Hednesford Town Council has elected a new mayor through a virtual vote.

Cllr Emma Hunneyball has been elected as the new Mayor of Hednesford at this week’s full council meeting, with former Mayor Cllr Kathryn Downs being voted in as her deputy.

Cllr Hunneyball becomes the first Mayor elected in the town via a virtual meeting, due to the restrictions put in place by the coronavirus.

New mayor Cllr Hunneyball said: “I would like to thank everyone for taking part in the virtual vote this week and it is my intention to live up to the fine examples of our past and previous Mayors.”

As the civic and ceremonial head of the Council, the role of the Mayor is to uphold the democratic values of the Council as a whole and represent the Council at civic and ceremonial functions. Cllr Hunneyball adds: “It is a great honour to be elected as Mayor of Hednesford and I am looking forward to representing our fantastic town to the best of my ability.”

While there will be no Mayor-making ceremony this year, both Cllr Hunneyball and Cllr Downs were ‘sworn in’ to office on 4 May, 2021.

Concluding, Cllr Hunneyball says: “Together, with the local people of Hednesford and all of the councillors present, I hope we can all work together as a team to represent the people of Hednesford and the fantastic opportunities ahead.”

“Hednesford is currently going through a revival and is benefitting from an increased profile with an ambitious vision for the future, it was felt that the role of Mayor was more fitting to the town in the direction it is heading.” 

Hednesford Council is in the process of setting and rolling out an ambitious and community and town-focused agenda, with a monthly farmers and craft market attracting thousands to the town each month, a three-day open air cinema is planned for July which will bring up to 3,000 to the town that weekend and a whole range of exciting new events and initiatives are planned for this year.