Article 5 - The Ceremonial Mayor
5.1 Role and Function of the Ceremonial Mayor
At its Annual meeting Full Council will appoint a Chair of Council who will also take the title, Ceremonial Mayor for the municipal year, in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972. The Vice Chair will also be appointed at the Annual Meeting and will take the title Deputy Ceremonial Mayor.
In the absence of the Ceremonial Mayor, the Deputy Ceremonial Manor will carry out the civic and ceremonial roles, functions and responsibilities of the Ceremonial Mayor as follows:
- (a) be first citizen of the Borough;
- (b) uphold and promote the purposes of the Constitution;
- (c) preside over meetings of the Full Council so that its business can be carried out efficiently and with regard to the rights of Elected Members and the interests of the community;
- (d) ensure that the meetings of Full Council provide a forum for the debate of matters of concern to the local community and a place at which Elected Members can ask questions of the Chairs of Committees and Sub-Committees;
- (e) promote public involvement in the Authority’s activities;
- (f) be the conscience of the Authority; and
- (g) attend, with the Ceremonial Mayor’s consort, the following civic and ceremonial functions (at which both the Ceremonial Mayor and the Ceremonial Mayor’s consort will be entitled to wear the appropriate chains (or the Deputy Ceremonial Mayor and consort if substituting for the Ceremonial Mayor and consort):
- Annual Civic Service
- Annual Memorial Service - Bombardment
- Annual Remembrance Day Service and Associated Events
- Armed Forces Day
- Charity Event(s) to be held at the discretion of the Ceremonial Mayor
- Workers’ Memorial Day
- Attend as a representative of the Authority at:
- Royal visits
- Official openings
- Other Councils’ civic events
- Presentation of community awards
- School, church and other official visits
- Greeting civic and other dignitaries
- Any other events, as determined by Full Council