Posted By Pugwash Ken With the greatest respect to you, the Mayor and your authority, I suggest that there is probably nothing in the day to day duties of the Mayor which requires a formal risk assessment to be carried out. I would go even further and suggest that this is exactly the sort of the thing that the HSE and IOSH had in mind when they launched their campaign yesterday called "Get a life" - see http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2006/c06021.htm "The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) today urged people to focus on real risks – those that cause real harm and suffering – and stop concentrating effort on trivial risks and petty health and safety." I hope I am not causing offence but I am guessing from the use which you make of exclamation marks in your post that you might share my view on this. Any other comments?

Posted By Glyn Atkinson How about an assessment against obesity or gluttony - most functions that our local Mayor attends usually involves eating out - it is a designated food town that wins awards, and the food is excellent - ...and wouldn't you if it were free??? Seriously though for one moment - the Mayor represents the local council or authority, what happens if Joe Bloggs decides to take action against the Mayor because of a decision going against planning, council tax billing - whatever - do public figureheads now need some form of protection at public events? Thoughts? Our female Mayor takes an appointed male consort along to every function - is he the unpaid bodyguard?? (It's her son, who is a parish councillor in his own right.)

Posted By Ron Hunter apologies for my somewhat jumbled previous post!