A GROUND-BREAKING decision by Middlewich Town Council to appoint a community mayor has been ruled as invalid.

An independent audit of the council’s working practices in late 2019 highlighted a number of financial irregularities and raised concerns about the legality of the community mayor role.

Today, the council has announced that the community mayor project has been suspended.

Community stalwart Dave Roberts was appointed the inaugural community mayor six months ago, with partner Lynne Hardy as his consort.

Dave, left shocked and puzzled by the situation, said: "If this definitive advice could be obtained when the community mayor and deputy community mayor had been in place for six months, why could it not have been obtained before the appointments were made, saving a lot of embarrassment?"

Northwich Guardian:

Dave Roberts was appointed community mayor by Middlewich Town Council in June 2019

The community mayor initiative was designed to move the figurehead of the town mayor away from the council and give the role back to the community who would assist in selecting an individual who dedicates themselves to the town.

Dave, 66, who has lived in town all his life, was chosen to represent the town at events throughout Cheshire and fundraise for his chosen charities throughout his mayoral year.

Linda Boden was selected as his successor.

Dave added: "I very much hope that in our short term as mayor and mayoress we have proved one thing that ordinary citizens with nothing more than a desire to promote the town and help local people and organisations can do as good a job as civic dignitaries as anyone else. A better job, it might be argued.

"We're proud to have served since June last year and do not regret one second of the time we have spent doing so. We have worked very hard towards the goal of restoring the dignity and good name of the mayoralty and hope we have achieved this in some measure.

"I'd also like to thank the many, many people who have helped us during our short term of office."

Community mayor elect Linda Boden said: "To say I am shocked and disappointed not to be deputy mayor this coming year would be an understatement but I am mostly saddened for everyone who supported me, gave congratulations and offered help for fundraising this coming year.

"The only thing I can say positively is that the friends and wellwishers I have met, the friendship Dave, Lynne and my family have discovered and the community spirit will go on.

"Councils come and go but the people of Middlewich are the the real community of which I will always be proud to be part of. A big thanks also to my husband John and son Ian for all their help in the past couple of months whilst assisting Dave and Lynne to do their fund raising work. Thank you Middlewich for your wonderful support it is always appreciated and never taken for granted."

A council statement said: "Whilst advice was sought in the set-up of the role and the councillors acted in good faith in doing so, the auditor advised that unfortunately it was not possible for the town council to legally create the role of community mayor.

"Subsequent advice has been received from the sectors professional bodies which supports this view and as a result the project in its current format must cease.

"This is a cause of great sadness to the town council and of course Dave Roberts, the first community mayor and Linda Boden the deputy community mayor.

"Whilst the project will cease for the present time, the council will be looking at alternative ways in which to have a community representative to take on the role generally carried out by the town mayor that is to be the public face of Middlewich at events throughout Cheshire.

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Chairman of the internal committee Helen Watkinson said: “Personally I am very sad and disappointed with this outcome but we must comply with the legislation which is there to protect the title of mayor.

"The roles that David Roberts, Lynne Hardy and Linda Boden and her husband John carried out have been excellent. Fulfilling every expectation of what the town residents wanted a community mayor to be. Thank you to all for your continued support of this project.”

It should be emphasised that the cessation of the project is no reflection on Dave Roberts, Lynne Hardy or Linda Boden who have represented the Town exceptionally over the last 6 months and whom the council would like to thank for their time and efforts.