(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section, nothing in this Act shall affect any person’s status, or the right of any person to be admitted, as a freeman of a place which is an existing borough; and in this section any such place is referred to as a city or town.
(2)On and after 1st April 1974 the roll of freemen of a city or town shall be kept by the proper officer of the relevant district council, that is to say, the council of the district which comprises the whole or the greater part of the city or town.
(3)If at any time on or after 1st April 1974 any person claims to be admitted as a freeman of a city or town, his claim for admission shall be examined by the chairman of the relevant district council, as defined in subsection (2) above, and, if the person’s claim is established, his name shall be entered on the roll of freemen of that city or town.
(4)After 31st March 1974—
(a)a freeman of a city or town,
(b)any person who by marriage, descent, employment or otherwise is or has been related to or associated with a freeman of a city or town, and
(c)any person who is or has been related by marriage to the widow or a child of a freeman of a city or town,
shall have and enjoy the same rights, whether in respect of property or otherwise, as were held and enjoyed on that date by a freeman of that city or town, by a person correspondingly related to or associated with such a freeman or, as the case may be, by a person correspondingly related by marriage to the widow or a child of such a freeman.
(5)A person who is on 1st April 1974, or becomes thereafter, an inhabitant of a city or town shall, as such, have and enjoy the same rights, whether in respect of property or otherwise, as were held and enjoyed immediately before that date by an inhabitant of that city or town.
[F1(6)This section shall have effect in relation to Wales as if—
(a)in subsections (2) and (3) the references to the relevant district council were references to the relevant principal council; and
(b)in subsection (2) the reference to the council of the district were a reference to the council of the principal area.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 248(6) added (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(5), Sch. 15 para. 54 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 4, Sch. 2