Your Mayor
Your Mayor
Councillor Nitish Raut, Mayor of the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield
Councillor Dr Nitish Raut has lived in Sutton Coldfield since 2009 and has proudly called the Royal Town home for almost 17 years. He has raised both of his children in Sutton Coldfield, where they attended Coppice Primary School before progressing to Grammar schools and the elder one is studying at university.
Cllr Dr Raut is passionate about supporting the local community and
contributing to civic life within Sutton Coldfield. Professionally, he is a
Consultant Gynaecologist working within both the NHS and
private sector. He is particularly passionate about improving women’s health
and healthcare standards, and also supports work aimed at helping reduce NHS
waiting lists through his private sector practice.
Alongside his clinical work, Dr Raut undertakes professional and educational
roles with the General Medical Council and the Royal College of Obstetricians
and Gynaecologists. He also holds a Master’s degree in Medical Education.
In his spare time, Cllr Dr Raut enjoys family walks, cinema outings and
spending quality time with his family. He values Sutton Coldfield’s strong
sense of community and feels privileged to serve the Royal Town as Mayor.
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History
Elected in 1886, John Benjamin Stone became the first Mayor of Sutton Coldfield when a charter was granted to establish the first town council in Sutton Coldfield.
At that time, the population was under 8,000 people and Mayor Benjamin Stone represented the community with a handful of councillors.
Have we always had a Mayor since?
The role of Mayor came to an end in 1974 when a local Government reorganisation moved Sutton Coldfield from the County of Warwickshire to the Metropolitan District of Birmingham. Under this reworked Government, Sutton Coldfield became the largest constituency of Birmingham City Council.
The role of Mayor was reinstated in 2016 when the new Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council was formed.
What does the Mayor do?
It’s fair to say that the role of Mayor has diminished throughout the centuries, but the modern Mayor still represents the Authority and its area, connects the present day with the history of our town and acts as a symbol of continuity.
There are two main roles of the modern-day Mayor:
The civic role
As the first citizen of the town, it is the Mayor’s responsibility to promote civic pride and a key part of this is meeting with individuals and communities to honour their contribution to the life of the town.
Sometimes the Mayor may also be a member, patron or ex officio of a number of organisations.
The role of Mayor is distinct from the role of the Councillors and he or she must act in a non-political manner when carrying out the civic role.
The chair of Council
The Mayor chairs meetings of the full Council, making sure each meeting is used as a forum for debate concerning matters which affect the local community.