GOLD or plated - that's the question for Skipton town councillors as they ponder the cost of future additions to the mayoral chains.

Having exhausted its current supply of gold shields bearing the names of mayors to add to the civic chains, and with the now mayor and last year's mayor still to include, the council is considering the bulk purchase of more.

With the cost of nearly £1,000 per shield, a recommendation to not go ahead and revisit once 'budget provisions allow', was put to last week's full meeting of the council.

But, following a suggestion that gold plate would be cheaper and that it was a long tradition that should not be lost, it was agreed that alternatives be presented to the council's budget meeting in December.

Meanwhile, it was agreed to go ahead and order ten past mayor's badges - enamel mementoes given to mayors at the end of their year's service - after members heard the last one in stock had recently been presented to last year's mayor, Cllr Sheila Bentley. Cllr Bentley, and the current mayor, Cllr Claire Nash, have not as yet had their names added to the chains of office.

Councillor Peter Madeley told last week's full meeting at the offices of North Yorkshire Council in Belle Vue Square that he liked the tradition but £10,000 for a 'bit of pomp and bling' was an awful lot of money.

But, Cllr Robert Heseltine said it was an important tradition. "It is very important that elected members who put their heart and soul into the job and become Mayor are recognised."

Cllr Heseltine added one way of paying would be by public subscription and he would happily contribute.

The meeting heard that it was a tradition that the names and dates of all mayors were engraved onto a gold shield before being added to the mayoral chains. In addition to needing more blank shields, the mayor's chains were also in need of repair, and for shields for Cllrs Bentley and Nash to be added.

Specialists, Thomas Fattorini, put the cost of repairs and ten new shields at just under £9,500; and for ten enamel past-mayors badges at £841.

A report to councillors said further repair was needed to the enamel badge which holds the diamonds in the centre of the pendant, and which hangs from the mayor's chains. It was repaired last year, at a cost of just under £300, but has become 'loose' again and in need of repair.