Town council draws up list of instruction for those wishing to meet Barnard Castle mayor

ORGANISATIONS who want the mayor of Barnard Castle to turn up to their events will have to agree to a list of civic protocol dos and don’ts.

Town councillors are being asked to approve the document, which includes an application form for mayoral attendance at events, at their meeting on Monday, September 18.

Barnard Castle’s mayor is elected annually from among the 12 town councillors. The current incumbent is Cllr Sandra Moorhouse.

According to the draft protocol, the mayor, as first citizen of the town, takes precedence over other guests, except royal visitors or their representatives, the Lord Lieutenant or deputy.

“The town mayor should be met immediately on arrival by a responsible representative of your organisation and escorted to the correct position,” states the protocol.

“The arrival time given should normally not be earlier than approximately five minutes before the commencement of the function to avoid unnecessary waiting time.”

The protocol adds: “The mayor should normally be seated immediately to the right of the chairman or other person presiding.”

If an organisation doesn’t want to follow this rule, they must tell the town council why. The “first citizen” should be addressed as Mr Mayor or Madam Mayor and the mayoress as Madam Mayoress. Consorts should be addressed formally as Mr, Mrs, Miss or Councillor, according to the protocol.

“Where appropriate, it would be appreciated if a car parking space could be reserved for the mayor’s car.

“If the function is a luncheon, dinner, supper, public meeting or similar event, a copy of the toast list or agenda, showing the order of proceedings, should be forwarded in advance,” it states.

Under the rules, the mayor also gets to place the first wreath at remembrance and memorial events.

Members of the town council’s resources committee were told that not only would the protocol set out what was expected of organisations inviting the mayor to a function, it would simplify the process for an incoming mayor.

Cllr Moorhouse said: “It makes it a lot easier.

“Sometimes they ask the mayor to go and can’t think what to do with you or suddenly say you are going to give the talk.

“It is just to help them think about the event and pull it together a bit better.”