As an opposition councillor I tend to spend most of my ‘working’ time in/on Bathwick, chasing potholes and zebra crossings. Today though a diary fluke gave me two council meetings in one day. The first, Regulatory (Access) Committee is a rather specialist quasi-judicial panal focussing on Public Rights of Way. The Charter Trustees’ Meeting merits further explanation however.

 The City of Bath retains its Mayor and civic functions under an odd arrangement following the creation of BathNES unitary authority. While BathNES council meetings have a designated Chair, who also undertakes official duties, Bath itself has a largely symbolic Mayor. She or he is elected by and from the Trustees of the city’s Charter, BathNES councillors representing city of Bath wards.

 I am, therefore, a Charter Trustee of the city of Bath and an elector of the Mayor. We will next elect a Mayor on 17th May to serve for a year term. Councillors and dignitaries shall process from the Guildhall to the Abbey for the ceremony in our robes and hats of office. This evening’s meeting only related to internal business, but was still carried out with gold maces and the Mayor’s red robes.

In many ways the Mayor exists similarly to the monarchy in Britain, with no logical justification and yet a great public warmth and popularity. There is, of course, one crucial difference; anyone can aspire to become Mayor of Bath – another reason to become active in politics!