THE mayoral chains are set to be placed on trusted shoulders in an upcoming ceremony to officially mark the end of outgoing Darlington Mayor Tom Nutt’s term in office.

Husband and wife councillors, Councillor Brian and Councillor Doris Jones, are expected to take the mantle after serving the past year as deputy Mayor and Mayoress.

Darlington Borough Council’s annual council meeting tomorrow evening (Thursday, May 19) will also see several councillors being replaced in their roles as committee members.

The yearly meeting, which will be held in the town hall’s council chambers, will see council leader, Councillor Bill Dixon, oversee the appointment of members to four of the council’s 23 separate committees, sub committees, scrutiny groups, panels and boards.

But the appointment of Cllr Brian Jones to become the town’s Mayor will be a highlight of the meeting and the Sadberge and Middleton St George ward councillor is expected to outline his hopes and aims for Darlington during his term in office.

He will be accompanied by his wife, Councillor Doris Jones, who has served the people of Middleton St George since 1983 and she will assume the role currently held by Mayoress Gill Nutt.

Immediately after Mayor Nutt took the chains in May 2015, the Whinfield ward councillor made his first address to council to state his ambitions for the coming year.

Mayor Nutt realised his goal to see a Eurovision-style song contest being staged at Darlington’s Civic Theatre to encourage schools across the borough to take an interest in the town’s international links.

Speaking during the Euro-spectacular in January, Mayor Nutt said: “There’s been 24 events for me since May 2015, but this has definitely been the best.

“I didn’t know what to expect of this evening, but it’s been a fantastic night that everyone has enjoyed.

“Schoolchildren in Darlington are incredibly talented and it’s clear to see how many hours they’ve put in, as well as their teachers.”

The Mayor had also hoped that Darlington FC would return to the town during his mayoral year following their lengthy exile to Bishop Auckland.

Councillors representing Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats currently serving as members on the Planning Applications Committee, Place Scrutiny Committee, Human Resources Panel and Darlington Planning Forum will also be appointed to replace outgoing members.

A deputy Mayor and Mayoress will also be nominated during the course of the annual meeting that members of the public are welcome to attend.