Oswestry Town Mayor | Oswestry Town Council

The Mayor

The Town Mayor is Councillor Olly Rose.

Contact details for the Mayor are:

Oswestry Town Council
The Guildhall
Oswestry
SY11 1PZ

Telephone: 07977 602952

The Mayor is keen to meet as many people as possible during her year in Office. If you would like to extend an invitation for any event you have then please email sandratrevor(at)oswestry-tc.gov.uk

You can follow Oswestry Town Mayor on our dedicated Facebook page.
Link to Oswestry Mayor Facebook page

The Importance and Role of the Mayor today

The Mayor as First Citizen of the town should act as a focal point in times of crisis, tragedy or triumph.

The history of Mayoralty is important because it is the one well known and continuous factor in people’s experiences. The power of the Mayor has undoubtedly reduced throughout the centuries, but the Office continues to have a central part to play in modern Local Councils and modern society and part of this role is as a result of the traditions it inherits.

The Mayor represents the town as a whole and the Office is held in deep respect. The Mayor should adopt an impartial role in discharging the duties of the Office and be scrupulously fair in conducting business at formal meetings of the Council.

The Mayor, by virtue of the Office, can use their position to stimulate community pride, encourage business, promote the voluntary sector and mould social cohesion. A Mayor also has meetings of Council, with dignitaries, engagements, late nights, early mornings and is in the public eye for virtually the whole year.

There are three main important roles for the Mayor in today’s Local Council and society:

A Symbol of Authority – The Mayor can clearly be seen as a symbol of the Authority and its area, with the insignia of the Mace, Robes, Chains of Office etc. The Mayor, through the Office of Mayor and its trappings, connects the present day with the history, customs and traditions of the area and acts as a symbol of continuity.
A Symbol of Open Society – A modern role for the Mayor is that the Office symbolises an open society. Prior to the 20th century, the choice of Mayor was, in reality, very restricted. The First Citizen no longer is the privilege of the white middle/upper class male and the new diversity reflects the more open and democratic society we live in.
Expression of Social Cohesion – The many, often social engagements that are undertaken by a Mayor are an expression of giving cohesion to the life of the town. The Mayor can act as a link between the various organisations they visit and can feed back the views and concerns of the people into the political fields.

Ceremonial Role Ceremonial Role of the Mayor

To be the representative for the Town Council, the community and local democracy and to work to ensure that the dignity and impartiality of the Office of Mayor is upheld.
To host all the Council’s civic events and other major Council sponsored events as appropriate and to welcome visitors to the town on behalf of its members.
To act as the Council’s ambassador in promoting the town and in selling its locality to industrialists and tourists.
To attend and host receptions and other events associated with charitable and voluntary organisations operating within the Town Council’s area; thereby assisting in promoting their good works and affording them due recognition for their valuable contributions to the wellbeing of the local community.
There may be occasions when the Mayor is invited to events outside the Parish of Oswestry. If the invitation is received from the Civic Head of that area, the Mayor may accept the invitation. If the invitation is received from anyone other than the Civic Head of that area, permission must be sought to wear Chain of Office.

Role of the Mayor as Chair of Council

To uphold and promote the Council’s standing orders and governance documents and to interpret the Standing Orders (Council Procedure Rules) when chairing Council meetings.
To preside over principal meetings of the Council so that its business can be carried out efficiently and with regard to the rights of Councillors and the interest of the community.
To ensure that the Council meeting is a forum for the debate of matters of concern to the local community and the place at which members of the public and their elected Councillors can hold the Council/committees to account.
To promote public involvement in the Council’s activities.
To be the conscience of the Council.
To call extra meetings of Council, subject to proper procedures being followed as defined in the Council’s Standing Orders.
To preside over the Annual Town meeting. Though not a Town Council meeting, the Mayor has a duty to Chair the annual meeting of the electors.

Mayor’s Role in the Chairing of Meetings

A Chair’s responsibility is to ensure the proper conduct of meetings and they may exercise a second or casting vote in the event of a tie in votes on any question to be decided at meetings; for other matters they have the same rights as other Councillors.
The Chair is required, by common law, to ensure that the business considered at a meeting is lawful and that the conduct and/or order of the meeting is proper. A Chair’s authority in respect of the conduct and procedure of meetings is detailed in the Council Standing Orders. Individual Councillors and the public present at the meeting are expected to respect and ultimately obey a Chair’s ruling.
A Chair needs to be fair yet firm and they must act in good faith. A Chair is required to:
Ensure that motions included in the agenda are lawful and within the remit of the meeting being convened in advance of a meeting.
Be satisfied that a meeting has been lawfully convened, properly constituted and is quorate.
Ensure the minutes of the previous meeting are duly approved by the meeting.
Regulate the conduct of the meeting.
Introduce motions in the agenda and direct them to be moved and duly considered.
Order discussions and debate.
Decide points of order.
Put motions to a vote and if necessary, exercise their casting vote.
Declare the result of a vote.
Adjourn the meeting if necessary.

Close a meeting after its business has been concluded.