Councillor Barry Von Clemens was last night formally elected the new mayor of Gillingham for 2023-2024.

He replaces Councillor Sharon Cullingford who has just finished her first term as the town’s mayor.

At the town’s annual council meeting on Monday night councillors also voted for Councillor Roger Weeks to become the new deputy mayor.

Councillor Von Clemens was first elected as mayor in 2016 and was voted in again in 2019; because of the Covic pandemic he then served two years in the position.

As she stood down Councillor Cullingford told fellow councillors: ‘Thank you all for entrusting me with the job of being your mayor and representing our town on behalf of us all. You’re a fantastic team and I’m honored to have represented you and our town.’