The council is delighted that Cllr Davenport has taken on this important role in the year 2012/13. Her consorts will be her partner Mr Greg Pemberton and Belinda Jones who is well known in Hebden Royd for her outstanding work with young people.

The deputy Mayor will be Cllr Karl Boggis and his consort will be his partner Felicity Dargan-Bell.

Cllr Davenport caused a stir at the end of last year when she switched from the Liberal Democrats to Labour. At the time, she told the HebWeb: "I want to see more groups that children from low paid families can join in such as boxing, dancing, singing, playing instruments etc. Most groups cost a lot of money that only the privileged can afford. I speak as a minimal wage worker on behalf of other families who desperately want to encourage their children to get involved with activities and keep them away from the increasing drug culture. For a small town, we have lost too many young people in this way. There may be plenty of things young people can do, but only if you can pay the fees."

Cllr Davenport with the winner of the 2012 Service
to the Community Award, Mr. Donald Crossley

On the evening awards were also presented. The first of these awards was the 2012 Service to the Community Award. This was presented by the Mayor to Mr. Donald Crossley for his commitment to educating the people of the Upper Calder Valley and beyond regarding the works of Ted Hughes and freely giving his time to the community.

In the Junior section the 2012 Service to the Community Award was presented to both Carly Gaunt & Katie Pogue for their involvement in organising and being involved with many events in the Calder Valley and their work in developing and delivering the 'Orange Box' in Halifax, a new youth centre for the young people of Calderdale.

The evening drew to a close with music from Les Panards Dansants who performed traditional French and Breton music.