TOMORROW is the council’s annual meeting. This is a wonderful civic, rather than political, occasion where we acknowledge the outgoing mayor for her work, and elect her successor.

I would like to place on record my thanks to Coun Teresa Page, who has held the office of mayor for this past municipal year. Teresa has proved a worthy ambassador for the council and, in chairing occasionally heated council meetings, she has displayed honesty, humility and more than a little humour, which has helped keep things in good order.

Coun Andrew Bennett, the present deputy mayor, will be the candidate to take on the mayoral responsibilities.

These duties are quite extensive and vary from hosting the formal Citizenship Ceremonies to explaining how the council works to local schoolchildren along with visiting the myriad of community groups and local charities across the borough.

I am confident that he will add his own distinctive qualities to his year as mayor.

The office itself dates back to 1900, when the Old Town and New Town Urban District Councils merged to form the Borough of Swindon.

Although older towns can trace their line of mayors back through many centuries.

Although some may see this event as an empty ceremony, for me it is a link with both our history and the other major institutions.

It is also one of those rare occasions where the council chamber allows us to note the things that unite us as a community rather than the partisan issues that may divide us.

That is why on Friday we will be joined by the Queen’s representatives – the Deputy Lieutenant For Wiltshire and the High Sherriff, who remind us that the council is part of the United Kingdom.

We will have a representative from the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, along with Angus Macpherson, the Swindon and Wiltshire Police And Crime Commissioner.

Not only is Angus a former Thamesdown Borough Councillor, he is also the grandson of a past mayor – Charles Macpherson.

Along with these secular representatives, the Bishop of Swindon and the Mayor-elect’s Chaplain, the Rev Canon Simon Stevenette will also join us.

I find it pleasing that local religious dignitaries will be present as a reminder to us all as councillors that our first duty is to serve the people of Swindon, and our wards.