Freedom of Borough for three-time mayor

THE former three-time Mayor of North Tyneside, Dame Norma Redfearn, has been granted the council’s highest honour.

- By AUSTEN SHAKESPEARE

Councillors gathered on Thursday evening and confirmed her nomination for the Freedom of the Borough.

Dame Norma's nomination was put forward by incumbent Mayor Karen Clark in recognition of her predecessor's “extraordinary leadership” and the “transformative change” brought to North Tyneside during her tenure.

The ex-Mayor announced her decision not to seek reelection in May last year, marking the beginning of the end of her 12 years in power.

The ex-Mayor’s administration saw the regeneration of large parts of Whitley Bay, including the reopening of the long-disused Spanish City Dome.