New mayor for Biggleswade says its an honour and privilege to accept the role in the town he was brought up in

Former Conservative Biggleswade South councillor on Central Bedfordshire Council Mark Foster is the town’s new mayor.

Councillor Foster lost his seat on CBC at this month’s local elections, having been a candidate in the new Biggleswade East ward. He also chaired the local authority’s children’s services overview and scrutiny committee.

Councillor Foster replaces ex-town councillor and mayor Grant Fage, who stood down from the town council ahead of the elections and was subsequently elected on to CBC in the Biggleswade East ward.

On his unopposed appointment to the role, councillor Foster told the town council’s annual statutory meeting: “It’s an honour and a privilege to accept the office of mayor of Biggleswade, a town in which I was brought up.

“We’ve got a new council, new members with new experiences, new ideas and an excellent team of officers. It’s important for us to welcome the opportunity that brings. During the next year and in the life of this council, our job is to make the best decisions we can and do the right thing for the residents of this town.

“We can expect further development plans to be brought forward, and how we respond as a council can and will influence how the town changes and the infrastructure to support this. We’re an ambitious local authority with big plans and the council will have to adapt to the changes which come our way.”

Councillor Mark Knight was elected unopposed as deputy town mayor. He has served on the town council since May 2019 and has provided invaluable contributions to the Town Centre Management Committee as deputy chairman from 2020 to 2021 and as chairman from 2021 to 2023.

He said: “I’m honoured that my colleagues have elected me to serve as deputy mayor. As we start a new four-year term following the May 2023 election, this first year is an important time to consider how the town council will improve services and the environment for the benefit of our community. I look forward to working closely with all my colleagues, including the town clerk, and mayor Cllr Mark Foster, to deliver for Biggleswade.”

Cllr Foster also extended a warm welcome to the five newly appointed Biggleswade town councillors, acknowledging that their diverse experiences and fresh ideas will undoubtedly contribute to the development of our community. He also expressed gratitude to the exceptional team of officers who will be working closely with him during his term as mayor.

Cllr Foster commended Cllr Fage for his outstanding service as mayor of Biggleswade. Cllr G Fage’s dedication to attending numerous events and his remarkable achievement in raising £3,243.77 for local charities have left a lasting impact on the community. On behalf of the town council, Cllr Foster extended his best wishes to Cllr G Fage in his new role as a central Bedfordshire councillor.

Cllr Fage said: “After a very enjoyable year, today marks my last day as mayor of Biggleswade. Thank you to all who offered support throughout the year, particularly during big public events such as The Platinum Jubilee and The Queen’s passing - it was an honour to serve at such important points in our country’s history. As the Town Council elects a new mayor, they will have my full backing in moving the council and Biggleswade on to better times ahead!”