Councillor Graham Jeal to be next deputy mayor of Grantham

Grantham councillor Graham Jeal will be the next Deputy Mayor of Grantham.

Councillor Jeal was elected as the next deputy mayor by the Charter Trustees this week at a meeting in the Mayor's Parlour in the Guildhall.

Coun Dean Ward and Coun Jeal will take up the roles of town mayor and deputy mayor respectively from May, following the traditional mayor-making ceremony.

This year’s mayor, Councillor Adam Stokes, and deputy, Coun Ward, attended over 100 events between them.

Coun Jeal said: “Obviously, I’m excited. It is an honour and a privilege to take on the role of deputy mayor. There will be a lot of work to support Dean Ward. I’m looking forward to it.”

Coun Jeal continued: “Of course, it will be Dean’s year as mayor and my role is to support him in what he wants to achieve and the charities he chooses to support, while learning what the role of mayor entails. We are looking to increase and promote the town locally and nationally.”

Speaking on the use of the tax-funded precept, Coun Jeal said: “We want to ensure that the Grantham tax-payer gets maximum value from the precept. As a councillor, I have argued that the precept should be lower.

“Myself and the other Charter Trustees monitor the accounts very carefully. I think we are on top of the precept, in terms of managing it and making sure it is used effectively and wisely on promoting the town.”