THE FIRST ever Green Party member to be elected Mayor of Kirklees has taken office.
Newsome ward councillor Julie Stewart-Turner was elected Mayor of Kirklees at a mayor making ceremony at Huddersfield Town Hall yesterday.
Clr Stewart-Turner was proposed by councillors Andrew Cooper and Christine Stanfield and welcomed into her new role by outgoing Kirklees Mayor Karam Hussain.
Her chosen charity is Supporting People in Crisis in Kirklees – a partnership between the cafe and welcome centre at Huddersfield Methodist Mission as well as Care Dewsbury and Daybreak Dewsbury.
All charities help homeless people find their feet by, for example, giving away food and hygiene packs.
The new mayor’s theme for her 12 months in the role will be promoting local farming and food production.
Mrs Stewart-Turner’s husband Darrel was appointed her consort.
Birstall and Birkenshaw councillor Andrew Palfreeman was elected deputy mayor.
The Conservative member was proposed by councillors David Hall and Liz Smaje and congratulated on his new job by Clr Hussain.
Mr Palfreeman’s wife Elizabeth was appointed his consort.
Mrs Stewart-Turner said: “I’m amazingly pleased and highly honoured to get this role. It’s something I never imagined possible.
“I’m hoping to raise awareness of what’s available locally and I’m hoping to meet the wonderful charities and voluntary groups and the diversity of issues and people.
“There are lots of issues around homelessness and I hope to raise awareness.”
