Section 9HG: Alternative mayoral titles: further changes, Local Government Act 2000

This section applies where a local authority has—

by a resolution under section 9HF or by a previous resolution under this section, changed the title by which the elected mayor of the authority is to be known to an alternative title, or

by a previous resolution under this section, provided that the elected mayor of the authority is no longer to be known by an alternative title.

The authority may, by a resolution in accordance with subsection (4)—

in a subsection (1)(a) case—

provide that the elected mayor is no longer to be known by the alternative title, or

change the title by which the elected mayor is to be known to an alternative title mentioned in subsection (3);

in a subsection (1)(b) case, change the title by which the elected mayor is to be known to an alternative title mentioned in subsection (3).

The alternative titles are—

county commissioner;

county governor;

elected leader;

governor;

a title that the authority considers more appropriate than the alternative titles mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d), having regard to the title of other public office holders in the area of the authority.

The following requirements must be met in relation to the resolution mentioned in subsection (2)—

the resolution must be considered at a relevant meeting of the authority,

particulars of the resolution must be included in the notice of the meeting,

where the resolution includes a proposed alternative title mentioned in subsection (3)(e), the resolution must specify why the authority considers that the title is more appropriate than the other alternative titles mentioned in subsection (3), and

the resolution must be passed at the meeting by a simple majority of the members of the authority who vote on it.

In subsection (4)(a) "relevant meeting" means the first meeting of the authority held after a qualifying election for the return of the elected mayor, provided that the election is at least the third qualifying election since the resolution mentioned in subsection (1) was passed.

Where under this section a local authority provides that the elected mayor of the authority is no longer to be known by an alternative title, the authority must—

send notice of the change to the Secretary of State,

publish the notice in the area of the authority in such manner as the authority considers appropriate, and

publish the notice in such other manner as the Secretary of State may direct.

Subsections (8) and (9) apply where under this section a local authority changes the title by which the elected mayor of the authority is to be known to an alternative title.

The authority must—

send notice of the change to the Secretary of State,

publish the notice in the area of the authority in such manner as the authority considers appropriate, and

publish the notice in such other manner as the Secretary of State may direct.

Where this subsection applies—

a reference in any enactment (whenever passed or made) to the elected mayor of the authority is, unless the context otherwise requires, to be read as a reference to the alternative title by which the elected mayor is to be known, and

references to mayor, mayoral and deputy mayor are to be construed accordingly.

A change of title under this section does not affect the rights or obligations of any person, or render defective any legal proceedings; and any legal proceedings may be commenced or continued as if there had been no change of title.

The Secretary of State may by regulations amend subsection (3) to add, modify or remove a reference to an alternative title or a description of an alternative title.

In this section "enactment" and "qualifying election" have the same meaning as in section 9HF.

Section 9HG: Alternative mayoral titles: further changes

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