INDEPENDENT Councillor Barry Hunt has been confirmed as the new Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland at the council’s Annual General Meeting.
Cllr Hunt, ward member for Brotton, will wear the civic robes for the first time at a special investiture ceremony taking place at Kirkleatham Hall on Thursday, May 19. He has confirmed he will be supporting Redcar’s Coatham House and Saltburn’s Earthbeat as his designated charities during his term.
Cllr Barry Hunt said: “I am proud as a Redcar lad to have the chance to be Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland and will work hard to improve our town centres throughout the Borough and to raise the profile of tourism, especially in East Cleveland where we have so much to offer which has not already been tapped into. It’s a great honour for me to be Mayor and I will work hard to be a good ambassador for our Borough.”
Cllr Hunt will replace Cllr Brenda Forster as Mayor after her year’s term in office comes to an end.
Elected alongside him as Deputy Mayor is Cllr Chris Abbott. A Liberal Democrat councillor for more than 30 years, Cllr Abbott represents the Newcomen ward on the council and will work alongside Cllr Hunt during his year in office.