OXFORD's Lord Mayor is going to be given an extra six months in the job.

The Lord Mayor is a ceremonial role, currently held by Green councillor Craig Simmons, whose holder hosts events and meets members of the public.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Simmons has not been able to carry out many of his duties in the role, though he is still holding some meetings through Zoom.

The city council was due to hand over the chains of office to incoming Lord Mayor Mark Lygo at its annual meeting on May 20.

But now, both Mr Simmons and Mr Lygo will have extended, 18-month terms of office.

The lord mayor also acts as a chairman at council meetings.

Lib Dem group leader Andrew Gant said he had supported the proposal to give Mr Simmons an extra sixth months in the job, as it meant an experience chairman could still lead council meetings when they are held remotely.

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Mr Simmons said he thought the way other councils had rolled forward their civic rolls for a year might be seen as unfair, as it gave some councillors extra time in office.

Oxfordshire County Council has done this, with its chairman Les Sibley remaining in post until May 2021.

Mr Simmons said: "I felt it was fairer to split the year in two and give six months extra to me and to the incoming Lord Mayor Mark Lygo."

Labour council leader Susan Brown said the council was trying to return to normal business by holding remote meetings from the start of next week.

She added: "It is important that the civic office holders have an opportunity to engage with the public."

By giving both the old lord mayor and new lord mayor longer terms in the job, she said they had more chance to do this.

The city council has three civic offices: lord mayor, deputy lord mayor, and sheriff.

At its annual meeting next week, it will also decide the make up of scrutiny and planning committees.