A FORMER city council leader, last year's Lord Mayor and the county council's chairman and are all set to be given a new ceremonial award next week.

Bob Price, who stepped down as the city council leader in January, is set to be named an honorary alderman by Oxford City Council on Monday.

He stepped down from his Hinksey Park seat in May, having been a city councillor since 1983. He was city council leader, representing the Labour Party, for a decade, and Lord Mayor in 2005/6.

Jean Fooks, the city council's Lord Mayor for 2017/18, who also previously served as the Liberal Democrats' group leader, is set to be named an honorary alderwoman.

She had been elected to the city council in 1992 and stepped down from representing Summertown in May.

They will be joined in receiving an award by Gill Sanders, who was previously another long-serving city councillor. She remains a Labour county councillor for Rose Hill and Littlemore. Mrs Sanders was elected as the county council's chairman for 2018/19 earlier this year. Her husband John is also a Labour councillor, representing the Cowley division.

The city council agreed in May that the new positions would be created.

All group leaders of the parties represented on the council agreed to introduce the award to recognise 'exceptional cases' of service that they felt 'merit' an award.

Mr Price, Mrs Fooks and Mrs Sanders are set to be granted the honour at a special meeting on Monday from 4.15pm. The full council will then hold its monthly meeting from 5pm.