Mayor

The Mayor is elected each year at the Annual Town Council meeting which is held in May. The Mayor has two roles, as Chairman of the Town Council and Civic Ambassador for the town. It is a role steeped in tradition and ceremony.

There are many engagements undertaken by the Mayor in which he/she acts as a link between the various groups and organisations and the town. The Mayor can share the views and concerns of the community with the Council. The Mayor can also take the Council’s message out into the community and work towards achieving the Council’s commitment to encouraging and fostering positive working relationships between the council and other organisations and individuals working and living in the community.

Cllr Victoria Bates was elected Mayor for a second year by council on Tuesday 27th May 2025. Victoria will be supporting two different charitable organisations as Mayor, these are outline below.

As well as acting as Chairman of the Town Council, Victoria will be undertaking a wide variety of civic duties and responsibilities on behalf of the Town Council and the people of Chard. Victoria will be supported by Deputy Mayor, Cllr Tricia O’Brien, who was also elected by council on 27th May 2025, and her Mace Bearer Vivienne Cumming, who will accompany her to civic events.

For details of the Mayor’s engagements please contact Tim Bickham on 01460 260058 or by emailing:

Should you or your organisation wish to invite the Mayor to attend a function or an event that you are planning please complete a Mayors Attendance Pro Forma.

Alternatively a hard copy can be obtained from the Chard Town Council Reception.

The Mayor is responsible for the Mayor’s Charity Fund. This is entirely separate from the Town Council’s funds and monies raised are distributed to local charities at the end of the Mayoral year.

Each Mayor chooses his/her charities for the year and decides on the fund raising activities which will take place.

The Mayor’s chosen charities for the current year were announced on 27th May 2025 at the Annual Full Council meeting, as below;