Articles

New Mayor and Youth Mayor Appointed for Gedling Borough

Date Posted: 2:17 PM on Fri, 23 May 2025

Gedling Borough Council has announced the appointment of its new Mayor and Youth Mayor at the annual council meeting held on Wednesday 21 May at the Civic Centre in Arnold.

Councillor Kyle Robinson Payne has been named as the new Mayor of Gedling, succeeding Councillor Ron McCrossen, who completed a successful term as Mayor. During his year in office, Councillor McCrossen raised over £11,000 for his chosen charities, Parkinson’s UK and the Parkinson’s UK Nottingham Branch.

In his address to the chamber, Mayor Robinson Payne thanked Councillor McCrossen for his outstanding service and charitable efforts. He also announced that his chosen charity for the mayoral year will be the Motor Neurone Disease Association and MNDA Nottingham Branch based here in Gedling. The new Mayor’s overarching theme of his year in office will be inclusivity. “It is an absolute honour and a privilege to be given the opportunity to serve this wonderful borough and the people that call it home. We are are so fortunate to live in an area that is so friendly and welcoming to everyone no matter what your background or who you are. I want to send a message that this council is here for everyone and focus on the values and hopes that bring us together”.

The council also welcomed its new Youth Mayor, Lydia Yates, who takes over the role from Stella Clarke. Lydia will represent the voices of young people in Gedling and work alongside the Mayor and council officers on youth-related initiatives throughout the year. “I’m humbled to accept this role as a responsibility and a promise to young people in Gedling. Youth representation is imperative and as youth Mayor I promise to represent young people no matter their background, interests or challenges. Most importantly I will listen because true leadership isn’t about who speaks loudest, it is about making sure that every voice gets heard. And I will do exactly that”.

Councillor Kathryn Fox, Portfolio Holder for Life Chances and Vulnerability, said:
"I'm really looking forward to working with Lydia in her new role as Youth Mayor. She's already shown a real passion for making a difference, and I know she’ll do a fantastic job representing young people across the borough. I also want to extend my thanks to Stella Clarke, who has been a brilliant Youth Mayor over the past year and brought incredible energy and insight to the role."

The appointments mark the start of an exciting new chapter for Gedling Borough, with both mayors set to focus on community engagement and inclusion during their terms in office