Mayor’s visits and chains latest victims of budget cuts

VISITS by the Mayor of Hyndburn and the use of the ceremonial chains of office are the latest victims of budget cuts.

Town hall bosses have voted to remove the mayor’s overtime allowance, meaning the mayor could attend fewer events over the next 12 months.

And the move will also see the major’s chains used less regularly, with funding slashed for back up support for the role of the mayor’s attendant when he is on holiday or sick.

The attendant is required to join the mayor on visits where the chains are worn for insurance reasons.

The cuts will result in £1,305 savings and help meet the council meet a £1.7m funding shortfall.

Coun Gareth Molineux, cabinet member for resources, told a council scrutiny meeting the move would be likely to restrict the mayor’s activities. He said: “We have one full-time officer that’s responsible for mayoral duties. That person is entitled to statutory leave and if that person is sick etc there has been cover in the past. “You have to bear in mind that this person will be in work for 47 weeks of the year and that is enough time for a mayor to fulfil their civic duties.

“Although that is the case and that will mean mayors will not necessarily be in a position to go to the amount of events as in previous years, they will still be able to attend a significant amount of events in that time, which that full time officer covers.”

Council leader Miles Parkinson said the mayoral service is not . being ‘drastically reduced’ like in other areas of Lancashire.

He said: “General overtime is being cut but the general Mayor’s role is something that all councillors want to retain. It’s still appreciated across the borough and as long as it does it will continue to function. I know in other councils across Lancashire it has been drastically reduced and if you go to Preston it’s been almost removed. If you are the Mayor you only go in your chains to a very few limited occasions. It’s the safety aspect of wearing those chains. If you were wearing the chains then you would need a mayoral attendant for insurance purposes.”

The incoming Mayor for 2018/19 will be Coun Mohammad Ayub, who will take up the role in May.

He said: “These changes will only affect the duties for a short period of the year and I’m sure that the vast majority of duties can be performed.

“Despite these changes I’m looking forward to meeting as many people from Hyndburn as possible and thanking the many community groups who do such great work.”