Braintree empty image
Listen to this page
Listen
1   2   3
Text size
Protocol *

  
NOTES ON PROTOCOL FOR ORGANISERS OF EVENTS

ATTENDANCE OF THE CHAIRMAN AT FUNCTIONS To ensure that proper arrangements are made for the Chairman's attendance, organisers are asked to take careful note of the following:- Arrival

The organisers are particularly requested to ensure that the Chairman is met upon arrival and looked after appropriately during the visit.

Precedence

The Chairman, as first citizen of the whole of the Braintree District, is entitled to precedence in all places and on all occasions within the District boundaries. Accordingly the Chairman should be given first place at all times and, on formal occasions, should be seated on the immediate right of the Chairman or other person presiding. (The Vice-Chairman, when acting for the Chairman, should be accorded the same precedence.)

The exception to the above is when the Lord Lieutenant or his representative attends the same function. In this instance, the Lord Lieutenant or his representative is entitled to receive first precedence.

Forms of Address

As the question of the correct way to address the Chairman is often raised, it may be helpful to set out the following:-

The Civic Head of the District is known as the Chairman (whether the office is held by a male or a female). In direct speech it is correct to use "Mr Chairman" or "Madam Chairman".

If introducing the Civic Head, it should be as "The Chairman of Braintree District Council, Councillor……….."

If there are any queries concerning procedures or protocol please contact Donna Walton, Civic Officer on 01376 551414 ext. 2011.

Press

The press will not automatically attend every event at which the Chairman is present. If you would like the press to cover your event, it is advisable to contact them direct.

Invitations to the Chairman

 Invitations are dealt with in the order that they are received and as many engagements are accepted many months in advance it is best to plan well ahead.  The Chairman is unlikely to be able to accept an invitation at less than 14 days notice. 

How to send an invitation to the Chairman

To invite the Chairman to an event you should telephone or e-mail the Chairman's office who can check in the diary to see if the Chairman is likely to be available at the particular date and time you have in mind.  The office will be able to take some brief details over the phone or if you prefer you can complete an  online attendance form .  Once the office has your details, the event can then be brought to the Chairman's attention.

How Your Invitation is Dealt With

All invitations received by phone should be followed up with a written request and then all emails, letters or online request forms are shown to the Chairman during a weekly diary meeting. If the Chairman is available to attend your event an acceptance letter or email will be sent.  You will receive a leaflet offering some guidance on the protocol to be observed and a Chairman's Attendance Form which must be completed and returned.  In the event that the Chairman is unable to attend your event but they feel that it is one at which they should be represented, you may be asked if it would be acceptable to you for the Vice Chairman to attend in their place.

What Happens on the Day of Your Event

On the day of your event the Chairman will arrive at the precise time you stated on the Attendance Form.  (This should be just a few minutes before the event starts.)  It is helpful if a parking space can be reserved for the Chairman.  Please give some thought to what you wish to achieve by having the Chairman at your function and what you would like the Chairman to do.  This may perhaps include making a presentation, receiving a cheque, reading  a lesson, making a speech or drawing a raffle.  Please also bear in mind that the Chairman often has several civic engagements following throughout the day and will need to leave your event on time in order to maintain their schedule.

 

Useful Links *
More Information *
For further information, please contact BDC Customer Service Centre at csc@braintree.gov.uk
Essex County Council |
I am Moving - change of address site |
DirectGov - Public services all in one place |
oneplace - See how local public services are performing |
Translate the web site |
Web safety information |