Minutes:
The Mayor asked Trustees for nominations for the Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2018/19 prior to their formal appointment at the Annual Meeting.
Seconded by Councillor M Wilson, Councillor Corrigan moved that Councillor Lucy Hovvels be nominated Deputy Mayor of Durham for the ensuring Municipal Year 2019/20.
Seconded by Councillor L Mavin, Councillor Hopgood moved that Councillor David Freeman be nominated Deputy Mayor of Durham for the ensuring Municipal Year 2019/20.
Upon a vote being taken, it was Resolved:
That Councillor Lucy Hovvels be nominated Deputy Mayor of Durham for
Municipal Year 2019/20 and be formally appointed at the Annual Meeting.
Councillor Hopgood asked that the way the Deputy Mayor is appointment be reviewed for the next municipal year as the position is a non-political role and the current system has been the same for the past 10 years. It was noted that other authorities operate systems based on different criteria such as length of service or rota systems. She suggested a Working Group be set up to look at different options available.
Charter Trustees discussed how the appointment was previously made by the former Durham City Council and how to move forward. A concern was raised with the suggestion that the criteria include length of service which would restrict the opportunity for younger Trustees to be appointed to the role of Deputy Mayor.
Seconded by Councillor Scott, Councillor Hopgood moved that a Working Group be arranged in the next Municipal Year 2019/20 to look at different criteria options for appointing the Deputy Mayor of the City of Durham, and a report detailing the options be reported back to Charter Trustees at a future meeting.
Upon a vote being taken, it was further Resolved:
i) That a Working Group be arranged in the next Municipal Year 2019/20 to look at criteria options for appointing the Deputy Mayor of the City of Durham;
ii) That a report detailing criteria options for appointing the Deputy Mayor be reported back to Charter Trustees at a future meeting.