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Mayor the force not be with you

The next mayor of Bournemouth has admitted that the role exists largely for purposes of tradition and carries no real power.

Steven Chappell, a Bournemouth resident for 31 years and a ward councillor for 12, said: “ It is a great honour and privilege to represent the Town, but you will appreciate that the role is largely ceremonial.

“That is to say, I will have none of the executive powers that the Mayor of London has. In Bournemouth , executive decisions are taken by the Cabinet. The Mayor of Bournemouth controls the debate in Council.”

Cllr Chappell represents Talbot and Branksome Woods and having previously served as chair of education, his interests as Mayor will lie with the younger generation:

He said: “I wish to celebrate their excellent achievements and success in many fields, and I will ask schools and youth clubs, the University, Arts College and Bournemouth and Poole College to invite me to their various award and other ceremonies.

“I hope to encourage schools and their pupils to take part in a number of competitions - music, poetry, chess, culinary.”

Outgoing Mayor Anne Filer will take up the role of deputy and said of her previous position: “The main challenges are to remain politically neutral and never to express a political opinion. 

“And to have enormous stamina, and of course, to promote Bournemouth , to be an ambassador for the town.”

Accepting his nomination for the role of Mayor at a full council meeting this week, Cllr Chappell said he had a hard act to follow after Mayor Filer fulfilled the role with “panache” and the “wow factor”.

She told BourneFree: “I think I brought a fresh new informality to the office of Mayor during my year.  I also tried to meet as many people from different strands of society and from as many different countries visiting our town as possible.”

Cllr Chappell will officially become Mayor on May 30.