader for 10 years until January and was first elected as a city councillor in 1983. He will step down as a councillor for Hinskey Park in May but has said he will continue to be involved with several groups across the city.

Mrs Fooks, a Lib Dem, will not contest her Summertown seat next month. She plans to move to Devon, closer to family. She has been a city councillor for 26 years and is currently Oxford's Lord Mayor.

They are the obvious candidates for the new scheme, which has been proposed by the city council’s group leaders, Labour’s Susan Brown, the Lib Dems’ Andrew Gant and the Green Party’s David Thomas.

The titles will not be introduced simply to recognise long service – but just for ‘exceptional cases that merit an honorary award’.

As part of that, members should have held ‘high political office within the council’ or served as Lord Mayor ‘with distinction’. Alternatively, they could also have an exceptional record of community service and leadership if they have not held a senior role and not been elected Lord Mayor.

Plans which are likely to be passed at the city council’s meeting on Monday suggest any city council member will be able to nominate any former member of the authority for an award.

As part of the scheme, former councillors who are appointed as aldermen and alderwomen will be able to addressed as such.

They will also be noted as that on the council’s website and able to attend council meetings as an observer, with a seat made available.

They will also receive invitations to all civic and social events that council members are invited to.

At official events they will also be able to walk in a civic procession immediately behind the elected Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor and Sheriff of Oxford and ahead of any other serving members of the council.

Also, if the council gives a badge, robe or emblem to honorary aldermen and honorary alderwomen, they will also be given the badge, robe or emblems on civic occasions.

The role will not be political.

In the event of former councillors being nominated, each person will need to secure two-thirds of all present councillors to be appointed.

If an appointed honorary alderman or honorary alderwoman seek a seat on the authority again, they will lose that title until they are no longer a city councillor.

The move will be debated at the council meeting at Oxford Town Hall from 5pm.