COUNCILLOR Ross Patterson is the new Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees.
He was officially installed at the Council’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday (May 25), replacing Councillor Kevin Faulks at the end of his mayoral year.
Born in Stockton and Thornaby Hospital in 1961, Councillor Patterson lived in Fairfield until 1986 when he moved to Ingleby Barwick with his wife, Sharon.
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He is passionate about where he lives and has been active in helping to provide local services and facilities for residents in Ingleby Barwick since 1987.
Cllr Patterson worked at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council for 14 years as a Trainee Accountant and an Internal Auditor and is now an Internal Auditor at Veritau Ltd in Northallerton.
He has two daughters – Lucy, an NHS therapist, and Megan, also an Internal Auditor in public service, and an Ingleby Barwick Town Councillor since 2012. In his Mayoral year, Megan will be Councillor Patterson’s consort.
Councillor Patterson has represented Ingleby Barwick West Ward since 2005. He currently sits on the Council’s Audit and Governance Committee and Standards Panel as well as the Local Government Association (LGA) General Assembly.
This year's Deputy Mayor is Councillor Jim Beall who represents the Roseworth Ward.
Cllr Patterson said: “My 17 years as a Ward Councillor have been focussed on providing the residents of Ingleby Barwick, the people who have elected me since 2005 - and who have given me this opportunity to be Mayor - the public services they deserve.
"I will use my Mayoral year to continue working with like-minded people to serve my residents, not just in my ward, but across the whole of the Borough. I am looking forward to being Mayor, attending local events, raising money for charity and gaining a better understanding of the issues across the borough.”
The Mayor’s chosen charity this year is The Historic Counties Trust, which raises awareness of the history, geography, natural history, architecture and traditions of the historic counties of the UK. He also hopes to raise money for the Mayor’s Benevolent Fund.
The retiring Mayor, Cllr Kevin Faulks, raised £25,603.22 for the health and wellbeing charity Sprouts Community Food Charity, and Remembering Rebecca, which supports children and families affected by neurological conditions, with the money split equally between the charities.
Cllr Faulks also raised £1,000 for the Mayor’s Benevolent Fund and £215 for the Red Cross.
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