§ Mr. CranTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will establish charter trustees to preserve the office of mayor of Beverley and the civic regalia; and if he will set out their duties and the manner of their appointment. [40595]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordIt is our intention that charter trustees for Beverley will be established on 1 April 1996.
The charter trustees will be the district councillors elected for wards wholly or partly comprised in the area for which charter trustees are established.
As charter trustees, they will be required to hold an annual meeting at which the first business would be to elect one of their number as mayor and another as deputy mayor. They may also exercise powers to appoint local officers of dignity and may acquire and maintain historic or ceremonial property, except land, of the area for which they are established.
§ Mr. CranTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the appointment of charter trustees to preserve the office of major of Beverley will allow the post to be held as in the past in the absence of the establishment of a town or parish council; and what powers the major will have. [40596]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe charter trustees for Beverley may elect one of their number as town major and another as deputy mayor: it is not necessary for there to be a town or parish council in existence. The mayor presides at the meetings of the charter trustees but has no formal statutory functions. His role is representative or ceremonial.