Local Government Act 1972

5(1)The mayor of a London borough may appoint a councillor of the borough to be deputy mayor, and the person so appointed shall, unless he resigns or becomes disqualified, hold office until a newly elected mayor becomes entitled to act as mayor (whether or not he continues until that time to be a councillor).E+W

(2)The appointment of a deputy mayor shall be signified to the council in writing and be recorded in the minutes of the council.

(3)The deputy mayor may, if for any reason the mayor is unable to act or the office of mayor is vacant, discharge all functions which the mayor as such might discharge, except that he shall not take the chair at a meeting of the council unless specially appointed by the meeting to do so under paragraph 5 of Schedule 12 below.

(4)A London borough council may pay the deputy mayor such allowance as the council think reasonable for the purpose of enabling him to meet the expenses of his office.