Councillor Abdul Amin Labour councillor Abdul Amin will have had one of the longest spells as deputy mayor in the history of Swindon Borough Council by the time it ends next May. Coun Amin took the role after the death of the serving deputy mayor Brian Mattock in March – and he will stay in the job over the next year as mayor Garry Perkins has a second consecutive term as the chairman of the council. Strictly speaking, both appointments have to be voted upon at the full council meeting on Friday – but both parties in the chamber have agreed and the vote is expected to be a formality.
Garry Perkins will stay on as mayor for another year Picture: DAVE COX Garry Perkins is staying on as mayor of Swindon for another year. Councillors have agreed Coun Perkins should have 12 more months as Swindon’s first citizen – partly because his term which started last May was so severely restricted by the Covid-19 pandemic but also because deputy mayor Brian Mattock died in March. Coun Perkins said: “Normally the deputy mayor has a year in post to learn the job, but Brian died and it means there wasn’t someone who’d one that year who could take over. The deputy mayor this year will be Abdul Amin.”
Get ready for polling day Last year was the first year since 2013 when there was no election in Swindon. But to make up for a missed year, there are at least two, and for some, three elections in one go this year. Every ward in Swindon will be electing candidates to Swindon Borough Council this year. It should have been a year off for Chiseldon and Lawn but the recent death of deputy Mayor Brian Mattock has forced a by-election. There are also elections for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Swindon and Wiltshire and there are elections in nine of Swindon’s parish councils - Bishopstone, Blunsdon, Central Swindon North, Covingham, Haydon Wick, Liddington, St Andrews, Wanborough and Nythe, Eldene & Liden.
Plenty of votes to be cast as Swindon elects a new PCC, borough and parish councillors swindonadvertiser.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from swindonadvertiser.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.