A new Mayor of Southend was elected at today's council meeting.

Councillor John Lamb became the borough’s 99th mayor after stepping down from his role as leader of the council.

Echo:

Taking his seat - Mr Lamb's nomination was unanimously backed today 

He said he hopes to spend the next year promoting music in Southend and giving his support to armed forces veteran organisations.

He said: “I am looking forward to representing the town and it is a really great honour.

"One of the themes of my time as mayor, I want to promote music across Southend as it can help the whole town and we have so many good things in musical world with choirs and so on.

“I also want to help and promote the armed forces veteran organisations because they do so much good for us and deserve our gratitude and support.

“On Wednesday night we had a Royal Marine concert at the Cliffs Pavilion and that was in support of the Southend Lifeboat and the hospital, on top of that we are hoping to make a generous donation to current mayor’s charity – Southend In Sight - for allowing us to hold it the night before through my year began.

“As Mayor my charity will be the Southend Royal Lifeboat Institution, these guys and girl risk their lives every time they go out on the water or the mud.”

He went on to say he would will miss his role as council leader but feels enthusiastic for the all the projects that moved forward during his administration.

Mr Lamb added: “I will miss being involved in so many different projects that we have been ushering in and driving forward for our town,” he continued.

“With the money being invested in the town I will certainly support the council in doing whatever I can to promote Southend, which is the best town and hopefully soon to be city, in the whole of Essex.”

Mr Lamb’s wife has also been made mayoress of the borough.

After signing a declaration to take on the role, he told the council chamber it was a “great honour” to be mayor and he will do his utmost to promote Southend.

Adding: “I am immensely proud to have been elected as your mayor and will do my very best to uphold the fine traditions of the Mayoralty of Southend-on-Sea and be an effective ambassador for the Borough."

Mr Lamb has been a councillor for 20 years and was ward councillor for the Leigh ward until boundaries were altered and he took on the West Leigh ward, which he has represented ever since.

He was made deputy leader of the Conservative Party in 2007 and voted leader of the party and council in 2015.

He replaces Councillor Derek Jarvis who spent much of his time supporting the Southend Blind Welfare Organisation & Southend Community Fund.

Councillor Mark Flewitt will take on the role of deputy mayor for the forthcoming municipal year, replacing Ann Holland.