A RECORD-breaking councillor has been re-elected for his sixth term running a parish council.

Councillor John Forrest of Northallerton Town Council was re-elected as mayor of the town during the annual mayor making ceremony at Northallerton’s town hall on Monday, May 13.

Cllr Forrest, who had previously served as a special constable for more than 30 years, received six nominations, however independent councillor Paul Atkin was the only councillor who refused to enter a vote.

After resuming his post, Cllr Forrest said he would continue to do the best for his council and thanked his team of councillors and council staff for their ‘hard work’ and ‘loyalty’ to the council.

Cllr Forrest has been a town councillor since 2009, and was first elected into his leadership role in May 2013.

Since then, he has been re-elected six times, and has even made ‘local history’ upon achieving a third-term as mayor of the parish council in 2015.

Last month, Cllr Forrest said he was working with North Yorkshire Police to help transform Bullamoor Park in the town.

Cllr Forrest said: “Although there have been some major incidents over the years Sergeant Simon Wilson said they do not receive a great deal of reports and complaints about the park. But we want to look forward and make the park into a nice place to go.

"It is a valuable green space in the town. I would like to see a group from Hambleton District Council, North Yorkshire County Council, the Town Council and the police together with the community push to do something with the park to make it our own.”

Cllr Forrest has overseen plans to ‘improve the reputation’ of the park, and said he was hoping an action plan could soon be drafted up.

During Monday’s council meeting, councillors discussed plans to introduce a capped debit card, which could give councillors a further ‘traceable’ and ‘accountable’ way of spending public money.

Cllr Forest then concluded the meeting with recognition for charities and businesses in the area.

Northallerton Junior Athletics Club, Northallerton Amateur Boxing Club, Northallerton ME Support Group, Northallerton Carnival, The Living Rooms Northallerton, Moorsbus, Northallerton Silver Band, POSCH, Northallerton Amateur Swimming Club, Northallerton Tourist Information Centre and the UCI Championship Committee each received a monetary cheque.

In the evening, Cllr Forrest offered his condolences to the family of 15-year-old Leah Heyes who died from taking ecstasy last weekend.