Madeline Russell re-elected Mayor of Biggleswade

Madeline Russell has been re-elected mayor of Biggleswade at the town council's annual statutory meeting.

A former Stratton Grammar School pupil, councillor Russell will serve a third term in office.

She was elected unopposed at Tuesday's (May 4) meeting, and has been a town councillor since February 2012.

Councillor Grant Fage has been reappointed as the town's deputy mayor for a second year.

Both the mayor and deputy read out separate oaths to fulfil their duties "to the best of their ability".

Councillor Russell apologised for the absence of the mayoral chain during the virtual event.

She said: "I'd like to say sorry that the mayoral chain isn't available, which would normally have been put on, at the right point, at the beginning of the meeting.

"It needs some repair and some changes to it, and remains with the firm which is doing that work.

"They've been a bit slow, but I suspect we're not the only local authority which has thought of doing that while there aren't many civic events going on.

"It's still being sorted out, so hopefully the chain will come back to the town council in a glorious new form in due course."

In her announcements, councillor Russell said the survey for the Biggleswade neighbourhood plan has closed, with the town council "pleased to receive 560 responses".

Thanking those who helped produce, manage and publicise the survey, the mayor confirmed that the results are due to be analysed and the council is looking forward to the outcomes of this process.