Agenda item

Newport City Council’s method of selecting the Mayor is fair and balanced and determined exclusively on seniority. What this means is that the longest serving member on the Council who has not served as the Mayor will be nominated to serve as Mayor, irrespective of which political party he or she represents.

However, from time to time the prospective incoming Mayor may need to defer his or her election as Mayor for personal reasons.

There is no written protocol to take account of this situation but in the past there has been an informal agreement between the parties that an individual can defer for twelve months.

This appears to be a reasonable position as it will allow the individual time to resolve any specific issues but it also take away the opportunity for individuals to ‘pick and choose’ when they serve as Mayor.

It is suggested that a form of words is written into the constitution that allows an individual to defer for one year from his or her original nomination date and that any longer deferral be a matter for decision by the Council.

One other issue to be clarified refers to an election year. In January of each year an individual is nominated to serve as Mayor. Obviously in an election year, if the individual who is nominated fails to retain his or her seat then the Mayoralty will fall to the next in line, according to seniority

Another complication may arise in an election year. An individual could be re-elected to the Council following an absence and, on strict seniority rules would qualify as Mayor in the year of his or her election. However by that time the Council will have already made a nomination for the coming year.

It is suggested that in such circumstances the person already nominated by the Council will become Mayor in the election year and the re-elected member will take his other place according to seniority in the following year. Any agreed deferrals will then be extended for a further period of time.

The format of Council AGM was also discussed.  In previous years, for practical reasons, the outgoing Mayor has chaired the official part of the Council AGM which deals with the relevant Council appointments ie. Leader, Chairs of Committees etc. and this is followed by the ceremonial Mayor-making part, when the new Mayor is officially sworn-in. That has never been a problem where the outgoing Mayor remains as an elected Councillor. However, where the out-going Mayor is not re-standing in the elections or is not re-elected, then his/her term of office as a Councillor will have ceased before the AGM. Therefore, he/she should not Chair the official Council AGM in May.  In the circumstances, it is suggested that the ceremonial Mayor-making process should now be conducted first to enable the new Mayor to be appointed and to chair the official Council business at the AGM.

The Head of Democratic Services clarified some of the points raised regarding member seniority including the successful re-election of an individual following an absence.  Whilst the Committee agreed that an individual can only defer their election as Mayor for 12 months it was agreed that the protocol be amended to show that that the election to Mayor could be deferred by an individual for longer than 12 months, in exceptional circumstances.

Agreed:

That the protocol be adopted including the change of format for the Council AGM.