5.1 The Council will elect the Mayor annually. The Council will also elect the Deputy Mayor annually. The Mayor (as civic and ceremonial head) and in his/her absence the Deputy Mayor will have the following role and functions:

5.1.1 To uphold and promote the Constitution, and to interpret the Constitution when necessary;

5.1.2 To preside over meetings of the Council so that its business can be carried out efficiently and with regard to the rights of Councillors and the interests of the community;

5.1.3 To ensure that the Council meeting is a forum for the debate of matters of concern to the local community and the place at which Members who are not in the Cabinet are able to hold the Cabinet to account;

5.1.4 To promote public involvement in the Council’s activities;

5.1.5 To be the civic and ceremonial head of the Council and to attend such civic and ceremonial functions as the Council and he/she determines appropriate;

5.1.6 To determine whether a proposed decision by the Cabinet should be treated as a matter of urgency in accordance with the urgency provisions of the Council’s Call-In procedure as set out in the Council Procedure Rules under Part 4 of this Constitution.

The detailed procedure for the election of the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor appears in Part 4 of this Constitution.