CONSERVATIVE member Cllr Steven Edgar has been chosen as Cheshire East Council’s deputy mayor for 2019-20.

It means that, provided he is re-elected to serve Shavington in May’s council elections, he will be in line to become the borough’s mayor in 2020-21.

Cllr Edgar pipped Cllr Bernice Walmsley, Middlewich First, to the position in a vote at Thursday’s full council meeting.

Northwich Guardian:

Cllr Edgar had been put forward for the role by Cllr Rachel Bailey, CEC’s Conservative leader, at the meeting in Sandbach Town Hall.

Cllr Bailey also proposed that current deputy mayor Cllr Liz Durham will become mayor in 2019-20 as expected – should the Conservative member keep her seat in Broken Cross and Upton in May.

She said: “The deservedness of Cllr Durham and Cllr Edgar to be elected to these offices is fully acknowledged.”

Cllr Walmsley was put forward by Cllr Arthur Moran, leader of CEC’s independent group.

Mayor-elect Cllr Durham and deputy mayor-elect Cllr Edgar will take on their new roles at CEC’s mayor-making ceremony on May 22.