Councillor Khalid Hussain JP was elected to the Office of Mayor on Wednesday, 22 May 2024.
The role of Mayoress for the new municipal year (2024/25) will be filled by Mrs Carol Bernstein.
The Mayor's Chaplain is Imam Shoyab Umar of the Islamic School in Ramsbottom.
The Mayor, Councillor Hussain has lived in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury since 1979. He attended St. Chad's Primary School (now St. Luke's), the Derby High School, and Peel College (now Bury College).
The Mayor is a graduate of the Royal Chartered Institute of Marketing (RCIM), and obtained his Bachelors and Master degrees from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN). He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).
The Mayor has served as Head of two Racial Equality Councils (RECs) and as a civil servant in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). He was appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ii as a Justice of the Peace (JP) in 2003.
He was first elected to Bury Council as a Conservative Councillor for Redvales Ward in the summer of 2004. In 2011, he was elected for the new North Manor ward, which he has served ever since.
The Mayor has held a number of roles on various council committees, including Health Scrutiny, Children & Social Services, Housing, Safeguarding, Corporate Parenting, and S.A.C.R.E.
The Mayor, who is married with three grown-up children.
He is an LEA governor of Hollymount RC Primary School.
The Mayoral Charities this year will be Bury Hospice, the Fusiliers Museum and a local charity for autistic children.
The position of Mayor
The Mayor is the borough's First Citizen.
The Office of Mayor is the highest honour the Council can bestow upon a Member and reflects a high level of public service and the esteem, respect and regard in which the holders are held.
The Mayor holds a position of precedence over all persons within the borough, except in the direct presence of His Majesty The King, Members of the Royal Family or His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant.
The role and duties of the Mayor, which are undertaken on behalf of the borough are varied and cover many aspects, but include:
- acting as an ambassador for the borough
- upholding civic pride
- promoting the borough
- encouraging and supporting local industry, business and commerce
- supporting local charities and community groups
- representing the Council at civic, social, cultural, charitable, religious or faith and many other wide ranging functions and events
- chairing Council meetings
- receiving official visitors.
Attendance of the Mayor and the Consort or Mayoress at functions
Enquiries are frequently received regarding the procedure to be adopted at functions which the Mayor and Mayoress are attending. With a view to enabling suitable arrangements to be made, the following information may be of assistance:
Description
The correct description for the purpose of printing is 'The Worshipful the Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Councillor Khalid Hussain' and when the Mayoress is also present 'The Worshipful the Mayor and Mayoress of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Councillor Khalid Hussain and Mrs Carol Bernstein'.
Method of address
Speakers should refer to the Mayor as 'Mr Mayor' and Mayoress as 'Mayoress'.
Arrival
The Mayor and Mayoress should be met immediately upon arrival and escorted, as soon as convenient, to the places reserved for them. If the Mayor and Mayoress are asked to take part in a reception prior to the commencement of the function, then the organisers should vary the arrival time accordingly.
Precedence
The Mayor shall have precedence over all persons within the borough except in the presence of His Majesty The King or a Representative of His Majesty. Accordingly, the place reserved for the Mayor should be on the immediate right of the Chair or other person presiding. The Mayoress should be seated on the immediate right of the Mayor or on the left of the Chair or person presiding.
When the Mayoress is attending unaccompanied by the Mayor, her seat should be in the position as indicated for the Mayor.
If the Mayor and Mayoress are to be asked to speak at any function, particulars should be furnished in advance.
The Mayoral Charity Appeal
During their term of office the Mayor and Mayoress have chosen Bury Hospice, the Fusiliers Museum and a local charity for autistic children as the main beneficiaries of the Mayoral Charity Appeal.
Throughout the mayoral year fundraising events will be held and all the proceeds from these occasions will be donated to charitable causes.
If you wish to donate to the Mayor's Charity fund you can donate online.
Invite the Mayor to an event
The Mayor welcomes invitations from local organisations to attend events held within the borough or related to Bury.
The Mayor will endeavour to attend all events to which he is invited, but unfortunately, due to the high demand, this may not be possible.
A minimum of two weeks' notice of invitations to attend events is requested.
If you wish to invite The Mayor to attend an event, please email democratic.services@bury.gov.uk, providing as much detail of the event as you can.
Recognising groups, businesses and individuals
Part of the Mayor of Bury’s role is to champion and support local community groups, business, and individuals in the excellent work they do across the borough.
To support recognition, the mayor encourages groups and individuals to be nominated either for the Kings Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) or to nominate an individual for a personal honour such as an CBE, MBE or OBE. Nominating a group or individual is easy and any one can be nominate or be nominated. Information to nominate can be found here:
The mayor’s role is also to raise the profile of local outstanding businesses and recognise innovation and enterprise. To do this, the mayor also encourages businesses within Bury to nominate themselves for the Kings Award for Enterprise (KAE). This award is split into four categories: innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility. To check eligibility or to nominate your business, follow this link: