Veteran councillor to be next Mayor of Brighton and Hove

Veteran Labour councillor Brian Fitch has been chosen to be the next Mayor of Brighton and Hove.

Members of Brighton and Hove City Council voted for Councillor Fitch to be the first citizen for a year from next May.

The Hangleton and Knoll councillor will take over the ceremonial post from Councillor Denise Cobb who will become deputy mayor for the 2014-15 municipal year.

The decision was made at a meeting of the council at Brighton Town Hall today (Thursday 12 December).

Councillor Fitch, 72, said: “I’m really excited. I look forward to promoting some of the ideals that have shaped my life and of course serving the people of the city.”

He was first elected 40 years ago when he won a seat on the old Brighton Borough Council representing Elm Grove. He later represented Hanover then Hollingbury. He also spent ten years as a member of East Sussex County Council.

And the Brighton-born councillor previously served as Mayor of Brighton in 1989-90.

His father Stan and uncle Reg also served as Brighton councillors and his late brother Rod stood as a parliamentary candidate in Brighton Kemptown in 1983.

Councillor Cobb will take over as deputy mayor next May from Councillor Bill Randall.