Slough's new mayor and deputy mayor took office yesterday - behind closed doors for the first time ever and with all present socially distanced.

Councillor Preston Brooker was elected as mayor for 2020 to 2021 at the annual meeting on May 21. He is a Labour member of the council representing Langley Kedermister.

At this week's ceremony he said it was 'a great honour' to become the mayor and pledged to visit as many schools and community groups as possible, virtually at first.

He thanked key organisations in Slough such as Slough CVS, SHOC and Slough Foodbank, who he confirmed would be his main charity for his mayoral year.

The ceremony was live streamed, to allow those who would usually watch the chance to see the councillors make their declarations.

Councillor Haqiq Dar formally took office as the deputy mayor of Slough for 2020 to 2021 after being elected to the position at the same council meeting. He is a Labour councillor representing Wexham Lea.

As part of his address, Councillor Dar paid tribute to his former fellow ward member for Wexham Lea, Shabnum Sadiq, who died in March.

The declarations were signed in the presence of the chief executive of Slough Borough Council Josie Wragg.

She said: “Before the pandemic happened, it would have been unheard of for not only an annual council meeting to be held virtually, but for the signing of the mayoral declarations not to be a part of that meeting.

“However, by law, the declarations have to be signed in person and in the presence of the council’s Proper Officer so this was done today – and because they also have to be made in public, we live streamed the ceremony for the first time ever.

“I wish the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor all the best for what I am sure will be a year in office that will be different from all those who have come before them.”

The ceremony is viewable online at http://civico.net/slough/streams/10197