Lord mayor aims to put children first

Coun Tom Murray will take on the ceremonial role from current incumbent Coun Ann Castle at the annual general meeting of Leeds City Council on Monday.

And he is hoping his time as mayor will help children play a bigger part in communities across the city.

Coun Murray has already set up a project called Leeds Offers Fun For The Young (Loffty), which aims to increase involvement in after-school clubs, holiday activities and other events.

Money raised over the next 12 months will go to Cash For Kids, a charity that supports needy children.

Coun Murray said: “It is a real honour to take on the role of Lord Mayor of Leeds. I want my year in office to be all about having fun and creating fantastic opportunities in our city for young people.

“Through the Loffty project I hope to encourage children to get to know their city and really enjoy all that Leeds has to offer – it is a great place to live and grow up. There is a huge amount going on in Leeds over the next year, and I want to make sure the city’s young people are heavily involved in anything we do and are the face of our city moving forward.”

Coun Murray has represented Leeds’s Garforth & Swillington since 1992.

He and wife Edna have been married for 42 years and have two children and six grandchildren.

Outgoing mayor Coun Castle, meanwhile, has told of her pride at completing a busy 12 months in office. She said: “I could not have asked for more – from meeting the Queen to the successes of the London 2012 Olympics among other exciting events, it was certainly a year to remember.

“I would like to wish Tom all the very best with his year in post.”

The post of Lord Mayor remains ceremonial. Leeds rejected the notion of a political mayor in a referendum last year.