Mayoral elections

The Office of Mayor in Wolverhampton City Council operates on an annual rotation. Each year, usually in May, the annual meeting of the Council elects a Mayor and appoints a Deputy Mayor from different political groups.

The Deputy Mayor is selected using the system set out below and takes on the role of the Mayor in the following year.

This system was first introduced in 2001 and looks to ensure a balanced rotation of the two offices between senior council members.

Step one

After the local elections and immediately before the annual meeting each year, all members are placed into one of two categories:

• Category A – controlling group
• Category B – all other members

Step two

Within each of the above categories (A and B above), members are listed according to the number of years and part years service as Councillors with Wolverhampton or any of its predecessor authorities.

If members have the same number of years in service, they will be listed alphabetically.

Members who have already held office of Mayor will be treated as if their years of service begin again.

Step three

Nominations for the post of Deputy Mayor are offered to the longest serving member who is within the same category (A or B above) of the current mayor.

Where a member is unable or unwilling to accept the nomination, it will automatically pass to the next most senior member in that category. 

If you would like more information on this process, please contact the Mayor's Parlour.