THE new mayor of Slough and his deputy have officially been sworn in.

The Centre in Farnham Road hosted Slough Borough Council’s first face-to-face full council meeting since lockdown gripped the UK in March 2020.

At the annual council meeting on Thursday, May 20, councillor Mohammed Nazir (Lab: Baylis and Stoke) was officially given the mayoral chains from Cllr Preston Brooker (Lab: Langley Kedermister), who was mayor the previous year.

After being elected by his Labour colleagues, Cllr Nazir, who is a father of five children, said it was a ‘deep honour’ to become mayor.

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He said: “I intend to represent the people of Slough on behalf of this council to deliver the best possible future for our residents and I will do everything possible to make sure our residents are proud of Slough.”

Cllr Nazir also thanked frontline workers, the public services’ staff and the council’s employees for working hard to keep services and the public safe during the pandemic.

The new mayor has not chosen a charity as of yet for his term as he wants to see what support Slough residents need.

However, the opposing Conservatives proposed Cllr Brooker remain as mayor throughout the municipal year as he “wasn’t able” to properly fulfil and enjoy his mayorship due to the pandemic.

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Their proposal was defeated with the leader of the council, councillor James Swindlehurst (Lab: Cippenham Green), saying it’s the “luck of the draw” when councillors are made mayor and are dealt with “whatever the world throws at them” during their term.

Taking the reins from Cllr Haqeeq Dar (Wexham Lea), who was not present at the meeting, Cllr Dilbagh S. Parmar (Lab: Cippenham Meadows) was appointed the new deputy mayor.

Cllr Parmar said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be given this opportunity to serve this great town.

“I am looking forward to working closely and in co-operation with the mayor and all of my colleagues in this room.”