Choosing the Mayor
The position of Mayor is unique among Councillors. The Mayor will often do more, see more, meet more and have more opportunity than most to make a mark on the area.
The Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is elected for a term of office of one year at the Annual Council Meeting which is held in May. When appointed the Mayor must be a Member of the Council, (as must the Deputy Mayor who is also appointed at the Annual Council Meeting). The Mayor remains in office until a successor is appointed, even if no longer a Councillor. The Mayor's principal duties are to represent the Council on public occasions and to preside over meetings of the Council.
Other than in an election year, the Mayoral candidate is identified at the Council Meeting immediately prior to the Annual Council Meeting so that all necessary preparations can be made ahead of their taking office. In an election year, the appointment has to be left until the Annual Council Meeting which takes place around two weeks after the elections.
A male Mayor will normally appoint a Mayoress; a female Mayor will normally appoint a Consort.
As First Citizen, the Mayor will normally take precedence within the Royal Borough except in the presence of the Sovereign or the Sovereign's Representative - e.g. the Lord Lieutenant, or a Deputy Lieutenant acting for the Lord Lieutenant. The Mayoress or Consort customarily takes precedence immediately after the Mayor. However if attending a function without the Mayor, the Mayoress or Consort has no particular precedence other than that which may be accorded as a matter of courtesy.
The Deputy Mayor, when deputising, should be accorded the same precedence as the Mayor. The Deputy Mayor will normally deputise for the Mayor when the Mayor is away from the Royal Borough, ill, or when there is a clash of functions and it is desirable for the Royal Borough to be represented at both.