Encouraging residents to join together to build stronger, safer and more successful communities is top of the agenda for new Neath Port Talbot County Borough Mayor Councillor Lella James.
The Sandfields East ward councillor, and Deputy Mayor of 2009-2010, has succeeded Councillor Pam Thomas to become the 15th Mayor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough.
She said: “I find at this moment, that I probably feel more emotional than I have at any time during what has been a long career in local politics.
“It is difficult for me to put into words the tremendous sense of pride I feel upon being elected to this office. I am aware of the history, and of the honour and dignity that is associated with becoming the first citizen of the County Borough.”
She has sat on a number of committees during her time as local member, most recently the policy and resources committee, cabinet scrutiny committee, standards committee and personnel committee.
As well as her duties as a Councillor, she gives a lot of her free time to working with voluntary groups in her community.
The grandmother-of-one said: “I have chosen, as my theme for the coming Civic Year, the Voluntary Sector. It has been my privilege this year as Deputy Mayor to witness the good work of the volunteers in our communities, and the work they do is so diverse. I am talking about those people that teach and train our youngsters from the age of six years to sixteen years to be qualified lifesavers on the beach.
“The St. John’s Ambulance who teach and train the cadets and badgers. The RNLI Lifeboat Crewe and Shore Crewe and the Fund Raising Committee who are constantly working to raise monies needed to purchase equipment and the many people who give hours of their time, coaching youngsters to play football, rugby and many other sport activities.
“These are just a few of the many voluntary organisations who do so much good work in our communities. The list really is endless, and I pay tribute to them all.”
Councillor James has chosen a very poignant cause for her Mayoral Charity.
She said: “I have chosen Neath Port Talbot Cancer Challenge as my main charity. Regrettably, this is a disease that at some stage touches nearly all our lives, and the money I hope to raise during my year of office will go towards the purchase of equipment, to help with the early diagnosis and treatment of various types of cancer for the benefits of patients living in the Neath Port Talbot areas.”
She added: “To have been elected the Mayor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council is a high honour indeed, and I am extremely indebted to my fellow members for their faith in me for bestowing this great honour upon me.”
This year’s deputy mayor will be Councillor Harry Bebell.
