Mayor making 2020

Councillor Alan Robins will become the Mayor of Brighton & Hove when he is elected by fellow councillors at the Annual Council Meeting later today.

Councillor Robins remains in the role for this and the next mayoral year (until May 2022) due the current impact of coronavirus on mayoral duties.

The new mayor will be supported during his mayoral years by his partner Val Cawley, who takes the role of Mayoral Consort.

Online engagements

Councillor Alan Robins said: “My aim for this year is to do my utmost to support the recovery process of our city, I imagine that this will be a step by step process likely to take some time. I am therefore grateful that it is proposed that my term as Mayor of Brighton & Hove, and indeed Portslade, will extend to 2021/2022.

“This is going to be very different from other mayoral years as we are in the middle of a pandemic, battling the Covid-19 crisis. 

“My first engagement on 17 May is an Iftar meal to end the daily Ramadan fast, with the Dialogue Society via Zoom.

“The virus is a challenge to everyone and I am touched by the way communities are working together in creative ways to keep everyone’s spirits up.”

Councillor Robins has chosen five mayoral charities: The Sussex Heart Charity, Brighton Fringe, Leo House at Home, Together Co and Off the Fence.

Deputy mayor

Councillor Mary Mears will be elected to the post of Deputy Mayor at today’s meeting and will serve in this role until the next Annual Council Meeting in May 2021.

Thank you to departing mayor

Councillor Alexandra Phillips stands down today after her year in office as mayor.

During her mayoral year, more than 350 engagements took place (the general election in 2019 and the Covid-19 virus impacted on the overall number of engagements). Details of Councillor Phillips activities and charities are in the annual Mayoral Report which will be presented to council later today.

Congratulating Councillor Phillips on her year as Mayor, fellow Green councillor Sue Shanks said: “Alex’s year as Mayor has been a whirlwind. I know she has really enjoyed meeting all the residents groups, and attending a large number of events as do all mayors.

"We have benefitted in the chamber from a fresh approach including poetry in the chamber. Alex has demonstrated a very disciplined approach to chairing council whether from the Town Hall mayoral chair or her front room.”

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