Whilst the Office of Mayor in this Borough is the creation of statute, as opposed to creation by a pre-1974 Royal Charter, the following notes might be of interest.
The word ‘Mayor’ is clearly derived from the French ‘Monsieur le Maire’ and the Latin ‘Major’, i.e. greater or superior. In the 7 th Century, ‘Mayors of the Palace’ were appointed by the Kings of France and grew so powerful that they eventually supplanted the legitimate rulers and assumed regal status.
The origins of English Municipal Government are obscure, but derive, in part, form the grant of Royal Charters conferring certain privileges in local communities, in particular the right to administer the law in their own areas. In the Middle Ages, the Mayor’s main role appears to have been as the principal Local Magistrate with wide powers of local administration and, by the 17th Century, in many Boroughs, the Mayor had become an extremely important person.
In the 19 th Century, the structure of Local Government was regulated by a number of legislative reforms and the position of Mayor, as Chairman of an elected and ‘incorporated’ Council, was prescribed and restricted by statute.
In addition to his purely civic functions, the Mayor undertakes a large number of ‘outside’ engagements, which bring him into contact with many different outside bodies. These occasions vary from formal dinners, ceremonies and Church Services to more localised events such as 100th birthday celebrations and coffee mornings. In all these issues, the Mayor represents the Council and the local community.
The Mayor should not accept an engagement outside his own area without the consent of the Assistant Chief Executive of that Authority, although, in practice, the Mayoral Secretary will use her discretion and seek such consent routinely.
During his term of office the Mayor should not accept, as Mayor, any post with a local organisation except as Chairman or President (unless he is already Vice-president or Vice-Chairman of a body, and is not described in that capacity during his year of office as ‘The Mayor’).
The Mayor should receive guests at formal civic functions, where appropriate, and, at other functions, should normally be placed at the table or on the platform on the right hand of the person presiding. If he is to speak, his Toast should appear early in the Toast list.
When inviting Civic Heads to attend Civic functions in the Borough, the Mayor will specify on the invitation whether he desires Badges and/or Chains of Office (and, exceptionally, robes) to be worn.
The Mayor takes the Chair and presides at formal meetings of the Council.
The Mayor should take part in any official ceremony associated with the Council’s own business – e.g. opening a new public facility. The Executive member with the relevant Portfolio usually presides at such functions and, if no person has been specially invited to officiate at the ceremony, the Mayor will undertake this role. The detailed arrangements depend to an extent on the particular circumstances of each occasion.
Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000 the Chairman of the Council/Mayor cannot be a member of the Executive.
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