Councillor Sid Hawke is set to go into Ripon’s records book after being nominated to be city mayor for a fourth time,

A member of the council for 22 years, he will make history in May by becoming the first four-times mayor of the city since Ripon became a parish council under local government reorganisation in 1974.

Cllr Hawke, who represents the Ure Bank ward, is coming to the end of his second successive term of office and will begin his third after the mayor-making ceremony at Ripon Town Hall on May 15.

He previously served as Ripon’s first citizen in the 2008-2009 mayoral year.

Cllr Hawke said:

“I am delighted to be nominated by my colleagues at Ripon City Council in the selection for the position of mayor for another consecutive year. I am very proud to carry on in the role of mayor.”

He added:

“I enjoy seeing all the facets of our rich community in my role and meeting the wonderful people involved in voluntary work and the many local organisations that make our small city such a vibrant place to live and work.”

Cllr Hawke was been born and bred in Ripon and is semi-retired. He was formerly a firefighter in the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The Mayor, who will be installed in a service at Ripon Cathedral on June 9, has selected Cllr Jackie Crozier (pictured above) to serve as his deputy

Cllr Eamon Parkin served three consecutive years in office from 2019 to 2022 while Councillor Pauline McHardy and former councillor Mick Stanley, also have the honour of being a three-times mayor of the ancient city.

Main image: The Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon, Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda will be continuing their civic duties in the next mayoral year.

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Local democracy is facing an unprecedented challenge as parish, district and county councils find ways to work and continue decision-making when they cannot meet in person.

The business of councils is being completed through powers delegated to officers or in online meetings – including this week’s cabinet meeting at Harrogate Borough Council.

The ceremonial roles of mayors and their deputies are usually handed over at annual meetings in May. The traditional ceremonies are not currently possible, but some new mayors are still taking up the reins across the Harrogate district.

Boroughbridge and Pateley Bridge both have new mayors after completing their official declarations remotely.

The incoming Boroughbridge mayor Coun Pat Taylor was sworn in from May 1st, taking over after Coun Geoff Haldenby concluded his two-year term of office. Town clerk John Nichols said:

“We have gone through the protocols and it has been done in accordance with our regulations. We just couldn’t get people together for our mayor-making ceremony. We may hold a retrospective event when we can.”

In Pateley Bridge, a Zoom meeting saw Coun Mike Holt complete his declarations online, with the official documents to be signed when social distancing measures allow. He takes over from Coun Chris Skaife and, although the council does not hold a ceremony, the usual service and civic reception could still take place later in the year.

Coun Eamon Parkin will remain Mayor of Ripon until the city council can meet again

In Ripon and Knaresborough, the current mayor will stay in post for now. Ripon City Council’s current mayor, Coun Eamon Parkin, will continue in his role until the council can meet to make a decision about how to proceed with a new mayor. City clerk Paula Benson said:

“The nature of the mayor’s role will change because there are no mayoral functions to attend. While he carries out a civic role, he is also the chairman of the council in law.

“The requirement to hold an annual meeting has been relaxed, so the current office holder can carry on. The council needs a chairman, so we’re following that piece of legislation, passed last month.”

Mrs Benson is carrying out routine work, such as giving responses to planning applications in line with Ripon City Plan, which has been adopted as its policy. However, decisions about future activities such as choosing a contractor to supply Christmas lights have been put on hold until meetings resume.

She said that, should socially-distanced meetings be resumed in the coming months, the council will have to consider how this might be done in a way that will still allow the public to attend safely.

‘It wouldn’t be fair’

In Knaresborough, Coun Christine Willoughby is expecting to continue her mayoral role for now and potentially for the full year, subject to a final decision by the town council.

“We aren’t able to hold an annual meeting and do a change-over. If we did it in a few months’ time, it wouldn’t be fair on the new mayor to do a short year.”

Coun Willoughby said the business of the council is carrying on, including negotiating a new Christmas lights contract and agreeing a grant for FEVA. The latter will support street entertainment in August, if social distancing guidance at the time allows.

Harrogate Borough Council, meanwhile, says it has not yet made a decision on how to proceed, with its planned mayor-making ceremony due to have taken place on May 18th. Coun Stuart Martin, who has held the role of mayor for the last year, said he expects a decision to be made next week after any change in government guidance over the weekend.

North Yorkshire County Council’s AGM has been postponed. The chairman, Coun Jim Clark of Harrogate Harlow division, and vice chairman Robert Heseltine of Skipton East, will continue in their roles until the meeting can be held either virtually or in person.