Elected Mayor role profile
This Role Profile assumes the Mayor is also Leader of the majority group on the Council.
Summary of responsibilities
Representation
Act as a voice for all residents (regardless of whether they voted for you):
- listening to their concerns,
- ideas,
- feedback, and
- representing them effectively in Council meetings and other forums.
Manage resident casework appropriately.
Be a Corporate Parent to support vulnerable young people in the borough.
Borough leadership
To provide effective political leadership and strategic direction for the counci.
- To act as the political spokesperson for the council.
- To be the representative voice of the council when appropriate, eg. in dealings with central Government, other local authorities and their partner agencies.
- To promote flagship projects of strategic significance to the borough.
- To take a lead in forming partnerships with other local, public, private, voluntary and community organisations.
- To be the key contact for outside organisations (including central Government, local authority organisations and council partner agencies).
Policy making
To lead the Cabinet and be responsible for the council’s corporate strategy and policy co-ordination.
- Ensure the development and review of policies, strategies, and plans that govern the local authority's activities, align with the best interests of the community.
- To develop the policy framework within which the council will operate and to take such executive action as required to ensure its agreement.
Cabinet leadership
To ensure the Cabinet achieves its aims both collectively and as individual portfolio holders.
- To ensure the effective integration of roles, responsibilities and functions within the Cabinet membership.
- To establish and maintain an appropriate work programme and undertake agenda planning for the Cabinet.
- To ensure the preparation and publication of a Forward Plan of key decisions.
- To directly support Cabinet members.
- To Chair meetings of Cabinet (and any Sub-Committees) effectively ensuring clear decision-making
- To ensure the effective communication of policies and recommendations of the Cabinet.
- To have regard to the views expressed by the council’s Scrutiny Committees and ensure that their recommendations are fully considered.
Community engagement
Engage with the community through:
- regular meetings,
- public consultations, and
- events,
- fostering a transparent and inclusive decision-making process.
Advocacy
Advocate for the borough at:
- regional,
- national, and, where applicable,
- international levels.
Ensuring that the interests of the local authority are effectively represented.
Council’s Budget and Council Tax
Ensure the Council operates within its Budget and Policy Framework. As Leader of the Executive, propose a balanced budget to the Council for agreement each year.
Ethical conduct
Uphold high ethical standards, ensuring compliance with codes of conduct and relevant legislation, and avoiding conflicts of interest.
General expectations
- Make good use of the Member Bulletin, Members Hub and other support services available to Members.
- Complete mandatory training and participate in wider Member Learning and Development as appropriate. Including maintaining a Personal Development Plan.
- Ensure that the principles of equality and fairness are integral to all actions and policies of the Council.
Key knowledge and skills
Knowledge
- Understanding of Local Authority powers and structures.
- Knowledge of the council structure, key contact officers and services procedures and eligibility criteria.
- Knowledge of the political decision-making structures.
- Understanding of the Code of Conduct for councillors, ethics and standards and the role of the Standards Committee and the Standards Board for England.
- Understanding of national policies and their impact on the council.
- Knowledge of the strategic priorities and key policies of the council.
- Understanding of legislation and Council policies to which Members must follow (e.g. Dignity at Work, Smoking Policy, Freedom of Information, Data Protection, equality legislation).
- Good understanding local government finances and audit processes.
- Understanding the Corporate Parenting responsibilities.
- Knowledge of the council’s complaints procedure.
- Knowledge of the council’s Partnership working.
- Knowledge of the council’s consultation and community engagement arrangements.
- Good understanding of the needs and support required for all communities and groups/organisations within the borough and the business community and what they can offer to the borough.
Skills
- Ability to read and digest reports and policy documents.
- Ability to handle difficult customers.
- Chairing skills and management of meetings and events
- ICT and social media skills
- Communication skills
- Ability to manage the political environment whilst working cross-party where appropriate.
- Managing conflicting workloads and general time management.
- Negotiation and debating skills.
- Ability to effectively engage with residents, partners and business people from all communities and areas of the borough.
Training and other mandatory requirements
Mandatory training
- Participation in the Post-Election Induction Programme
- Ethics and Probity / Code of Conduct*
- Information Governance*
- Equalities*
- Corporate Parenting and Safeguarding*
- Training for specific committees (appointment dependant)*
- Personal Safety and handling abuse and intimidation*
Potential training
- LGA Leadership Course (and/or similar from other organisations).
- Leadership mentoring.
- Chairing Skills.
- Managing difficult conversations.
- Policy and Strategy Development.
- Performance Management.
- Media and Communications (including Social Media).
- Democratic Decision Making and Governance*.
- Public Speaking.
- Speed Reading.
- Understanding Council Finances*.
- Risk, Audit and Control*.
- ICT (General and on specific software as required).
*May be included as part of the Member Induction Programme.
Mandatory requirements
- Sign the acceptance of office
- Adhere to the Code of Conduct and Member Officer Relations Policy
- Adhere to the Social Media Policy
- Register as a Data Controller with the Information Commissioner
- Complete ICT, HR and other induction forms and processes as required.
- Complete a Register of Interests within 28 days of election and inform the Council of any changes within 28 days of those changes happening
- Submit gifts and hospitality declarations as required
- Maintain a Register of Interests and declare interests at meetings
- Treat all Members and officers with respect and engage constructively in debates at Council and Committee meetings
- Complete a Personal Development Plan and review it annually.
- A full DBS Check