New mayor chosen

The new Civic Mayor for Tameside has been chosen for 2020-21.

The Longdendale councillor will take up the chains at the council’s annual meeting on Tuesday 26 May.

She will replace the outgoing mayor, Cllr Leigh Drennan.

Cllr Cooper, who was first elected in 2010, is an assistant executive member within the council deputy leader’s office.

She is also a member of the carbon-reduction panel, the education attainment improvement board, the integrated care and wellbeing scrutiny panel, the overview panel and the south strategic neighbourhood forum, as well as the Greater Manchester Pension Fund’s local board and Werneth Low Country Park’s joint management committee.

Her hobbies include dancing – both ballroom and sequence – which she enjoys with her partner, Mr Dennis Fitzpatrick, who will be supporting her as Mayor’s Consort. She also likes crafting and gardening.

The Civic Mayor has named her chosen charities as Tameside 4 Good, Tameside Young Carers, the Tameside and Glossop Scanner Appeal, and Cascade Baby Bundles which helps families facing hardship.

Cllr Cooper said: “I’m really looking forward to my time as Civic Mayor. I know it will be very busy, but that’s good because I’m sure it will be very rewarding too.

“I’m especially looking forward to working with as many community groups and schools as possible, and to meeting volunteers of all ages.”

The new Deputy Mayor of Tameside is Cllr Mike Glover who represents the Ashton Hurst ward.