16/05/2006 - Council to become 'Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council'

At next week’s Annual General Meeting on Monday 22 May 2006, the council will officially become ‘Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’ and for the first time appoint a Mayor for the area.

The council presented a petition to Her Majesty the Queen last year to seek to change its status from a District to a Borough Council which would allow it to have a Mayor rather than a Chairman. A charter was granted conveying Borough Status in April this year.

Council Chief Executive Michel Saminaden said: “It had become clear over the years that many people get quite confused over the role of Chairman of the council whereas the functions of a Mayor are more easily understood.

“A Mayor does establish a civic focus and a real identity for an authority and many past Chairmen have indicated that being known as Mayor would bring more clarity to their role” 

“There is more prestige in being a Borough and the term Mayor is one which is internationally recognised.”

As a celebration of its new status, the council has invited past Chairmen to attend a champagne toast and a cake cutting ceremony after the Annual Meeting.

The question of any new robes or civic regalia is optional  but the council has made it clear that such items would have to be financed by sponsorship rather than council money.

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Press are invited to attend the ceremonial event after the council’s Annual General Meeting on Monday 22 May.