Running a municipal merit ceremony

Rules differ by country and by council. Ask your legal adviser. This page is general guidance.

A council honours its own residents, clubs and associations. The rules were approved by someone. The process should be easy to explain.

Spectacle matters less here than in a sports gala. What matters is that each step can be explained to a person who asks later. That person may be a journalist, a councillor or a resident. The answer should not depend on who still works in the office.

Staff can move between roles. A file that rests on one person's memory can be hard to defend. A file that follows the rules and the dates is easier to defend.

What to keep

• Keep a file someone can open later.

How long to keep it, and who may see it, depends on local rules. Rules differ by country and by council. Ask your legal adviser.