Bishop’s Stortford’s mayor Cllr Richard Townsend will serve a second successive term as the town’s civic leader.
He was first elected to the role in May 2023 and will hold office until May 2025 following a vote at a meeting on Monday (May 13).
While the primary function of the mayor is to preside over full council meetings, other duties include promoting public involvement in the authority’s activities, attending civic and ceremonial functions and signing legal documents. The “chain” is also an ex-officio member of all the council’s committees.
As he accepted the renewed responsibility, Liberal Democrat Cllr Townsend thanked party colleague Cllr Sarah Copley, who represents Silverleys ward, for being his deputy mayor for the past 12 months and said she had been a great source of support.
Like Cllr Townsend, Cllr Copley is also a member of East Herts Council. She is succeeded as deputy mayor by the Liberal Democrat member for Waterside ward, Cllr Murray White.
He said he was looking forward to meeting the volunteers of the town who make Bishop’s Stortford a great place to live, work and visit.
Cllr Townsend, a widower and father of three, was made first citizen by the Liberal Democrats following last year’s local government elections.
The party took control of the town council, winning 10 of the 17 seats. Labour won five and the Conservatives slumped from 12 to two.
Cllr Townsend, a poet and puppeteer, is the second mayor to serve two successive terms in Bishop’s Stortford. He follows Conservative Allen Burlton, who was mayor in 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Mr Burlton is the only individual to have served four terms since 1952. He was also the civic leader in 2004-2005 and 2011-2012.
Fellow Tories Keith Warnell and Diane Hollebon, who is still an East Herts councillor for Bishop’s Stortford, have been mayor three times and Ralph Gilbert, Colin Woodward, Norma Symonds and Keith Barnes have all worn the chain twice.