New Mayor of Calderdale is looking forward to his new role
The new Mayor of Calderdale’s job has taken him all around the world – and he is looking forward to his new role taking him all around the borough.
Councillor Andrew Tagg took on the chain of office at May’s annual meeting of the council, with his wife Jackie supporting him as Mayoress.
The Mayor says he aims to represent all Calderdale’s people to the best of his ability and he is clear about the civic importance of the role.
On being elected on the day by a majority of councillors, the Reform UK councillor for Illingworth and Mixenden announced his first Mayoral charity, Invictus, which supports young people’s mental health.
Invictus has a strong regional and growing presence, while Sight Support Calderdale, which will also benefit from Mayoral fundraising, helps provide vital services for people with sight loss close to home.
As a consultant metallurgical engineer, Coun Tagg’s work has taken him all over the world, covering major continents and ten years living in North America.
Having grown up in Holmfield, he has also lived in Hebden Bridge, and moved back to his north Halifax roots on returning from those years in North America through the 1990s.
He is now scaling down his work commitments, giving him time to take on the important Mayoral role.
Previously a Conservative councillor, he said conversations over the years with Mayors who juggled the civic role with work – including the late Conservative John Hardy, and Labour Mayors Lisa Lambert and Ferman Ali – helped persuade him it can be done.
“It’s a big job.
“My concern was time – I didn’t want to let people down.
“Now I am really, really looking forward to it,” said the Mayor.
He said the civic role is clear, and separate from the party political debates of the council chamber.
“I am very much aware of the civic role.
“To me, as a representative of Calderdale Council, I will do my best to be a good representative for the borough of Calderdale – I don’t care where people are from or what their backgrounds are.
“I will do my best to make everyone feel welcome and support the Calderdale community,” said Coun Tagg.
The Mayor said long experience through school governorships and support for Halifax’s Trinity Sixth Form centre helped him choose Invictus as one of his Mayoral charities.
Young people’s mental health is a concern and exacerbated by social media, he said – a topic which is very current nationally.
The Mayor said he believed social media was damaging children’s mental health and it was something outside of any party politics.
“I do support any Government who tries to limit young people’s access to social media,” he said.
He said he had recently met and talked to the leader of a scout troop in Park ward and it was a good example of getting young people away from computer or phone screens and out into the community.
Community organisations like this were a good way of involving young people from backgrounds who might feel a bit disenfranchised, opportunities to get away from the pressures of their lives, and spending time with each other, he said.
As well has his wife Jackie as Mayoress, Coun Tagg will also be supported by Deputy Mayor Jackie Wilson, who was elected to serve Rastrick ward.
The civic heads are looking forward to seeing as many people from throughout the borough as possible.
“I’m looking forward to all the visits,” said the Mayor.