New Mayor for South Tyneside

The new Mayor for South Tyneside is Councillor Jay Potts.

Councillor Potts was presented with his Chains of Office by outgoing Mayor, Councillor Fay Cunningham during the annual Mayor Making ceremony at South Shields Town Hall this week.

The new Mayor, Councillor Potts will carry out his civic role with Audrey Huntley, the new Mayoress.

The Mayor said: "It is a real honour and huge privilege to be appointed Mayor of South Tyneside. I'm looking forward to representing our wonderful Borough over the coming year.

"The Mayoress and I are both extremely excited to be able to go out and meet our fantastic communities during what will be a busy year of civic engagements and key events. We will be doing all we can to showcase and highlight all that South Tyneside has to offer."

The Mayor added: "Our outgoing Mayor and Mayoress, Fay and Stella, have been fantastic mentors and I want to thank them both for all their support they have shown us during their year in office."

Councillor Potts has represented the Fellgate and Hedworth ward since July 2021. He has served on the Council's Children Safeguarding and Young People Scrutiny Committee, Education and Skills Scrutiny Committee, Overview and Scrutiny Coordinating and Call-in Committee and is a member of the Jarrow and Boldon Community Area Forum.

The Mayor is extremely proud of his role in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) transport sector and has a love of animals.

He has chosen two charities - the Children's Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) and Guide Dogs for the Blind - as the main beneficiaries of the Mayor's Charity during his year in office.

Councillor Shane Smith was appointed the new Deputy Mayor. His husband Stephen Pearson is the Deputy Mayor's Consort.

Following the Mayor Making ceremony, the meeting of the Annual Full Council was held where the Leader, Councillor Tracey Dixon made the following appointments to her Cabinet for 2025-26:

• Deputy Leader and Housing and Community Safety - Councillor Jane Carter
• Governance, Finance and Corporate Services - Councillor Jim Foreman
• Culture, Leisure and the Visitor Economy - Councillor Judith Taylor
• Economic Growth and Transport -  Councillor Margaret Meling
• Neighbourhoods and Climate Change - Councillor Ernest Gibson
• Children and Families Social Care & Education and Skills - Councillor Liz McHugh
• Adults, Health and Independence - Councillor Ruth Berkley
• Voluntary Sector, Partnerships and Equalities - Councillor Paul Dean.

The Mayor Making ceremony and Annual Full Council meeting can be viewed online at www.southtyneside.gov.uk