Worcester's new mayor appointed

2:19pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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By Jack Blanchard »

WORCESTER has a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor following a highly-charged annual meeting of Worcester City Council.

Despite still being a minority administration after failing to win the extra seat they needed in this month's elections, the city's ruling Conservatives have succeeded in placing their chosen candidates in every key political position at the Guildhall for the coming year.

With each major appointment requiring a vote of the full council on Tuesday night, the Tories on several occasions had to rely on the support of the two independent councillors Mike and Margaret Layland to push their nominations through.

The independents' support for the administration once again drew cat-calls from Labour councillors, who insist a secret deal has been done between the Conservative and Independent groups.

Following Tuesday night's meeting, the new Mayor of Worcester is now Lucy Hodgson - last year's deputy-mayor - who has been a councillor for the past five years and represents Warndon Parish South.

"I am delighted to be your new Mayor of the city," she told the meeting.

"I'm really looking forward to my year in office. There will be much hard work, I know, but it will bring great pleasure. I will chair these meetings firmly but fairly."

The new Deputy Mayor - traditionally the Mayor-in-waiting for the following year - is her fellow Tory Andy Roberts, who fought off a challenge from long-standing Liberal Democrat leader Sue Askin to take the post.

Opposition Labour councillors criticised the Conservatives for not sharing the non-politcal Mayoralty with the other parties, and couldn't resist a dig about Monday's revelations in your Worcester News about the city's secret plans to merge its workforce with Malvern Hills District Council.

"I find it unfair and selfish that the Conservative group have decided to keep the ceremonial role of Mayor for themselves," said Labour's Jo Hodges.

"It's only fair the Mayoralty should be shared between all sides of the chamber.

"But I'm not surprised the group opposite won't share this - they couldn't even share with the elected councillors and residents of Worcester the fact they were drawing up plans to merge our workforce with another council!"

The Conservatives ignored the jibes and voted Simon Geraghty back in as council leader for another year, with his colleague Barry Mackenzie-Williams staying on as deputy.

Former Tory leader Robert Rowden retained his important seat as chair of the planning committee, as did Coun Roberts in his role as licensing chairman.