Liskeard has a new mayor after Councillor Simon Cassidy was unanimously voted into the role by fellow members of the town council.
By his side as deputy mayor will be Councillor Christina Whitty, herself a former mayor, and also unanimously voted in.
Addressing the first full council meeting in person at the Public Hall in more than a year, Cllr Cassidy pledged that openness and transparency would run through every aspect of council business.
To that end, he said that he would look to see a separate chair elected to the finance committee, rather than this chairmanship defaulting to the mayor – and that after an initial meeting of “mayor and chairs” of committees, he would do away with this style of meeting, preferring to discuss ideas with the whole team.
“There are no stupid questions, all voices will be heard, all opinions will matter,” he said.
“We will act as one Council together, supportive of each other.”
Supporting local businesses into economic recovery and action on climate emergency would be very much the immediate focus of the work of the Council, he said, and on the latter, the Town Council needed to “lead by example”.
The new mayor said that his aims for the coming term would be based on investment in people, furthering the economic and environmental development of Liskeard, and reinforcing links both at home and abroad.
He’d like to see closer relationships between the town and its surrounding village councils, and to re-forge the connection between Liskeard and its twin towns of Quimperle and New Liskeard in Canada.
Closer to home, Cllr Cassidy, who’s been a regular figure alongside volunteers jet washing and scrubbing the pavements, said that making sure Liskeard looks nice was also a high priority.
Giving thanks to departing Councillors for their contribution, the mayor paid tribute to husbands, wives, partners and family members who do so much to support the voluntary work of Council members.
He also thanked the Council staff team for their hard work during what had been trying times.
Cllr Cassidy moved to Liskeard just four years ago but says he was made to feel truly welcome and quickly felt part of the town: he was spurred by this to join the Council and support the community he has grown to love.
Bringing his speech to a close, he discovered a prompt he’d written in a pocket, and laughing that he was determined to address the new council in both Cornish and English, delivered a perfect welcome!
“Let’s learn from what has gone before, embrace necessary and progressive change, and make brave strides forward for the good of all to see Liskeard shine.”