Familiar face elected as Kettering's new mayor

A Kettering councillor has donned the mayoral chains once more after he was elected to serve for the third time.

Cllr Scott Edwards (Con, St Michaels and Wicksteed) held the role of mayor of the borough of Kettering between 2016 and 2018, becoming the first councillor to serve in consecutive years.

And last night (Wednesday) he put the red robes on again - after those on the new Kettering Town Council elected him as the town's mayor at their first ever meeting.

Cllr Edwards, who will be supported by wife and fellow councillor Eve as mayoress, said: "It's a great honour to be able to serve the people of Kettering once more.

"I was the first mayor to serve two consecutive years and so a third is absolutely fantastic.

"It's an amazing opportunity and it really is a fantastic role to hold."

Cllr Edwards added that he will be announcing his chosen charities at a later date.

He was elected despite a protest from Labour's Cllr Maggie Don, who also represents the same ward.

She said: "I would suggest that we do not need a mayor.

"It's unnecessary, it's expensive. The regalia is part of our history which belongs in the museum."

Cllr Keli Watts was elected as deputy mayor.

Former Kettering Borough Council deputy leader Cllr Lloyd Bunday (Con, Ise Lodge) was elected as council leader.

The first ever Kettering Town Council meeting saw a number of formalities passed by the 20 councillors - made up of 11 Conservatives, five Green councillors and four Labour representatives.

The authority, in effect a parish council which will look after services such as allotments and markets, will have a budget of £134,000 which was agreed by the former Kettering Borough Council and equates to a band D precept of £8 per household.

Councillors were asked to note the budget, but the lack of financial allocation for hosting markets was queried.

Cllr Don suggested the budget be deferred so the issue could be looked at.

But leader Cllr Bunday said nothing could be done about it as the precept had already been included as part of council tax bills - with the cash instead having to come from their £15,000 contingency fund.

Cllr Bunday said: "We cannot go back and change the precept that's already been charged to the people of Kettering.

"Going forward I do not think we have any option. We are between a rock and a hard place."

At the meeting councillors also decided to remove the figure of a freed slave from their coat of arms.