Lib Dem will be town's new Mayor

LIBERAL Democrat Mike Biggin is to be the next Mayor of Warrington.
He will step into the job originally earmarked for his party colleague Ted Finnegan, who lost his seat in last week’s council elections.
Cllr Biggin, (pictured), who is also a member of Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council, where he has been chairman for the last two years, joked today: “It is like a life in chains.
“But it is a massive honour to become Mayor of Warrington and I am thrilled.
“I can’t help but feel sorry for Ted Finnegan, however. He put in all the hard work of preparing to be Mayor, acting as deputy for the last 12 months, but has been deprived of the final honour. It is very sad for him.”
Cllr Biggin joined the borough council in 2006 and last year became executive member for climate change and public protection.
He held on to his Grappenhall and Thelwall seat when other Liberal Democrat councillors were falling to Labour across the borough.
Cllr Biggin has been a parish councillor for nine years and took a leading role in the ill-fated campaign to try and save Grappenhall library from closure.
Since then he has worked hard to maintain some community use for the library building, including a book exchange scheme.
New deputy Mayor will be Labour’s Cllr Steve Wright.
Meanwhile, Labour chiefs at the Town Hall have drawn up their team to run the council following their election victory.
Cllr Terry O’Neill will be leader of the council, with Cllr Mike Hannon as his deputy.
Former council finance chief Cllr Peter Carey will be executive member for finance. Former Mayor Cllr Linda Dirir will take the transport portfolio.
Other members of the executive board will be Cllr Pat Wright (health and adult services), Hitesh Patel (personnel and communication), Kate Hannon (leisure, community and culture), David Keane (environment and public protection), Colin Froggatt (childrens’ services), Russ Bowden (corporate assignments), Paul Bretherton (scrutiny chairman) children’s services; Hans Mundry (Neighbourhoods and communities); Tony Higgins (health and wellbeing); John Kerr Brown, (environment and housing) and John Joyce, economy and resources).
All the appointments are subject to formal confirmation at the next meeting of the council on May 23.