A Gedling councillor first elected almost 50 years ago has become the borough’s ceremonial mayor for the coming year.
Councillor Peter Barnes (Lab), who represents Daybrook, has been a member of the council since 1974 and was voted in to chair the authority’s full council meetings during the annual general meeting on Wednesday (May 18).
The councillor, who has previously held the mayoral position, has also been chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council when he represented Arnold South on the authority.
The position is largely ceremonial, with Cllr Barnes to run the full council meetings and also attend civic events on behalf of the authority.
He will also raise money for a charity of his choosing while holding the position until May next year.
Speaking after his election on Wednesday, he described the position as an “honour”.
He added: “I’ve been on this council since 1974 and has been a fantastic few years on Gedling Borough Council.
“We’ve got the best record in Nottinghamshire in looking after the people of this borough, and we should all, as members of this council, be very pleased on what we’ve achieved.
“We have achieved so much. It has been tremendous, we’ve also got a very good record looking after people from a disadvantaged point of view and from different nationalities.
“That’s one of our greatest achievements. We’re an international council, we believe in people wherever they come from and we respect their ability to do well – I welcome that.
“Thank you very much for giving me this job.”
Cllr Michael Payne (Lab), deputy leader of the council, proposed Cllr Barnes for the role and described his service as a “real inspiration”.
Cllr Payne, who was recently selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for the next general election, said: “It gives me real pleasure to propose Cllr Peter Barnes to be elected as mayor for the ensuing year.
“He is two things – one of my closest friends on the council and one of the reasons I was elected into public office.
“He’s a real inspiration and has given almost half a century’s service to the residents and communities here in Gedling borough.
“I think there is no finer office to hold to top off, almost, this half a century than the office as the first citizen of our borough.”
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