A NEW mayor of Redditch has taken over the chain of office at the annual meeting.
Outgoing mayor Salman Akbar handed over to Coun Juma Begum and revealed that £7,329 was raised during his term for his chosen charity Drop The Knife from Redditch Self Defence and Youth Engagement.
Councillors at the meeting also elected Coun Joe Baker and Coun Sharon Harvey as leader and deputy leader and Coun Joanna Kane as deputy mayor.
Coun Begum said: “I know for me this will be the experience of a lifetime and I promise to serve Redditch with humility and honesty.
“I want to thank everyone who voted, and everyone who put their faith in me as mayor of Redditch. Treating everyone with kindness and respect will help us all go a long way.”
Coun Begum has chosen Disability Support Project as her charity.
She said: “Disability does not always start from birth it can affect any one of us at any age at any given time and I have much respect for anyone who is willing to support people with disabilities.
“Much more needs to be done in this field and DSP is a fantastic local project.”
Visit redditchstandard.co.uk for a full list of the council’s new executive committee.
