Hi everyone,
I’m hoping you can offer some insights into seating protocols for Annual Council/Mayor Making meetings.
We’re facing a space crunch in our council chamber for the upcoming Annual Council. While our political assistants normally sit in the chamber for regular meetings, the addition of the Mayor’s special guests and VIPs (such as the Lord-Lieutenant’s office, High Sheriff, Police, and Fire representatives) means space is incredibly tight.
Our proposed solution is for political assistants to sit in the public gallery. From there, they can still observe everything and communicate with party members via text, which they already do even when they’re in the chamber.
However, one of our political assistants is quite unhappy about this. She’s told us that “all councils she’s spoken to are ‘outraged’” that she’s being asked not to sit in the chamber for this specific meeting, and she needs to be close to her councillors incase they need her. (this is the PA for the opposition, not the party in administration)
Could you please share your council’s protocols for seating political assistants and other non-councillors during your Mayor Making or Annual Council meetings? Any advice on how you manage space and expectations during these events would be greatly appreciated!
Nav