The Mayor is still seen as a symbol of
continuity, a recognisable and ever-present factor in people's
experiences, effectively connecting the present with the past. It
is also a symbol of an open society as the choice of mayor is no
longer restricted. The first citizen can, and does, come from any
class, gender or ethnic background. The mayor also has a key
democratic role to play. After being chosen and appointed by
Councillors, they act as a politically impartial chairman of the
city council making sure that proper conduct takes place in the
council chamber during meetings.
Another key role for a mayor is to act as ambassador for the
city, locally and at a national or international level. As
Peterborough's first citizen, the mayor is expected to speak and
act for all of the diverse communities in the city. The Mayor also
takes the lead in highlighting causes and helping members of the
community receive the recognition they deserve.
It is probably the mayor's civic role that residents are the
most familiar with. The mayor is frequently invited to attend
events in the community, such as openings and fund-raising events
organised by voluntary organisations. Fund-raising events are also
held for charities that are chosen by the new mayor at the start of
the civic year. This year the Mayor's charities are the Royal
British Legion Women’s Section and Find a cure for Alex – Kidney
Research UK. Money for the mayor's charities is raised
at a number of functions each year, last year just over
£24,148 was raised for local charities.