The borough elected a new mayor for the year after a unanimous nomination and vote last night.

Redbridge elected Cllr Debbie Kaur-Thiara is its new Labour mayor for the year 2018-19.

Cllr Kaur-Thiara was born and raised in Redbridge, has set up her own day care nursery and has a passion for supporting children’s and adult services.

She is a councillor for Aldborough ward and has chosen ELHAP as her mayoral charity for the next year.

ELHAP supports the creation of playgrounds and play-area equipment suitable for disabled and disadvantaged children, young people and adults in North London and Essex.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

All Labour councillors wore red roses to the first full council meeting since the local elections last night.

In her opening speech as mayor, she said: “My focus this year will be to help the wonderful children’s services available in the borough. I am truly honoured and grateful, and I look forward to meeting you all over the next year.”

Outgoing mayor Cllr Linda Huggett bowed out after having completed more than 500 officially engagements for the council as mayor over her year in office.

Cllr Huggett was full of thanks as she announced the grand total raised for her two mayoral charities over the last year.

A total of £80,000 was raised during Cllr Huggett’s time as mayor for Haven House Children’s Hospice and St Francis Hospice – both of which provide respite care to the vulnerable.

Cllr Hugget has been elected the new leader of the Conservative group after Cllr Paul Canal resigned following the local elections.

Cllr Canal proposed a vote of thanks to Cllr Huggett, as well as to the outgoing deputy mayor, Ashley Kissin.

Cllr Canal said: “There are two types of mayor, in my experience. Those who think being mayor makes you important and those who know that the borough is important. Linda Huggett is definitely the second of those types.

He added: “Ashley served this borough with distinction for 12 years. He is a selfless man, he was an excellent mayor in 2014-15 and we all wish him well in the future.”

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Cllr Huggett (in blue) was all smiles as she presented her cheque for nearly £80,000.

Council leader Cllr Jas Athwal added his own thanks to the outgoing mayor and newly elected leader of the Conservative group. He said: “On behalf of the whole council, and I say this from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

He added: “I look forward to working with Cllr Huggett to improve the lives of the residents of this great borough.”

Cllr Huggett received a bouquet of flowers from Cllr Kaur-Thiara, along with an illuminated copy of the council’s vote of thanks and a mayoral badge.

On leaving office, Cllr Huggett said: “It has been a privilege and an honour to be mayor of this great and diverse borough of ours. We are all one big family in Redbridge. I couldn’t have done this without any of you, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Cllr Huggett thanked her husband, daughter and her mayoral officers. She added a special thanks to her dedicated mayoral cadet, Natasha Holder of the 241 Wanstead and Woodford squadron.