Vivien Pengelly will be next Lord Mayor of Plymouth
FORMER council leader Vivien Pengelly has been named as the next Lord Mayor of Plymouth.
Her selection fires the starting gun in the race to take over leadership of the Conservative group on the council.
Several Tory councillors are thought to be jockeying for position in the race to take the job which she has held since June 2004.
Cllr Pengelly was council leader from May 2007 until her group lost control in May last year.
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She will take over from Cllr Mike Wright as Lord Mayor at a formal election meeting on May 17, soon after her party's annual meeting, which is expected to elect a new leader.
"This is a completely different role. I have to take off one hat and put on another. I will not be political – but I was never a political animal.
"It's a terrific honour to be Lord Mayor of our fantastic city and I feel very humble. I'll do my very best to represent Plymouth and be dignified at all times."
But Cllr Pengelly, an enthusiastic football supporter and Home Park season ticket holder, added: "I can't promise to maintain my dignity when I attend Argyle games."
She said she was looking forward to "meeting all of our volunteers who do tremendous charitable work and being able to say thank you to people who help the city".
The Lord Mayor traditionally nominates two charities to benefit from the year's fund-raising work.
Cllr Pengelly said she will support the Drake Foundation community charity.
She will also help to raise money for servicemen and women from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Commando Gunners who return to Plymouth damaged while doing their duty.
"This is a very special year because of the bid to be UK City of Culture," Cllr Pengelly said.
"It is really important that the Lord Mayor showcases Plymouth to its very best advantage."
Council leader Tudor Evans said: "She has already represented Plymouth at the highest level, meeting captains and kings, so she is as well equipped as any Lord Mayor has been. I am sure she will represent the city very well."
The Lord Mayor presides over meetings of the full city council, and Cllr Evans said: "I hope that her legendary views on standards of behaviour will not need to be exercised in the council chamber this year."
Asked whether she would return to frontline politics after her year as Lord Mayor, Cllr Pengelly said: "I never say never. Since I've been a councillor I have only ever planned a year ahead."
Cllr Mike Wright, the present Lord Mayor, warned Cllr Pengelly that she would be busy.
"As Lord Mayor you are married to the city," he said.
"It's a lot of pressure and you don't get many days off.
"It's not only the big events like Armed Forces Day – the small ones are equally important. The people of Plymouth want to see their Lord Mayor."
Cllr Ian Bowyer (Con, Eggbuckland), who has been tipped as a future leader, said: "I am reluctant to indulge in speculation about the leadership now. Nominations don't open until mid-April and I'll take soundings in the group then."
Cllr Mike Leaves (Con, Plymstock Radford), another possible contender, said: "Speculation is a bit premature.
"Vivien will make a tremendous Lord Mayor. She has been a great asset for the city."
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by mesler
Monday, March 11 2013, 3:52AM
“So, in a democracy, the Lord mayor is not elected by the people, for the people, blah blah, but a bunch of out of tune councilers with easy street jobs. All makes perfect sense to me.
Michael fesler [Jakarta]”
by fazer58
Monday, March 11 2013, 2:07AM
“Hasn't that woman done enough to Plymouth? No Airport,the Incinerator,the freebie to the World Cup that she didn't think the people who pay her should have been told about,she's either bent or totally useless.
Should have been Chaz Singh,someone who cares about the community and not just the part that lives in Viv Pengelly's house.”
by jackplane
Sunday, March 10 2013, 7:17PM
“bet she wont visit st budeaux ,she could tell the residents how wonderfull the incinerater will be for them ,then she could visit the a and e department .it is a joke isnt it ?”
by lazarette
Sunday, March 10 2013, 6:32PM
“There are two types of Mayor. One has executive powers to actually make decisions whilst the other is purely ceremonial.
There are very few of the ones with executive powers. London is a particular one, with the process for choosing one being set by Act of Parliament. In the rest of England, the local population has to initially request a referendum on whether the locality should have such a Mayor (which is probably why there are so few). This type of Mayor is elected by the local electorate on a "first past the post" system.
The other type is a councillor, chosen by the other councillors and generally serves a 12 month term as civic head before returning to the ranks.
A Lord Mayor is one of the latter type and is found in cities such as Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. The rest are just styled as Mayor.
As to what they do, this varies. The executive type of Mayor is effectively operating in a similar style to a Prime Minister, but running a council rather than the country.
The ceremonial Mayor represents the council at civic occasions and receives visiting dignitaries, such as the Queen, when they come calling.”
by DevonEagle
Sunday, March 10 2013, 4:57AM
“Is it right that these people are allowed to be plastic politicians?
They are charged with running our local community but have no professional know how. And what's more, they think they are Mr and Mrs Important.”
by jtme1
Sunday, March 10 2013, 4:01AM
“who votes to elect a mayor ?”
by CharlieDodd
Sunday, March 10 2013, 2:14AM
“It was Viv's council that voted to gas us with an incinerator, and the airport closed down on their watch; she's a keen swimmer and seemed more interested getting the Life Centre and its pool built so she could put in her 100 lengths a week”
by firkinjeffery
Sunday, March 10 2013, 12:27AM
“We need to count our blessings...
At least its not a leap year,
That makes it one day less we have to put up with her!!!
firkin...”
by LHPlymouth
Saturday, March 09 2013, 11:48PM
“"Since I've been a councillor I have only ever planned a year ahead"
Says it all....how about looking further ahead Viv and seeing how there won't be enough waste to feed the incinerator, how people's health will have suffered. What will become of it at the end of the contract? No you haven't thought ahead that far have you?
Have you looked more than a year ahead at the already congested roads in the area? No course not and the rest of your council (and I'm actually not too sure about the current ones who carry on with it) haven't either.
How many hats will you wear in your year as Mayor.....swimming cap, hard hat, sailing cap.....”
by jabbathebutt
Saturday, March 09 2013, 10:36PM
“Viv for mayor says Lord Mayor Cllr Michael Wright .... ear ear we all say (not ).”