General Enquiries

We now have a Combined Authority Elected Mayor for our region as well as the individual authority Civic Mayors. Thinking of Remembrance initially, what is the order of precedence when you have a DL, Baroness, MP & MEP to throw into the mix? Can't seem to find any definitve answer online. Many thanks

Hi Elaine
This subject was raised on the message board about six months ago - following the creation of a new raft of these Elected Mayors.
I am pasting in here my response at that time, together with an excellent review done by our Vice Chair Jim Babbington - they may be of some help I hope.

My post

The election of 'Mayors' for combined authorities last week has moved things on, even from the handful of existing elected mayors (Newham, Hartlepool, Middlesborough etc). who I think, without exception, covered a single authority area. They have been more like Leaders than Civic Mayors and relationships will have developed within each authority.

The new breed probably need to be treated differently, as there should really be some consistent approach, at least within the combined area, even if it is different in say Greater Manchester than in Cambridgeshire or West Midlands.

These new Mayors are strategic roles, so perhaps their impact on civic life will be limited, though they might receive lots of invitations to attend events where hosts are hoping for patronage, support, kudos or cash!!

I am not sure if the legislation to establish the posts was followed up with any guidance on civic relationships and precedence - perhaps legal teams in affected authorities might know?

If not perhaps the initial response could be a network meeting, actual or virtual, of affected civic officers or Heads of Democratic Services to make progress on a way forward.

Hopefully NACO might be an organisation to collate thoughts and facilitate a response if nothing yet exists in legal guidance? One thing is sure - ignore them at your peril - like PCCs they will have a high opinion of their own roles and not be slow to muscle in where it suits them. Sorry if that sounds cynical.

Jim's post

Clearly people will need to make some swift decisions on this matter ahead of Council Annual Meetings and Civic Services in the coming weeks so perhaps I can offer some thoughts in the hope others will comment and out of it all some firm guidelines can be drawn up.

My approach has always been to identify categories and fit people into them in an order of precedence. I then use that order to determine the make-up of processions and arrange seating on the same basis.

First comes the Mayoral Party:
The Macebearer
The Mayor and Consort
The Deputy Mayor and Consort
The Town Clerk / Chief Executive.

Then come those who hold Office under the Crown
Lord-Lieutenant / Vice Lord-Lieutenant / Deputy Lieutenant
The High Sheriff
Judges / Coroner / Chairman of the Bench
Chief Constable / Borough Police Commander

After that group I have those who have the Freedom of the Borough
Freemen and Women
Commanding Officers of those Units of the Armed Forces having Freedom of Entry

Then come those who hold elected office
Members of Parliament
MEPs
The Directly-elected Mayor of the area
Members of the Council

The penultimate group is those who have held elected office:
Honorary Aldermen and Past Mayors who are no longer on the Council

The final group is “others” and is made up of
Representatives of community-based organisations
Council Officers

This approach works for me and I'd be interested to know what others think and especially if others in London would place the Mayor of London in the same position within their processions.

Jim Babbington

Many thanks Phil - and Jim; most helpful and very much appreciated.