New mayor takes office

11:34am Wednesday 21st May 2008

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DUDLEY'S new mayor says scooping the top job is an honour which goes "beyond his expectations."

Hayley Green and Cradley South Cllr Ray Burston was chosen as Dudley Mayor by councillors at their first full meeting since the May 1 council elections.

During the meeting, held at Dudley Council Chamber on Thursday May 15, Amblecote ward member Pat Martin also achieved high office after she was elected as deputy mayor.

Cllr Burston pledged, during his 12-month term, to support charities for ex-service personnel and the Dudley autism group, The No Limits Community Project.

The life-long borough resident also paid tribute to his predecessor, out-going mayor David Stanley, who he described as a "hard act to follow".

After four election night gains for the Conservative Party, the council-lines up for 2008/9 with 43 seats in Tory hands, 26 Labour councillors, two Lib-Dems and one UKIP member.

Cllr David Caunt was elected as council leader and Cllr Anne Millward as his deputy, the council cabinet, also announced at the meeting, remained largely unchanged with few new faces.

Cllr Adrian Turner replaced Pat Martin as cabinet member for personnel, legal and property and Upper Gornal and Woodsetton Cllr David Simms joined the cabinet as a member without portfolio.

Cllr Karen Shakespeare added culture to her role as environment spokesperson after the departure from the council of former leisure and culture boss, Charles Fraser-Macnamara, who resigned in February.