The Mayor is elected by the Council annually and serves for one year. The Mayor is recognised as the first citizen of the City of Wakefield District and with the Leader and the Cabinet, the Mayor promotes the Council and acts as a focal point for the community. The role of the Mayor of Council is a symbol of the authority, a symbol of an open society and an expression of social cohesion.

In the Council's Constitution the Mayor has the following responsibilities:

• to uphold and promote the purposes of the Constitution, and to interpret the Constitution when necessary;
  
  
• to preside over meetings of the Council so that its business can be carried out efficiently and with regard to the rights of Councillors and the interests of the community;
  
  
• to ensure that the Council meeting is a forum for the debate of matters of concern to the local community and the place at which members who are not on the executive are able to hold the executive to account;
  
  
• to promote public involvement in the Council’s activities;
  
  
• to attend such civic and ceremonial functions as the Council and he/she determines appropriate.