Mayoral duties

Councillor Terry Holbrook, ward member for Ockbrook and Borrowash, is delighted to have been elected to serve as Mayor of the Borough of Erewash.

He will be supported for the forthcoming civic year by his sister, Mrs Margaret Boam. The Mayor's cousin, Reverend Barbara Holbrook, will act at his Chaplain during the year.

The Deputy Mayor will be Councillor Robert Parkinson.

During the civic year, the Mayor looks forward to visiting as many organisations as possible during the year. He will be opening a Mayor's Charity Fund from which local charities/organisations will benefit at the end of his term.

Role of the Mayor

The main duties of the Mayor are procedural and ceremonial. The Mayor is the borough council's principal civic representative and as "first citizen" is seen as the representative of all people living in the Borough.

The functions of the Mayor are carried out in four ways:

• As chair of the borough council
• By representing the council and the community at outside engagements
• By presiding at or "hosting" civic functions which are organised by the council
• (Though this is optional) by helping to raise money for charity.

The Mayor's position in the council and the borough has important consequences and is impartial, non-controversial and although the appointment is made politically, the Mayor will endeavour to avoid overt party political connections or bias.

The Mayor will not appear to favour one sector of the community to the detriment of another. An obvious example of this is that the Mayor will avoid taking sides in a controversial issue which is likely to be debated at a borough council meeting which the Mayor will be called upon to chair.

For more information about the Mayoralty or forthcoming civic events please contact the Mayor and Member Officer, Susan Dunkley, on (0115) 907 1115.