City of Westminster
Item No.
CMfCS/15/
2005
Decision-maker
Date
Title of Report
CABINET MEMBER
FOR PLANNING AND
CUSTOMER SERVICES
27 May
2005
COMMEMORATIVE GREEN
PLAQUE TO LORD STANLEY
(1841-1908) and THE STANLEY
CUP
CLASSIFICATION FOR GENERAL
RELEASE
Report of Director of Planning and
City Development
Wards Involved
West End
Policy Context
The commemorative Green Plaques scheme
complements a number of Council strategies: to
improve the legibility and understanding of
Westminster’s heritage and social history; to provide
information for Westminster’s visitors; to provide
imaginative and accessible educational tools to
raise awareness and understanding of local areas,
particularly for young people; to celebrate the
richness and diversity of Westminster’s former
residents.
Financial Summary
Cost of plaque and installation will be met by
sponsorship
1.1
1.2
2.1
Summary
The plaque will be placed on the front façade of 10 Regent Street.
The proposal has been presented by the Canadian High Commission,
who are willing to meet the costs of sponsorshsip.
RECOMMENDATION
That the nomination for a commemorative green plaque for Lord
Stanley and the Stanley Cup be approved, subject to sponsorship in
full.
3.
3.1
Background Information
The Green Plaques Scheme was launched in 1991 when a plaque
commemorating Winston Churchill was unveiled on Caxton Hall, SW1.
By the end of March 2004, 57 plaques had been installed and
unveiled. The Scheme is valued by local residents and has been
sponsored and supported in the majority of cases by both residents'
associations, amenity groups and local businesses.
4.
4.1
Detail
Frederick Arthur Stanley was born in 1841, second son of the 14 th Earl
of Derby – Edward Geoffrey Stanley. Educated at Eton, he joined the
Grenadier Guards in 1858. Ten years later he retired from the army
and was returned to the House of Commons unopposed as one of the
conservative members for Preston. When Disraeli became prime
minister, Stanley received his first official appointment as a civil lord of
the admiralty. This marked the beginning of a long succession of
political offices. In 1874, Stanley was appointed financial secretary to
the war office in Disraeli’s second administration. Although transferred
back to financial secretaryship in 1877, in 1878 he returned to the war
office as secretary of state and was a popular choice in the army.
4.2
On 1 May 1888 Lord Stanley was nominated to succeed Lord
Landsdowne as governor-general of Canada. He was well-suited to the
post – naturally modest, with a firm mind and common sense. His
lineage also gave him an instinctive habit of command and he had a
peculiar charm. Stanley was a very popular choice and although
the course of affairs was largely undemanding, he had full scope to
exercise his judgement and tact. He watched his first ice hockey game
in 1888 and was immediately hooked. Some of his children became
players and in 1892 Lord Stanley proposed a challenge cup which was
to change the course of Canadian sport. He not only introduced the
Stanley Cup, but also to the modern schedule of playing equal
numbers of “home” and “away” matches.
4.3
At the end of 1892, Stanley set about procuring a silver cup,
commissioning it from the silversmith G.H. Collis, of Regent Street.
Lord Stanley’s own coat of arms was fashioned on to it. It arrived in
Ottawa in early 1893, ready for competition.
4.4
In 1893 when his older brother died, Stanley had to resign his post in
Canada and return to the family estate. Before he left, he gave strict
instructions for the evolution of the Cup as an annual award. At
Stanley’s suggestion, later winning teams were able to add rings to the
base of the cup so that it should never run out of space. It was not
until 1970 that the original cup was retired and a replica made.
The original is to be found in the Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto.
4.5
Stanley had married Lady Constance in 1864, and together they had
seven sons and one daughter.
4.6
When back in Liverpool, Stanley was a popular figure and from 189596 was first Lord Mayor of greater Liverpool. He died in 1908 and is
buried at Knowsley. A bust of Lord Stanley is to be found in
Preston Town Hall and a marble statue of him in St George’s Hall,
Liverpool.
5.
5.1
Financial Implications
The plaque will cost in the region of £ 350.00. The proposer will meet
the cost of this plaque in full.
6.
6.1
Legal Implications
Owners and occupiers of the building have been approached, and
have no objection. No other issues or implications to report.
7.
7.1
Staffing Implications
None
8.
8.1
Performance Plan Implications
This nomination will contribute to the quota of up to 5 plaques annually.
9.
9.1
Consultation
The owners and occupiers of the building support the proposal. The
Canadian High Commission support the nomination and wish to host a
reception after the unveiling.
10.
10.1
Crime and Disorder Act
No issues arising.
11.
11.1
Health and Safety Issues
No issues arising.
12.
12.1
Human Rights Act 1998
No issues arising.
13.
13.1
Conclusion
Lord Stanley was an outstanding statesman and politician in the 19 th
century and additionally made a very lasting contribution to sport in
Canada. It would be a fitting tribute to honour him, and at the same
time celebrate the origin of the Stanley Cup, with a green plaque. The
Cup will be brought to London for the occasion. This will be only the
second “ sporting” plaque to be unveiled under the Green Plaques
Scheme).
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES ABOUT THIS REPORT OR WISH TO
INSPECT ANY OF THE BACKGROUND PAPERS, PLEASE
CONTACT GILLIAN M DAWSON
ON 020 7641 2457; EMAIL ADDRESS gdawson@westminster.gov.uk;
FAX NUMBER 020 7641 3050
BACKGROUND PAPERS
The documents used or referred to in compiling the report were: 1. Committee Reports establishing the Green Plaques Scheme
2. Design of the proposed plaque
3. Photomontage showing plaque on front of building
4. Map showing location of the building
5. letter from proposer confirming sponsorship
For completion by Cabinet Member
Declaration of Interest

I have no interest to declare in respect of this report
Signed ……………………………. Date ………………………………
NAME:

I have to declare an interest
State nature of interest ……..……………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………..
Signed ……………………………. Date …………………………………
NAME:
(N.B: If you have an interest you should seek advice as to whether it is
appropriate to make a decision in relation to this matter.)
For the reasons set out above, I agree the recommendation in the report
entitled Commemorative Green Plaque for Lord Stanley and the Stanley Cup
Signed ………………………………………………
Cabinet Member for ……………………………….
Date …………………………………………………
If you have any additional comment which you would want actioned in
connection with your decision you should discuss this with the report author
and then set out your comment below before the report and this pro-forma is
returned to the Secretariat for processing.
Additional comment: …………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………….
NOTE: If you do not wish to approve the recommendations, or wish to make
an alternative decision, it is important that you consult the report author, the
Director of Legal and Administrative Services, Director of Finance and, if
there are staffing implications, the Head of Human Resources (or their
representatives) so that (1) you can be made aware of any further relevant
considerations that you should take into account before making the decision
and (2) your reasons for the decision can be properly identified and recorded,
as required by law.
Note to Cabinet Member: Your decision will now be published and
copied to the Members of the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Committee.
If the decision falls within the criteria for call-in, it will not be
implemented until five working days have elapsed from publication to
allow the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to decide whether it wishes
to call the matter in.
CITY OF WESTMINSTER
REPORT SUBMISSION FORM FOR USE BY ALL REPORT AUTHORS
TITLE OF REPORT
Commemorative Green Plaque for statesman and
creator of the Stanley Cup, Lord Stanley (1841 - 1908)
COMMITTEE/SUB-COMMITTEE/CABINET MEMBER .
MEETING DATE (if appropriate)
N/A
I confirm that in drafting the attached report consideration has been given to
the following:-
Financial implications
Officer consulted Mark Green
Legal implications
Officer consulted: Peter Nixon
Implications in respect of
Duty of partnership
under Sections 26 & 27
of the Health Act 1999
no
N/A
Officer consulted ...N/A.
Implications in respect of
Section 17 of the Crime
and Disorder Act 1998
no
Officer consulted N/A
Human Rights Act 1998
Implications
no
Officer consulted ...N/A
Health and Safety
implications
no
Officer consulted
N/A
Personnel implications
(if there are staffing issues
involved)
no
Officer consulted N/A
Information Technology
Implications
no
Officer consulted ..N/A
Property Implications
no
Officer consulted ..N/A
Business Plan implications
no
Officer consulted
Ward Members' comments
no
Lead Members comments
Overview & Scrutiny
Committee Views
no
N/A
Ward Member(s)
consulted
Lead Member(s)
consulted
no
Police Authority Comments
no
Health Authority Comments
no
Other Government Department
Or Agency Comments
no
Area Forum Comments
no
-
“key decision”?
no
-
Included in
Forward Plan?
no
-
Covered by any of
the 10 plans forming
part of the “policy
framework”
no
(which?)
-
Consistent with budget
and policy framework?
yes
Name of Area
Forum N/A
Signed ..................GILLIAN M DAWSON................................................
Department ..PLANNING AND CITY DEVELOPMENT
Date ..........MAY 2005