Meet the new mayor of Telford and Wrekin

The meeting, held at the Council Chamber in Southwater One, saw Councillor Ian Preece elected Mayor of the borough for 2024/2025.

Councillor Eileen Callear has been elected Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Arnold England was appointed as Speaker, and Councillor Hilda Rhodes Deputy Speaker.

Councillor Preece is the Labour ward member for Horsehay and Lightmoor. He has been a borough councillor since 2021 and has previously been chair of the council’s Appeals Committee, as well as sitting on other committees including Business and Finance Scrutiny, Licensing, Planning and Standards. Councillor Preece was also the Mayor of Great Dawley for 2023-2024.

On taking on the chains of office, Councillor Preece, said: “It is my absolute honour to be elected as Mayor of the Borough of Telford and Wrekin and would like to thank my predecessor Councillor Arnold England for his service and commitment in the role over the last year. He has set a great example to me whilst I supported him as his Deputy.

“As Mayor, I will have the privilege of representing our borough, and look forward to meeting residents, businesses and community groups over the next twelve months.”

At the meeting, outgoing Mayor Councillor Arnold England thanked the full council and residents of the borough for their support over the last twelve months, and presented a cheque for £5,887.85, raised through his Mayor’s Charity Appeal, to Telford & Wrekin CVS.

The same meeting saw the council’s new Cabinet formally confirmed, having been announced earlier in May following the local elections.