Lowestoft will continue to have a mayor as new council votes to keep traditional role
New mayor of Lowestoft Ian Graham recieves his robes and chain from outgoing mayor Nick Webb - Credit: Archant
Lowestoft's new council has met for the first time and voted to keep the town's traditional mayor.
New Lowestoft deputy mayor Keith Patience is given his robe and chain from outgoing deputy mayor Mary Rudd - Credit: Archant
Lowestoft Town Council decided at its meeting last night that its chairman should hold the title of 'mayor'.
Waveney District Council's chief executive Stephen Baker described it as 'a very auspicious occasion' - and Ian Graham was voted as the council's chairman.
His first order of business was to lead the new council in a minute of silence in memory of Waveney District Council leader Colin Law, who died unexpectedly at the weekend.
Mr Graham said Mr Law had made the new council possible, and described him as a 'hard-working councillor'.
Keith Patience was then made vice-chairman, and councillors voted to adopt the name Lowestoft Town Council, having been set up as Lowestoft Parish Council.
Being a town council gives the body the option of having a mayor, which Mr Patience said would cost the council money, and described as a 'distraction'.
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However, June Ford, herself a previous mayor, said the role was 'very beneficial to the public'.
Alice Taylor said: 'A mayor is the face of Lowestoft and we need to have our face out there so people know what this town council is about.'
After voting in favour of adopting the roles, outgoing mayor Nick Webb and outgoing deputy mayor Mary Rudd were invited to hand over their mayoral robes and chains.
There are still vacancies for councillors representing Gunton, Pakefield and St Margaret's - and the council last night agreed to co-opt candidates to fill those vacancies.
