Mayor survives - for the time being!

IT was never going to be an easy debate - and so it proved when Daryl Turner attempted to downgrade the role of mayor to a ceremonial one only.

I am happy to report that he found no support whatsoever for his suggestion that the role of mayor and chairman of the council should be separated, so ending a tradition going back hundreds of years.

Councillor Turner’s argument was based on the premise that in this day and age it is not possible to do both jobs properly, especially as the town council could find itself taking on more responsibility with the present coalition government’s intention to hand more responsibility back to local councils.

Daryl made it quite clear when he made a somewhat controversial return to the town council earlier this year, having previously stood down to concentrate on his district council work, saying it was impossible to do both jobs properly, that change was high on his agenda.

He made it clear he thought the mayor should be elected by the townsfolk and not seven councillors, although legislation prevents this from happening.

At last week’s Strategy and Policy Committee he put forward this argument again, as well as advocating that the council should elect a chairman and allow the mayor to do the “kissing babies” and “opening fete” duties.

Although Daryl chose his words quite carefully throughout the debate, his “kissing babies” comment will be viewed as an insult to all those who have served as the town’s First Citizen.

It was unfortunate that he made his views sat next to Barbara Austin who served six times as mayor, particularly as he cast doubt over how well past mayors had carried out their duties.

The exchange between Daryl and Barbara is published elsewhere in this paper - but no one thought his comments were necessary or did much for his argument.

When I was mayor Daryl was a youngster but I am sure I would have fallen into his category of past-mayors who did not do a very good job. I can’t remember kissing too many babies but if he thinks that’s all the mayor has to do I suggest he has a go at the job himself.

I wasn’t too keen on some of the ceremonial stuff and I hated wearing the mayor’s silly hat. But I was only 34 at the time - and I’ve never look good in hats.

But I did enjoy chairing the council and I thought I did a fair job. And if recent mayors think Stan Williams takes some controlling now, you should have seen him in his younger days.

Daryl comes from a different generation than most of his colleagues on the council and genuinely wants to see more accountability. That’s a view I share but I see no point in making change for the sake of change.

Some mayors are better at chairing meetings than others. But all of them are advised and guided by the town clerk and generally speaking cope very well. If the council appoints a chairman as well as a mayor, it will be inevitable that the mayor will be sidelined when it comes to making the big decisions.

And if the role becomes a ceremonious one only, the position might well peter out eventually as I am not sure too many councillors would want the job on those terms.

That means you could end up with the same mayor year after year, as happens elsewhere in West Dorset.

Of course, this might not be the end of the matter as it is rumoured that several senior councillors will be standing down at next year’s election.

Their successors may be up for major change and Daryl will no doubt be able to put forward his views again to a more receptive audience.

For now, however, the role of mayor survives.

EVENT OF THE WEEK

I HAVE no musical ability whatsoever - so how come I was accorded the privilege of proposing the toast to Lyme Regis Operatic Society at its 90th anniversary dinner at the golf club on Saturday?

I have written before in this column how I grew up surrounded by the Brooms and Perrys - two families whose names are synonymous with the operatic society.

Back in the late 1960s/early 70s I was entrusted with running the bar (more suitable for my talents) during operatic week. We made around £600 profit a show which went a long way to paying for the productions in those days.

I was always a big fan of the society and was pleased to do my bit. The fact that there was a bevvy of pretty girls in the chorus line might also have influenced me!

So it was great to be able to reminisce about those days at Saturday’s dinner at which the Broom and Perry family were still very much involved.

It becomes increasingly more difficult to finance stage productions but the operatic society has managed to maintain its fine reputation over the years.

These are challenging times for local theatre groups but I have no doubt the operatic society will survive and in ten years will be celebrating its centenary.

President Brian Manners is standing down after many years service, to be replaced by his former teaching colleague David Coates, one of Lyme’s favourite stage performers in past years.

Hardworking chairman Bob Kendrick is also standing down at next week’s annual meeting.

Saturday’s dinner was an enjoyable occasion, well organised by Johanna Hopkins and helpers, bringing together many familiar faces who have entertained Marine Theatre audiences royally over the years.

Next May they will be staging 'Me And My Girl' for the first time - another challenge to which the operatic society will take in its stride.

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