Christmas 2021 - Can you spare a gift for someone in need at Christmas?

Christmas can be a very difficult time of year for many families in our borough, who
may be struggling financially. During these unprecedented times looking after each other
and doing all we can for our communities has never been more important.  Each year the Mayor of Camden, therefore invites you to get in the spirit of Christmas with donations for local families of new toys, toiletries, gift vouchers or clothes. 

Due to the current coronavirus pandemic we are unable to accept donations at our
offices or libraries. We can however accept online donations and would appreciate your
support. When you purchase goods online please ensure that any toys have a CE Mark.
Any donations received will be distributed by Camden Family Services, social workers and
early help teams, who continue to support families in what has been a very difficult year
for many people.

Advice for buying online:

Buying toys online this Christmas? Top tips to help make it safe

Christmas toy appeal

Please deliver direct to: 

The Mayor’s Office
London Borough of Camden, Crowndale Centre, 218 Eversholt St, NW1 1BD.

Please make sure all toys have the CE mark.

If you are interested in supporting the 2021 appeal or need further information then please contact: mayor@camden.gov.uk

On Armistice Day the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will lay wreaths at memorials across the borough.

Details for the 2021 annual Remembrance Service are posted on the Camden website.

2020 annual Remembrance Service took place on a much smaller scale to protect our community in the gardens of St Pancras Church. 

See a video of the 2020 service online.

Join the Mayor for a guided walk through Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury and help raise funds for her chosen charity Gingerbread.  

Dates:   Saturday, 20th November 2021

             Saturday, 4th December 2021

Booking essential via Eventbrite

Each year the Mayor will attend around 500 engagements. Attendance at an event depends on the Mayor's availability and if the Mayor is unable to attend the Deputy Mayor may be asked to attend (subject to his or her availability). All engagements have to be checked against the Mayor's personal diary. 

Please request the Mayor's attendance at an event or engagement in good time (requests with less than three days notice will be refused).

Where possible, please phone in to check whether the date is available before requesting the Mayor's attendance. We can note your date in the diary to avoid double bookings.

When your request is received in the office we will confirm the Mayor's availability in writing and, if the Mayor is able to attend, we will send you an engagement form to complete. Please return this form at least seven days before the engagement date.

Request the Mayor's attendance online

Mayoral protocol

Protocol - helpful hints leaflet (PDF)

When writing to the Mayor, the appropriate form of address is:

Councillor Sabrina Francis

At the beginning of a letter:

Dear Councillor Francis

When introducing the Mayor, she should be referred to as:

The Mayor of Camden, Councillor Sabrina Francis

After formal introductions she can be addressed as:

Madam Mayor

Her Mayoress should be referred to as:

`The Mayoress' and escorts should be referred to by their name.

Mayoral protocol

Protocol – Helpful Hints Leaflet (PDF)

How does the Council decide who should be Mayor?

The Mayor is a serving councillor elected to the office for one year by fellow council members at the Annual General Meeting of the Council in May each year.

What is the difference between the Mayor and the Leader of the Council?

The Leader of the Council appoints the 9 members of the Cabinet, this is the group of councillors who are responsible for taking many of the decisions about how the Council’s services are delivered. The Leader is also chair of the Cabinet.

The Mayor of the Council must be an elected member of the Council, and holds office for one year until the next mayor is elected. The election of Mayor takes place as the first item of business at the Annual Meeting.

The Mayor is the civic representative of the Council and has no formal power on decision making except to chair the Council meeting where they must:

• uphold and promote the purposes of the Constitution, and interpret the Constitution where necessary
• preside over meetings of the Council so that business can be carried out efficiently and with regard to the rights of Councillors and the interests of the community
• hold the casting vote in the event of a situation arising at a council meeting where political parties cannot reach a majority decision

The Mayor is also the Returning Officer for the Parliamentary elections and has the right to announce the result.

In practice, these functions are undertaken by the Chief Executive as Acting Returning Officer, but the Mayor can reserve the duty to receive the writ for the election and to read out the results.

What is the difference between the Mayor of Camden and the Mayor of London?

The Leader of the Council is the Leader of the political administration in Camden and is also chair of the Council's Executive. The Leader of the Council is usually the Leader of the majority party of the council. The Leader is elected by Full Council for a period of four years.

The Mayor of London sets the annual budget for the Greater London Authority; the Metropolitan Police; Transport for London; London’s main roads; regulates London’s licensed taxi service (and will also run the tube when it is handed over by central Government); London Development Agency and the London Fire Brigade.

The Mayor of Camden is the First Citizen of the borough, which is a ceremonial symbolic role with little or no formal power. The Mayor is seen as the public face of the Council. The role of Mayor is subject to a range of protocols and customs, which apply to the role, for example while in office they must serve all constituents regardless of their political support.

The Mayor of London is elected for a fixed term of four years. The Mayor of Camden is elected for a term of one year.

The origin of the office of the Mayor goes back to the days when the Mayor had much wider authority and power than they do today.

However, the importance of the position is still widely recognised and remains the highest office that the residents of Camden, through their elected representatives, can confer. The Mayor should be non-political and must be seen to represent every section of the community regardless of political persuasion.

The Mayor is the borough’s first Citizen and represents Camden at some 500 engagements during the year in addition to chairing Council meetings.

Within the borough the Mayor takes precedence over everyone apart from a member of the Royal Family.

The role of the modern Mayor is to reflect the aims and strategies of the Council.

The Mayor’s Office provides a high level of comprehensive administrative and advisory support to the Mayor. If you want to invite the Mayor to your event please contact the Mayor’s Office. We will be happy to discuss it with you.

Contact The Mayor's Office

Office opening hours  -  All Camden staff are currently working from home.  Please email the office for any queries.

The office is normally open from 9.30am to 5.30pm. There are times when staff are unable to answer the telephone because they are working at a Mayoral event or function. During these times and outside normal working hours you can leave a telephone message. This will be answered within one working day, or the next working day if a voicemail message is left after 5.30pm or during the weekend.

Email: mayor@camden.gov.uk

What we do

For Mayoral engagements we will:

• respond to all requests for the Mayor to attend engagements within ten working days enclosing an engagement from for completion and return. The engagement form will give you details on protocol and advice on how to address the Mayor.
• plan and organise Mayoral and other major civic functions.
• arrange receptions in the Mayor's Parlour which will be hosted by the Mayor on behalf of other departments or organisations
• plan and organise the annual programme of events and visits at outside functions for the Mayoralty
• ensure the Mayor is fully informed about all engagements and has the full regalia (dress) as appropriate
• ensure that a weekly diary of the Mayor's engagements is circulated to all Members, Chief Officers of the Council, local police stations and local press
• take the lead in all partnership arrangements on behalf of the Mayor
• strive to ensure that the Mayor's engagements are representative of all sections of the community

How you can make a complaint

We aim to give you a high quality service by getting things right first time. If you are not happy with our service, please write to:

The Mayor's Office
Crowndale Centre
218 Eversholt Street
London NW1 1BD

Our office will investigate your complaint and give you a response within 10 working days. You will also receive a copy of the Council's complaints procedure. If you are not happy with our response, you will find out what to do next in the copy of our complaints procedure.