[Gayle]

The Mayor is selected from the councillors - alternate Labour and Conservative is just an agreement that they've come to over the years. I think each party puts someone forward when it's their turn.

So you have to be elected as a Councillor and then wait for your 'turn' to be Mayor. It's usually someone who's been on the Council for a few years and often someone who has decided to step down at the next election (but not always).