The Role of Mayor can be divided into two distinct areas: Chairman of the Council, and representative of the Town.

CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL

1. The Mayor is appointed as the first item of business at the Annual Meeting, and remains in office until his/her successor is elected or he/she resigns or is otherwise barred from holding office.
2. The Town Mayor must be a Member of the Council.
3. The Town Mayor has precedence within his/her Town before all others except the Sovereign or his/her representatives and the Chairman of the District Council.
4. If present at a Council Meeting the Mayor must preside and has control of its procedure for enforcing the law and good order.
5. The Mayor must prevent decisions being taken on matters which are not on the agenda of the Council Meeting.
6. When presiding at a Meeting the Mayor has the casting vote unless presiding over the election of a new Mayor as his/her last act before ceasing to be a Member of the Council. In such a case he/she only has a casting vote.
7. Where there is a tie in the election of a Mayor, the presiding Mayor (Chairman) MUST BY LAW give the CASTING VOTE.
8. The Mayor may on three days notice convene a Council Meeting at any time.
9. The Mayor must call an extraordinary meeting within seven days if he/she receives a requisition for that purpose signed by two Members of the Council.
10. The Mayor signs the minutes presented to and approved by the Council Meeting.
11. In order to discharge the function of Chairman presiding at Council Meetings the Mayor should understand thoroughly the Standing Orders of the Council.
12. The ruling of the Mayor (Chairman) on a point of order or on the admissibility of a personal explanation SHALL NOT BE DISCUSSED by the Council Meeting.
13. The Mayor accepts the resignations by Members. 
14. The Mayor is paid an allowance to meet the expenses of his/her office. Records must be kept to confirm expenditure on Council business.

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PARISH

The Mayor:

1. Is the proper person to represent the Parish on ceremonial occasions.
2. Designate is responsible for informing the Town Clerk whom he/she wishes to invite to the Annual Meeting. 
3. Designate is responsible for organising and paying for the celebration function following his/her inauguration at the Annual Meeting.
4. Recommends whom he/she wishes to be the Council Chaplain for his/her term of office. 
5. Informs the Town Clerk of his/her invitations to the Civic Service and recommends to Council when that service shall be.
6. Becomes Chairman of the Mayfair Committee at the first meeting of the Mayfair Committee following inauguration as Mayor. 
7. Visits the local Hospital, Castle House Nursing Home and Woodland Vale on Christmas Day. 
8. In consultation with the Town Clerk selects the speakers for the May Fair Proclamation. 
9. Attends with the Council the May Fair proclamation and parade on the first Thursday in May.
10. Provides and pays for gifts to the May Queen and attendants, Heralds and Crowner at the Mayfair celebrations in the Square.
11. Attends with the Council the Remembrance Day Service and Parade in November.
12. Establishes those residents within the Parish celebrating their 100th birthday, Golden and Diamond weddings, visits and offers a card and small gift.
13. Accepts invitations on behalf of the Parish and attends events as the Representative of the Parish. In such capacity must maintain the dignity of the Parish at all times. Invitations in the region of 75 might be expected. The majority of invitations are within the Parish.
14. Furthers the policies of the Council with outside bodies.
15. By custom and practice nominate two Charities for whom he/she will raise money during the year. At the following Annual Meeting, the money raised is then presented to the Charities.
16. Is responsible for obtaining the licence from the District Council for the Mayor’s Appeal.
17. Is the only Member of Council (along with the Town Clerk) authorised to speak to the Media on behalf of the Council.
18. Is responsible for the safekeeping of the Chains of Office which must be protected at all Times.

NOTE: The Mayor is expected to be accompanied by a Mayoress or Consort as appropriate.  This is usually the wife or husband of the Mayor but need not be.

There are duties for the Mayoress/Consort:

a)Choose the theme for the May Fair children’s outfits.

 b)Select the dressmaker to make the outfits.

 c)Meet with the dressmaker and children to measure up for costumes.

 d)Dressmaker also makes the cushion for the May Queen’s crown.

 e)Attends with the Mayor the dress rehearsal on the Wednesday of May Fair week.

The Beadle is available (by prior arrangement) to drive the Mayor and Mayoress/Consort to official functions and return them.

This “job description” is not meant to be exhaustive but to give as much of a flavour of the role of Mayor as is reasonable so that the duties and responsibilities do not come as a surprise.