Decision details

2.1   Cabinet agreed the Overview and Scrutiny recommendations detailed below:-

2.1.1 The Mayor of Northampton is retained and if necessary a Charitable Trust is set up for the Mayoralty. The Mayoralty is also retained at the Guildhall to protect Civic traditions and to promote our heritage.

2.1.2 A Civic Quarter is created that includes our Civic assets.

2.1.3 Should a Town Council be established, the Town Council should be located in the Guildhall, along with Mayoralty and its regalia to ensure the secure protection of the historic assets of the Borough Council.

2.1.4  To protect civic pride in a wider Northampton area and consider that the proposed Unitary Council for the West of Northamptonshire should be called the Greater Northampton Council.

2.1.5 It is ensured that the Maces, known as North, South, East and West, are retained in Northampton’s Museum, in the borough and that all silver assets are made secure.

2.1.6 Oak Apple day is a Borough Council tradition and it should be recaptured by the Borough. This would be the opportune time to reintroduce some of the civic events that have over time disappeared, for example May Day celebrations and celebrate other cultural celebrations.

2.1.7 Other key roles of the Mayoralty must be protected, including:

· The Mayor is the Chair of the Housebound Fund

· The Mayor is the President of Town Twinning

 · The Mayor is the President for St John’s Home

· Honorary Freeman take place just once every civic term

· Hereditary Freeman take the oath from the Mayor

2.1.8 The re-establishment of the roles of Major’s Serjeant and Town Serjeant, as Honorary roles, for example the office of Alderman or former Councillor are investigated and introduced.

2.1.9 Publicity and marketing of the Mayoralty is good; but it should be widened further to include proactive use of leaflets at locations such as the train station and libraries and more use of social media. 2.1.10 Cabinet is informed that it is the aspiration of the Scrutiny Panel that Northampton is a City of Culture by 2025.

nb. Cabinet noted that the Mayoralty and all the attached regalia were transferred by the relevant Statutory  Order of the 24^th February, 2020 to the new Northampton Town Council to take effect on the Ist April, 2021.