As Croydon has an elected mayor with executive powers, the role of Civic Mayor fulfils many of the ceremonial and public duties associated with the Mayor.
The Civic Mayor of Croydon;
- used to be known as the Mayor of Croydon
- is a serving councillor
- is elected by fellow council members at the first Council meeting of the municipal year
- may not act politically in any way
- has two key roles – a constitutional role and a civic ceremonial role.
Role of the Civic Mayor of Croydon
Constitutional Role
- chairs council meetings in an impartial non-political way
- has the deciding vote in the event of a tie at a council meeting
- upholds and promotes the purposes of the council’s constitution, the interests of the wider council and the public
- deals with petitions (this is undertaken by officers in the name of the Civic Mayor
- presides over citizenship ceremonies.
Ceremonial Role
A major part of the role of the Civic Mayor is the Ceremonial Role. They;
- represent the borough as the First Citizen. This means they are an ambassador for the borough and its residents.
- represent the Monarch as First Citizen of the borough, hosting events and welcoming visitors such as other Royals
- promote the borough, the council’s aims and objectives, and forge links with the private, public, and voluntary sectors
- aim to promote, raise the profile and gain publicity for projects and events that are of a good charitable or voluntary nature that benefit the citizens of the borough, particularly smaller organisations
- are committed to serving the people of Croydon with integrity, striving for prosperity for all
- are the face of the borough in times of sadness e.g. death of a Member of the Royal Family, after a local, national or international tragedy