West Lancashire’s new Mayor intends to bring the whole borough even closer together in his year as Mayor. Councillor Iain Ashcroft was formally elected at the Borough Council meeting on Wednesday 15 May 2013. He takes over as Mayor from Councillor Paul Greenall. Councillor Ashcroft, who works as a consultant in the power engineering industry, has represented Hesketh-With-Becconsall Ward since 2000. He has been chairman of the Council’s Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee and has served as Portfolio Holder for Street Scene; Planning; and Human Resources on the Cabinet, stepping down from the latter role to become Deputy Mayor. He has also been a member of a number of other committees and represented the Council on the North Western Local Authorities Employers Organisation and the Lancashire Waste Partnership. In addition he has been a member of the West Lancashire ‘Three Tier’ Forum and the Community Safety Partnership.
Away from his Borough Council duties Cllr Ashcroft is a church warden at All Saints Church in Hesketh Bank and Deputy Chairman of Governors at Hesketh-With-Becconsall All Saints CE Primary School. He is also Vice-Chairman of Hesketh Bank Parish Council. His wife Beverley will join him in his civic duties as Mayoress.
Councillor Ashcroft said: “My motto for the mayoral year is ‘One borough supporting ambition in West Lancs’. Although West Lancashire is one borough the area is split into two parliamentary constituencies and I want to bring the whole of West Lancashire even closer together during my time as Mayor. My sister-in-law Councillor Kath Pratt is about to become the Mayoress of Hyndburn, so perhaps we could unite the whole of Lancashire between us.“My wife Beverley and I have gained a lot of experience over the last 12 months through being Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress and we are really looking forward to our new civic posts. Our role is but to serve and we aim to serve the people of West Lancashire. I have met people from a wide variety of backgrounds during my life and I hope to bring some of that life experience to the role. I am particularly looking forward to meeting people who give up their time to do voluntary work, to thank them for their efforts.”
Councillor and Mrs Ashcroft live in Hesketh Bank. They have chosen Queenscourt Hospice and the West Lancashire Stroke Association as the charities they will support over the next 12 months. The new Deputy Mayor will be Councillor Mrs Doreen Stephenson. Her husband John will be her consort.
Councillor Mrs Stephenson has represented Halsall since 2002. Prominent roles she has held include Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee and member of the Licensing and Appeals and Licensing and Gambling Committee. She said: “It will be a great privilege to take on this role and serve the people of West Lancashire.”