Mayor begins fifth year in office

Councillor Steve Kaye has started an unprecedented fifth year as the Mayor of Welshpool.

Normally a position taken up for a couple of years, Cllr Kaye will remain in office until May 2021 after a new statute allowed him to continue without an election, due to Covid-19.

A spokesperson explained last night: “Due to Covid-19 we are instructed by the Welsh Assembly not to hold meetings face to face. It is therefore not possible for us to hold the mayor making ceremony, which is also the annual meeting of the Council.

“Therefore, in line with the new statute, Councillor Steve Kaye will remain as Town Mayor until May 2021, due to no annual meeting being held this year.

“Although we are able to arrange virtual meetings using IT, we are aware of the different levels of IT expertise among the council and in some cases our members have no equipment at all.

“Thus meaning, we have decided not to have any Council meetings for the time being, however, the interim Clerk is meeting with the Mayor on a regular basis and all councillors are receiving updates about the work of the Council, it's staff and Welshpool Community angels on a regular basis.”

Cllr Kaye joined the Town Council in 2008, representing the Gungrog Ward, and was first elected Mayor in 2016.