Any candidate for the Mayor must be a Member of the Council under the provisions of Section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 1972. The election of the Mayor takes place as the first item of business at the annual Meeting (Local Government Act 1972 Section 4) with the election being decided by a majority of the members present and voting on the business of the meeting (Local Government Act 1972 Schedule 12 para 39(1)).
The primary functions of a Mayor or Chairman are to preside over meetings of the Council, if present at a meeting he/she must preside (Local Government Act 1972 Schedule 12 para 5(1). If he/she is not present at any meeting of the of the Council, then the Deputy Mayor has to preside (Local Government Act 1972 Schedule 12 para 5(2). The duties of the Mayor at Council meetings are set out in the 1972 Act and include a second or casting vote.
As a result of the Local Government Act 1972, the Mayor no longer has any duties or functions at Local Government elections.
Amongst the many duties of the Mayor, including that of chairing meetings of the Council are:
- Promote the Council at all functions attended. Remember you are the shop window for the Borough, so to speak. As the Queen's representative in your Borough, you hold a very high position, and must conduct yourself with dignity. How you conduct yourself when in contact with people from other areas will reflect directly on how they perceive your Borough; know of its history, industries, population etc.
- Acting as host on behalf of the Council and its citizens of Wigan Council at functions organised by the Authority.
- Receive members of the Royal family and other important visitors to the Borough.
- Represent the Borough at approximately 400 appointments per year, many locally and some further afield i.e. Royal Garden Party, HMS Sceptre etc.
- At the Council's discretion, choose to support a local charity.
- Attend a variety of religious services of all denominations throughout the Borough.
- Make official openings or presentations at various places in the Borough.
- Take salutes of various military and voluntary organisations who either have the right to, or request the right to, march within the Borough.
- This list gives a general idea of the Mayor's duties but is by no means exhaustive.
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