City of York Council (Logo)

Meeting:

Executive

Meeting date:

14/12/2023

Report of:

Bryn Roberts – Director of Governance

Portfolio of:

Councillor Douglas - Executive Leader


Decision Report: Lord Mayoralty 2024/25


Subject of Report

 

1.   The purpose of this report is to invite the Executive to receive details of  the annual nomination of the Lord Mayor for the City of York Council. The Executive will be asked to formally confirm those with the most points to qualify for nomination of the Lord Mayor for the forthcoming municipal year, 2024/2025

 

Pros and Cons

 

2.   A clear and simple process for the selection of a Lord Mayor is essential in the interests of public transparency and secures the full and proper engagement of all parties in the appointment of a Lord Mayor for the City.  Failure to adopt a universally accepted process would potentially arise in disputes regarding the integrity of any appointments made.

 

Policy Basis for Decision

 

3.  The appointment of the Lord Mayor in York is a fundamental part of the city’s continuing historic traditions. The role of Lord Mayor is firmly enshrined in the Council’s Constitution, as an ambassador for the city and its cultural and economic ambitions.  As such, the appointee will play an active part in promoting all the Council’s priorities.

 

 

 

 

 

Recommendation and Reasons

 

4.           Members are asked to:

 

                      i.         consider the accumulated points system as set out in paragraphs 3-6 below; and to;

                     ii.         invite the Labour Group to consider accepting the nomination for Lord Mayor for 2024/2025, in line with the accumulated points system.

 

Reason: To ensure that the Council adopts an appropriate method by which to nominate Lord Mayors for Office.

 

Background

 

5.   The system for nominating the Lord Mayor is based on an accumulation of points determined by the number of seats held by each group or individual on the Council.  The group (or individual) having the largest cumulative total of points on Lord Mayor’s Day each year is invited to nominate the Lord Mayor for the following year.  A group (or individual) loses 47 points when nominating the Lord Mayor or when not taking up the offer of nominating.  It should be noted that currently a nominee for Lord Mayor requires at least four years’ service as a City of York Councillor, and should be elected to serve a further term. (Article 5 of the Constitution, revised March 2022).

6.   Should a group lose all its seats on the City Council, it may have any accumulated points frozen until seats are once again gained by that group on the Council.

7.    Under the current points system, the number of points accumulated by each group or independent Member, as we move towards the Annual Meeting in May 2024, is as follows:

Party

Points at

LM Day 2023

 

Loss for LM

23/24

Points at

LM Day 2024

 

Total

Labour

18

 

18 + 24

42

Lib Dem

23

-47

 23 + 19 - 47

-5

Conservatives

5

 

5 + 3

8

Councillor Warters (Independent)

-37 (inc -47 for non acceptance in 23/24)

 

-37 +1

-36

 

8.           The above table shows that the Labour Group, with a total of 42 points, will qualify for the Lord Mayoralty in 2024/2025 under the existing points system. 

 

9.           Traditionally, the outgoing Lord Mayor assumes the mantle of Deputy Lord Mayor following their year in office. This is to ensure there is an experienced Member to chair meetings of Full Council, should the incumbent Lord Mayor be absent for any Council meetings during their term. Otherwise, the role of Deputy Lord Mayor is very minimal, given that the civic standing of York requires it to have a Sherriff to work alongside and share duties with the Lord Mayor during their year of office.

 

Consultation Analysis

 

10.        No consultation has been necessary on the preparation of this report which follows customary practice in relation to the selection of a Lord Mayor. The qualifying Group will undertake its own consultative exercises within the Group as part of its process for securing its nominee for the role.

 

11.        Once the Group has reached an agreement for its nomination to the Office of Lord Mayor, the Leader of the Group will make a formal announcement with their nominee at a forthcoming meeting of the Council, prior to the Annual Meeting being held.


Options Analysis and Evidential Basis

 

12.        Under the existing points system, the available option to Members is to invite the Labour Group to consider their nomination for the office of Lord Mayor for the Municipal Year 2024/2025, in line with the accumulated points system, set out in paragraphs 3-7 above.

 

13.        The nomination of a Lord Mayor is an annual event which is undertaken by way of a points system (to ensure a fair and robust outcome). This system has been in place for many years and has operated successfully in terms of rotating the role and honour of becoming Lord Mayor on a cross party basis.

 

14.        In accordance with customary practice, the Leader of the nominating Group will announce their nominee at a forthcoming meeting of Full Council prior to the Annual Meeting, as outlined in paragraph 11 above.

 

Organisational Impact and Implications

 

15.        There are no direct implications in relation to financial, human resources, legal or equalities arising from the recommendations in this report.


Risks and Mitigations

 

16.        Failure to appoint a Lord Mayor in the second most traditional city outside of London could have a significant impact on the Council’s reputation in terms of maintaining its civic heritage. It is important that an equitable and robust system is applied to the nomination process.

 

Wards Impacted

 

17.        All Wards.

 

Contact details

 

For further information please contact the authors of this Decision Report.

 

Author

 

Name:

Dawn Steel

Job Title:

Democratic Services Team Leader

Service Area:

Democratic Services

Telephone:

01904 551030

Report approved:

Yes

Date:

02/11/2023



Background papers

 

·        None