THE procedure of choosing a town mayor will go under the spotlight at a special meeting being set up by town councillors in Tavistock during the coming weeks. For many years, the mayor and deputy have been chosen by secret ballot at an informal meeting of councillors, then formally elected during the council?s annual meeting. Although there is nothing to stop a mayor standing for re-election for a second or further term, traditionally in Tavistock the deputy has proceeded to be elected to the role. However, last year at the annual meeting, no-one proposed the deputy mayor and the standing mayor was re-elected for a second term, with the deputy also being re-elected. Cllr David Best at last week?s meeting of the town?s finance and general purposes committee brought back a resolution made last summer, that mayoral appointments should be made with the press and public present, and with no informal pre-meeting. He said: ?I think the selection procedure could be improved and the candidates could be given the opportunity to make a verbal or written presentation. ?Only then would voting take place, which would allow new councillors to make a decision on who to vote for.? Cllr Jane Ramsey said the mayor and deputy mayor held a ?very important position? in the town ? she could see no reason why candidates should not make a presentation to their fellow councillors. ?I would like to know where they stand and how they feel ? just a two to five minute presentation ? what?s wrong with that?? she said. Cllr Iain Andrews said in the case of an annual meeting, it was clear that a certain amount of lobbying took place outside the meeting. ?I don?t think that?s a very good way to show democracy to the people of Tavistock ? I think the suggestion of Cllr Best is excellent,? he said. Cllr Alison Clish-Green said being elected town mayor was an honour that fellow councillors bestowed on a colleague ? it was ?completely different? from electing the leader of a council. The committee agreed a small group be set up to formulate definite proposals for mayor making ? the membership of the group was due to be decided at the full meeting of the council on Tuesday night.
