It was a dull grey day. Totally unremarkable some might say.

Especially for a young lad growing up in the North West.

Except for one thing.

It was the first time I met the mayor of my home town.

I can remember it clearly – the excitement as we lined the route into the building, the anticipation of waiting.

And when he burst into the building some people smiled, others looked a little giddy, one cocky so and so tried to grab the chains dangling around his neck.

As a young person I had no idea who the mayor was.

I had no idea which party he represented or what he stood for.

All I knew is that he was important and represented the town where I had been born.

For that reason I was proud. And as daft as it sounds, it remains one of the most positive memories of growing up.

But memories like this could soon be eradicated from people's minds.

The reason?

Well in the current round of spending cuts planned by Brighton and Hove City Council, the mayor's office is to be cut.

I say cut – I mean decimate.

Currently the local authority spends £122,000 a year on supporting the mayor.

Among their responsibilities are planning more than 700 visits a year, dealing with all associated phone calls and requests and transporting the mayor to sometimes five engagements a day.

The staff also help organise all of the remembrance events in the city, educate youngsters about democracy while ensuring tens of thousands of pounds a year is raised for local charities.

But in the bid to save money, the plan is to cut the current office by nearly £100,000.

The argument goes that everyone has to cut their cloth in these straightened times.

Children’s services, adult support centres and elderly care are also being asked to do their bit.

But are we really in such a dire situation that we have to throw our city's heritage away?

The role of the mayor of Brighton and Hove was created when the two towns were merged in 1997.

But its roots go back more than 150 years.

The first mayor of Brighton was Major John Fawcett who took on the role in 1854.

Hove's first mayor was G B Woodruff in 1898.

And every year, in times of war and peace, these posts have been filled.

For those not clear, this is not some post of Boris proportion where the person in charge has total control over a giant area.

The mayoralty of our city is non-political with the holder of the post given the grand title of “first citizen”.

Some confuse the role as unmeritocratic.

But what it actually does is represent what is great about the city within its boundaries and beyond.

It does not matter who is dressed in the robes, which date from 1855 and were gifted by “some ladies of Brighton”.

Yes, individuals bring their own touches to the role, such as the UK’s first Green mayor who wore shades and sandals. Or current holder Brian Fitch, who is keen to promote peace. But ultimately what matters above all else is the office itself and what it represents.

As a youngster waiting for the mayor’s car, it did not matter who turned up that grey day in the North West.

What mattered was that the place where I was born was recognising the good goings on in our area.

Politicians – I’m sorry to say that very few of those you meet will know your name.

But everyone who sees the mayor’s chains knows that person is important.

And spending just a few minutes in his or her company is enough to give people a boost and – to sound corny – a little warm-feeling inside.

No one says “I met the chairman of the social responsibility and fiscal committee over the weekend” but people love to say that they have met the mayor.

In the current budget proposals, the council makes clear the stripping back of the mayoralty office will not mean the end of the role.

They claim it will just be “revised”.

So, let’s all look forward to a mayor arriving in their casual clothes in the back of a taxi four hours late after they confused next Sunday with a week Sunday.

While we’re at it, let's flog the chains too – I'm sure someone would be delighted to pick up a bargain if they were up on eBay.

Perhaps we can use the money to buy the mayor and mayoress a tandem so we can save on taxi bills.

It will be fun for a year with everyone saying look how cool, groovy and different Brighton and Hove is.

But after that it will just be an embarrassment. The argument for the cuts is that everyone needs to play their part.

But it seems that once again the bean counters are looking for an easy option rather than revamping the whole approach to the way local government is run.

Are we really saying that in a budget of £720 million a paltry £100,000 cannot be found?

Looking at this as a percentage of the total is not a lot.

But £100,000 out of £120,000 is practically everything.

I have said it before and I will say it again.

There must be another way.

What price are we putting on civic pride?

Only a second-rate city has a second-rate mayor. And if these cuts go ahead then that is how Brighton and Hove will appear.

The city we know and love is far from that.