Maidenhead & Windsor

The honour of being the Maidenhead Royal Borough's first citizen looks set to go to a councillor representing the Bisham and Cookham ward.

Bisham resident Cllr Margaret Cubley has been named by the Maidenhead council as the Mayor-Elect for 2006/2007 to succeed Cllr Eric Wiles, who comes to the end of his second ‘tour of duty' in May.

Maidenhead Cllr Cubley was elected to the borough in 2003 and she will be in the spotlight from Tuesday May 23 when her fellow councillors will be asked to formally elect her to the office at the council's annual meeting in the Town Hall.

She will be supported throughout her year not only by her husband, Geoffrey – who will become Mayor's Escort – but also by Cllr Mike Scott (Park ward, Windsor), nominated to be the new Deputy Mayor who can draw on his own experience as first citizen in 1993/94.

A retired business studies lecturer, Maidenhead Cllr Cubley is currently chairman of Maidenhead council's rights of way and highway licensing panel and a member of Maidenhead development control panel. She is a former chairman of the Maidenhead rural parishes forum and has served on the overview and scrutiny committee. Cllr Cubley has also flown the council colours as its representative on a number of outside organisations, including the White Waltham Airfield consultative committee and the Local Government Association Rural Commission.

London born but a Berkshire resident for more than 20 years, she is an active member of Bisham Parish Council. Cllr Cubley is also involved in voluntary charity work, is chairman of Cookham and Bisham District CPRE and a member of the Cookham Society.

She has one grown up daughter, Bryony, a consultant surgeon at Basildon Hospital.

Cllr Cubley admitted she was "astonished and thrilled" to find herself facing a year as Maidenhead borough's first citizen.

She said: "When I was elected to represent the residents of Bisham and Cookham in 2003 I never for a moment expected to find myself as the borough's Mayor. It is a tremendous honour to be asked to take on such an important role and I will feel very privileged to represent Maidenhead Royal Borough during what I know will be a busy year of engagements.

"I will be particularly interested to meet the many people who give their time and talents to the voluntary organisations that play such a significant part in the day-to-day life of our communities. Their work, often unsung, makes the Royal Borough a better place for our most needy and vulnerable residents and I am looking forward to learning from them and, through the role of Mayor, increasing awarness about what they do so selflessly and well."

Cllr Scott, as nominee for Deputy Mayor, will take over the position from his fellow Park ward councillor, Cllr Beverley Green.

Elected to the borough in 1983 and a Justice of the Peace since 1985, Cllr Scott has vast council experience, having served on a wide range of council committees and panels. He is currently a member of the access advisory forum, the crime and disorder forum, the licensing panel, the overview and scrutiny committee, the visitor management forum and Windsor development control panel. He also represents the council on a number of outside bodies, including the Thames Valley Police Authority

During his mayoral year Cllr Scott was supported by his late wife, Britta, who brought elements of her native Sweden to the role of Mayoress. Her sudden death in 1999 was a tragic blow to Cllr Scott and their children, Paul and Kristen

Cllr Scott said: "My year as Mayor was one of the highlights of my council career and Britta and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities it brought to get to know our borough. I am delighted that my fellow councillors have agreed to put their trust in me once again and I will do my utmost to serve the borough with the dignity and ethusiasm this important position demands."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead