• the origin of the office of the Mayor dates back to when Mayors had much wider authority and power than they do today
• the role of the Mayor in Bexley is that of a Civic Mayor
• in some councils, elected Mayors are in charge, taking on the role of Leader of the Council
• the importance of the position is widely recognised and is the highest office that Bexley residents, via their elected representatives, can confer on a Member of the Council
• the Mayor represents every section of the community regardless of political persuasion
• the Mayor is the Borough's First Citizen and represents Bexley at over 500 events, both inside and outside the borough, during the year, as well as chairing Council Meetings and the Civic Recognition Panel
• within the borough, the Mayor takes precedence over everyone apart from a member of the Royal Family or the Lord Lieutenant of London

The Coat of Arms

• the coat of arms for the London Borough of Bexley was drawn up by the College of Arms on the amalgamation of the old boroughs of Bexley, Erith and the urban district councils of Crayford, part of Chislehurst and Sidcup in 1965
• the design includes components from the arms of constituent authorities and represents various aspect of borough life, geographically and historically
• the blue wavy lines which are coloured alternatively blue and white symbolise the rivers Thames, Cray and Shuttle which flow through the Borough
• the oak tree is taken from the arms of Bexley and is coloured green with a brown trunk, representing the charter given to the area in 1937
• the cog wheel refers to the industrial side of the borough and is red
• the turreted gateway refers to the borough being the gateway to Kent and the south. The white horse, the emblem of the county of Kent, was common to Bexley, Erith and Crayford. Both are coloured white. The wreath is gold and red
• the red stags with the golden antlers come from the crest of Erith where they were a connection with Lord Eardley of Belvedere House
• the motto on the coat of arms 'Boldly and Rightly' was taken from that adopted by the former authority of Crayford
• the coat of arms may be seen on the Council's buildings, vehicles and publications and may only be reproduced by permission of the Council

The Mace

• 
  the mace is unique in design. It is shaped in the form of a battle axe, reviving the concept of the use of a mace, as a fighting weapon of war
• made of silver and silver gilt, it is 1.2 metres long with the borough coat of arms on each side of the axe
• the head is embossed with the royal coat of arms, representing the royal authority
• its contemporary appearance is appropriate to a new borough in the modern age and is keeping with the times