Election of new Mayor and Deputy Mayor

Shipston’s new Mayor and Deputy Mayor were elected at the Annual Town Council Meeting on 18th May. The Mayor Making process was somewhat unconventional, being conducted on Zoom, however this important civic event was still able to take place. For example, Councillors voted to receive verbal acceptances of office, with the essential signed paper copies to follow later.

Cllr Sheelagh Saunders was the sole nomination for Mayor and received unanimous support. Dan Scobie, as the outgoing Mayor, then invited the new Mayor to recite the Declaration of Acceptance of Office. Following this he symbolically removed his chains of office, placing them out of shot of his webcam.

Mayor Sheelagh Saunders then addressed the meeting, thanking Dan Scobie for his service as Mayor, praising his frequent willingness to “go above and beyond” and that he had proved to be a “steady hand on the tiller” during the challenges of recent months.

Cllr Ian Cooper was unanimously elected as Deputy Mayor.