CHARD Town Council is to look for a new official mace bearer who will be used on civic occasions.

It has been the tradition for a Mayor to invite and elect someone to act as their mace bearer for their term of office.

But the council decided on Monday night that the role should be more of a longer-term position and it will now be advertising for potential applicants.

The Mayor, Cllr Dave Bulmer, who needs to fill the position as soon as possible, said: “It is important that the role is carried out with as much professionalism as possible.”

A previous Mayor, Cllr Cathie Morrison said that the council did once have a “resident mace bearer” who was also the caretaker at the Guildhall.

“But since then it has always been a Mayor’s appointment,” she said. “All of the mace bearers we’ve had have done a sterling job.

“We don’t ask Joe Bloggs off the street to do it. The mace bearer’s role is to support the Mayor on civic occasions. I still think it should be left to the Mayor choosing someone.”

Cllr Jenny Kenton, who served as Mayor from 2013-15, said she felt they needed someone with experience for the job.

The council decided that a working party – made up of Cllrs Dave Bulmer, Jason Baker, Sue Wyatt and Jenny Kenton, plus possible help of a previous mace bearer – look at appointing someone to the role.