After the controversial election of 11 independent councillors to St Ives Town Council earlier this month, it was no surprise when one of the new members was crowned Mayor of St Ives.

Cllr Ian Dobson, 57, co-chairman of ACE (Action for the Corn Exchange) has taken up the post, with another independent councillor – Cllr Brian Lutter – as his deputy.

A keen rugby player, bird watcher and local historian, Cllr Dobson has lived in St Ives with wife Jan, now Mayoress of St Ives, and their three children since 1998, and was previously mayor in 2002.

Now back holding the reins, Cllr Dobson says the new council will be looking at residential development, road safety, traffic congestion, preservation of existing bus services with the arrival of the Guided Bus, and environmental improvements to the town.

Cllr Dobson said other challenges include reviewing the previous council's projects and budgets and finalising the design and fit-out requirements of the Corn Exchange restoration project, and working with the town's youth.

>> An exciting breakthrough at Huntingdon Town Council has seen the first Asian mayor elected in the history of the town.
Saeed Akthar, 42, affectionately known as Sid, was elected onto the council just a year ago, and was immediately handed the honour of deputy mayor.

And this year the former St Peter's School pupil was crowned Mayor of Huntingdon through a unanimous vote.

Having moved to Huntingdon in the 1960s, Cllr Akthar lives with wife Tasneem, daughters Sonam, 17, and Farah, 14, and son Ghafar, 16.
Cllr Akthar said: "I hope to promote the town and all the people of Huntingdon to the best of my ability, regardless of race, sex or ethnicity, and hope I can go some way to strengthening the bridges between communities, as well as build new ones."

The charities Cllr Akthar will be supporting are Huntingdonshire Macmillan Nurses, The Dreamdrops Appeal and Huntingdonshire Holidays.
In a bid to raise money for these causes, Cllr Akthar will be organising a Huntingdon Mayor's Ball and Auction, a golf tournament, quiz nights and a concert.

Cllr Akthar added: "As someone who has spent his childhood days growing up near the town centre, then moving towards the Oxmoor and then into Hartford, I can honestly say that I am well travelled and streetwise in Huntingdon.

"Through my eyes, times have moved on in leaps and bounds from what I saw as an ethnic minority child to what I see now – a free, open and very tolerant society."

>> The new Mayor of Ramsey is Cllr Neil Dick and the Deputy Mayor is Cllr Pat Taylor.

>> The new Mayor of Godmanchester is Cllr Graham Wilson and the Deputy Mayor is Cllr Malcolm Cohen.