Council & Democracy

The Mayor is elected each year by Members of the Borough Council at its Annual Meeting, which is held towards the end of May. The Annual Council is referred to as the "Mayor Making" and takes place in the Council Chamber at the Civic Offices.

The ceremony, which is open to the public, has remained unchanged for many years and provides the new Mayor with an opportunity to speak about their aspirations for the coming year and also to wear the Mayoral robe for the first time.

The Mayor and in their absence the Deputy Mayor, who is also appointed at the Annual Meeting has the following roles and functions:-

• Ceremonial Role
  
  As first citizen of the Borough the Mayor shall take precedence in the Borough. The Mayor represents the Borough at Civic functions both locally and nationally and fulfils all the traditional ceremonial functions of the Mayor of this "Loyal and Ancient Borough". In any year it is usual for the Mayor to attend in the region of 350 engagements travelling many miles in the process. The majority of these engagements occur within the Borough.
  
• Chairing the Council Meetings
  
  The Mayor and in their absence the Deputy Mayor has the following responsibilities:-
  
• To preside over meetings of the Council so that its business can be carried out efficiently and with regard to the rights of Councillors and the interests of the community.
• To ensure that the Council meeting is a forum for the debate of matters of concern to the local community.
• To ensure Councillors who are not members of the Cabinet and do not hold committee chairs are able to hold the Cabinet and committee chairs to account.
• to uphold and promote the purposes of the Constitution and to interpret the Constitution when necessary.
• To promote public involvement in the Council's activities.
• To attend such civic and ceremonial functions as the Council and he/she determines appropriate.
• To determine any matter referred to them requiring an urgent decision under the Urgency Procedure Rules set out in the Council's Constitution.
• To be consulted on any matter where consultation with the Mayor is required under the terms of the Constitution.

The Mayor can be contacted by post, telephone or by emailing the Mayor's Secretary.

Letters should be addressed to

The Worshipful the Mayor
Civic Offices
Merrial Street
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Staffordshire
ST5 2AG

Tel 01782 742226 / 742222

Email - peter.whalan@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk