Your Mayor

Each year the council elects one of its councillors to serve as the borough’s Mayor. This election happens at the Annual Council Meeting, and each Mayor’s term begins in May and concludes the following May.

The Mayor is the first citizen of the borough and the civic head of Kensington and Chelsea. The role of the Mayor is a non-political one. 

Key parts of the Mayor’s role

Attend events in the community

Every year The Mayor attends hundreds of engagements hosted by local organisations, charities or businesses across the borough and London. The Mayor attends these events to show support for the local community. 

Find out how to invite the Mayor to your event.

Events the Mayor attends include, but are not limited to the following:

• opening events, fairs and fetes
• visiting schools, youth clubs and day centres
• attending commemorative and cultural events, such as Kensington and Chelsea Art Week and Notting Hill Carnival 
• attending community festivals and religious celebrations
• recognising the achievements of local people and communities, such as Supplementary School Awards, Volunteers’ Week and summer reading challenge celebrations

Representing the Borough

The Mayor represents the borough at civic and ceremonial events, for example by leading and laying a wreath at the borough’s Remembrance Sunday Ceremony. They will also receive members of the Royal Family and other important guests, such as diplomats and dignitaries on their official engagements in the borough.

Chair council meetings

The Mayor chairs Full Council meetings in the council chamber at Kensington Town Hall. The Mayor upholds and promotes the purposes of the Constitution, ensuring that council business can be carried out efficiently. The Mayor acts with impartiality and does not get involved in voting. This is similar to the role of the Speaker in the House of Commons. The Mayor is supported by the council’s Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer to ensure that standing orders and protocol are followed correctly.

Recognising the work of residents and the local community

Over their term, the Mayor hosts a number of receptions and events in the Mayor’s Parlour at Kensington Town Hall. The events each Mayor chooses to host vary from year to year, but generally include:

• supporting local organisations and residents
• raising money for the Mayor’s chosen charity
• celebrating individuals and community organisations for their outstanding work by hosting the Mayor’s Awards Ceremony.