Harringay Councillor takes up post as new Mayor of Haringey

From the Haringey Independent:

The new Mayor of Haringey was formally elected on Monday night at a special ceremony at Tottenham Town Hall.

Councillor Gina Adamou, who represents Harringay and spent the last year as Deputy Mayor, was elected to the role to replace Councillor Eddie Griffith, who had completed his term of office.

Monday's ceremony – known as the Mayor Making – would usually be held at Wood Green Civic Centre, but councillors want to show off the refurbishment of the Grade II building that was completed in March.

It will be Cllr Adamou's second spell as Mayor, having previously served from 2006-2007.

She said: “This coming year for me will be about recognising the contribution made by so many volunteers in Haringey.

“I will be focusing especially on carers following my work on the scrutiny review on support to carers, through which I learned we have more than 16,000 unpaid carers in Haringey.

“I will work with other organisations to support and promote carers and volunteers and the important contribution they make to the borough.”

The mother-of-three, who moved to the UK from Cyprus in 1960, aims to raise money for the Carers' Centre in Winkfield Road and for the Black and Ethnic Minority Carers' Group.

She has chosen her son Andreas to be her escort through the Mayoral year.

The position of Mayor is a mostly ceremonial position that holds little power – but it is seen as a ceremonial distinction on a serving councillor that is respected by all parties.

For the next year, Cllr Adamou will devote most of her time to civic functions and will preside over full council meetings, as well as acting as the returning officer at elections.

St Ann's councillor David Browne will serve as Deputy Mayor.