The Mayor is elected each year at the Annual Town Council meeting which is
held in May. The Mayor has two roles, as Chairman of the Town Council and Civic Ambassador for the town. It is a role steeped in tradition and ceremony.
There are many engagements undertaken by the Mayor in which he/she acts as a link between the various groups and organisations and the town. The Mayor can share the views and concerns of the community with the Council. The Mayor can also take the Council’s message out into the community and work towards achieving the Council’s commitment to encouraging and fostering positive working relationships between the council and other organisations and individuals working and living in the community.
Following the resignation of Cllr Jenny Kenton, Cllr Garry Shortland was elected on 9th May 2023. Garry will carry on supporting the Mayoral charities, listed below and will be working with staff to make the transition as smooth as possible. Garry has previously been Mayor so no Mayor Making or new photograph will be required.
As well as acting as Chairman of the Town Council, Garry will be undertaking a wide variety of civic duties and responsibilities on behalf of the Town Council and the people of Chard. Garry will be supported by Deputy Mayor Councillor Claire Brown, also his Mace Bearer Vivienne Cumming, who will accompany him to civic events.
Mayor’s Engagements
For details of the Mayor’s engagements please contact Tim Bickham on 01460 260058 or by emailing mayor@chard.gov.ukcreate new email.
Should you or your organisation wish to invite the Mayor to attend a function or an event that you are planning please complete the form by following the link below:
Mayors Attendance Pro Forma – opens WORD file
Once completed you can send the form electronically to the mayor’s e-mail above, or drop in a hard copy at the Chard Town Council Reception.
Follow what the Mayor gets up to by following his opens in a new window Facebook page.
Mayor’s Charity Fund
The Mayor is responsible for the Mayor’s Charity Fund. This is entirely separate from the Town Council’s funds and monies raised are distributed to local charities at the end of the Mayoral year.
Each Mayor chooses his/her charities for the year and decides on the fund raising activities which will take place.
The Mayor’s chosen charities for the current year are:
opens in a new windowChard Young Peoples Centre
opens in a new windowThe Watch Project
opens in a new windowFerne Animal Sanctuary
