The Deputy Mayor and The Mayor
Keeping it simple: Maidstone Borough Council has a Constitution that currently means the Mayor and Deputy are “time served” experienced elected Council Members of Council.
Councils across the country are all different in this respect but there are some common themes. Some Mayors are political leaders and/or Chairs of certain political or governance directions but in Maidstone the Mayoral function is entirely CIVIC other than acting as Chair of Full Council meetings.
The Mayor will not take part in Committee or Cabinet affairs, where “the business” and directions of a Council are determined.
Those in the “line ” for future Mayor will be Councillors that have been in the roles for years. They will know the Council and probably the area unlike some Mayors elsewhere who may just step into the job.
What does Civic mean?
It means it is a community and a “for the people” role often based on lots of history and old fashioned protocols and true British background. It reflects serving that community and its people by being the Ambassador -“the one with a chain” – that represents the Council and what it stands for, its history, the authority and with a pride, whilst also representing its people in the Borough and outside it. It’s critically more important as Maidstone is the County Town of Kent, the established and historical administrative centre of what the County of Kent, and once Kingdom, has been and will become.
In being Mayor that person will be invited to schools, community groups, businesses, sports clubs and much more to support those groups and provide a focus to special events and occassions. Sometimes a speech might be needed!
The Mayor will also be used to promote some of the work that the Council itself may do, from opening a new building to launching initiatives and key programmes.
Some of that may also be ceremonial or traditional from the Civic parade to Armed Forces Day where robes will be worn.
The Mayor will also use that term of office to promote certain good causes and charities or organisations and initiatives with some special events, usually to raise funds for those charities. Always a speech is needed! In such events Mayors from around the County, and beyond, especially where there are some common bonds or associations, will be invited. And those Mayors will invite Maidstone’s Mayor to their events.
The Civic or Mayoral diary-engagements of The Deputy Mayor and The Mayor
All these opportunities and events can mount up to 100s per year! So there is a team that manages it. The Mayor is naturally the first option for every invite and event, but there can be many in the same week, even on the same day, so the role of Deputy is especially needed. The team includes a car and two designated drivers that also act as “Town Sergeant/Mace Bearer.”
Whilst the Mayor has been very busy this Civic year, that started in May 2024, Martin as Deputy has done many engagements.
This includes doing the Official Opening of the Maidstone Music Festival in Whatman Park whilst the Mayor was awarding service Medals to resident & touring Army personnel.
Other engagements include “starting off” a Carers Walk in Mote Park, awarding prizes at a Golf Club, attending AGMs of various Groups Boards such as the Sea Cadets or Kent Agricultural Society at Detling Show Ground and attending school events and special Anniversaries and Memorials from a 100th Birthday party to Lenham’s Freedom of the Parish to an entire regiment. Another highlight will be attending events with our Twin Town of Beauvais. In June 2024 Martin was delighted to light the cannon and fire the end of the Jean Hachette Festival; something the Twin Town has been doing for 600 years.
