For more than 160 years, the mayor has served as the borough's First Citizen, representing the community at civic, charitable and ceremonial occasions. Although the office carries no executive powers, the mayor plays an important role in promoting local organisations, welcoming distinguished visitors and upholding civic traditions.
When I was mayor the two questions I was asked most frequently were "How do you become mayor?" and "What does the mayor do?" Simple questions but not as easy to answer because the role has changed many times over the years and continues to do so.
It all began in 1189 when King Richard I, anxious to exert control over the wealth of the City of London, appointed Henry Fitz-Ailwyn to be mayor of the city with both judicial and economic powers.
ln 1215 King John conceded the right to elect its own mayor to London. Other cities subsequently petitioned the monarchy to be granted a Royal Charter which enabled them to hold a market and to be governed locally by a mayor and council.
ln the Medieval and Tudor times the role of the mayor was to conduct the Civil and Criminal courts and to regulate trade through local weights and measures standards, and prices.
ln 1835, with much greater power invested in Parliament, the Municipal Corporations Act was passed which standardised local government across England and stripped mayors of many of their legal powers.
In Reigate and Banstead, council officers invite councillors in October each year to apply to be mayor in the following May. Individuals can put their name forward with a proposer and seconder or a political group could nominate a candidate. An election is usually held in December and the winner becomes mayor-elect until May when he or she is formally appointed at the Annual Council Meeting.
A similar process is followed to appoint a deputy mayor.
A further major change took place in 2000 when the concept of a Directly Elected Mayor was introduced, initially in London and soon followed by other large metropolitan areas such as Greater Manchester.
Directly Elected Mayors are professional politicians, mostly nominated by political groups.
They are elected by members of the public on the local electoral roll.
They are effectively leaders of the Council with responsibility for local services, budgets and strategic policies.
Such mayors serve for four years and their election normally takes place on the first Thursday in May.
Following the reorganisation of local government in East Surrey, the civic duties previously undertaken by the Mayor of Reigate and Banstead will largely pass to Town Mayors and Parish Council Chairmen, who will represent their communities at ceremonial events and welcome Royal, Government and overseas civic visitors.
At the time of writing, a new Directly Elected Mayor is yet to be appointed for the new East Surrey local authority. Unlike the Borough Mayor, whose role is largely ceremonial, the Directly Elected Mayor will be the political leader of the authority with executive responsibility for its services and policies.
Horley Town Council and Town Mayor, and Salfords and Sidlow Parish Council and chairs already exist and officiate at functions in their own localities. Other parish councils are being organised elsewhere in the East Surrey area to express local views and undertake some local services.
The current mayor of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead, Councillor Nick Harrison, will be the Borough’s last mayor when his term of office finishes in May 2027. The office was created in 1974 following the Local Government Act 1972, which brought together the former Borough of Reigate and Banstead Urban District to form the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The first mayor was Cllr Ernest Crowe who served 1974-1975.
The Borough of Reigate itself traced its civic origins to 1863, when it became a Municipal Borough. Thomas Dann was elected as its first Mayor, serving from 1863 to 1864. The last Mayor of the old Borough of Reigate was Thomas Curtis, who served in 1973–74 immediately before local government reorganisation. Before 1974, Banstead was not part of the Borough of Reigate.
Although the office of Borough Mayor is coming to an end, the traditions of civic service, community leadership and public representation will continue through the new councils and their elected civic representatives. The history of the Mayoralty remains an important part of the heritage of Reigate and Banstead and deserves to be remembered by future generations.
Roger Newstead
Mayor of Reigate and Banstead
2008-2009, 2012-2013, 2017-2018