The Mayor of the Borough is elected at the Annual Meeting of the Council (usually in May each year). The Mayor serves for the whole of the Municipal Year until the next Annual Meeting. In his capacity as the Borough's first citizen, the Mayor attends many civic and ceremonial functions to represent the Council.

 

The Mayor presides over meetings of the full Council to ensure that business is carried out properly and efficiently, with due regard to the rights of Councillors and the interests of the community.  The Mayor ensures that the Council meeting is a forum for debate on important matters of concern to the local community and the place at which the Council's decision makers are held to account.  The Mayor upholds and promotes the purposes of the Council's Constitution and has a role to promote public involvement in the Council's activities. 

The Deputy Mayor is also elected by the Council at the Annual Meeting at the same time as the Mayor. In the Mayor's absence, the Deputy Mayor will carry out the civic and ceremonial responsibilities of the Mayor.

 

The Deputy also serves for the whole of the Municipal Year from one Annual Meeting to the next.  During her year of office, the Deputy Mayor will also attend many civic and ceremonial functions to represent the Council.