New mayor pledges support for dementia services

Stoke-on-Trent's new Lord Mayor has pledged to support dementia care in the city during her year in office.

Veteran Labour councillor Joan Bell was elected as mayor during the council's annual meeting on Thursday, and said she wanted to help create support for the condition that is hoped to be "sustainable and manageable in the future".

It was an issue that Bell, who was first elected to the authority 40 years ago, has looked into as chair of the adult social care overview and scrutiny committee.

On becoming mayor, Bell said it had been "humbling" to be chosen for the role.

"The committee I have chaired for the last three years has done some work on dementia in Stoke-on-Trent, and discovered that over 7,000 people living in this city are suffering with the condition, she said.

"With each of these cases it is likely that friends and family are also affected. I'm sure the whole council will support this cause."

She will also support a number of local causes during her tenure.

Councillor Daniela Santoro nominated Bell as Lord Mayor and described her as "beyond reproach", adding that she had given "many years of committed service to the city".

"It's fabulous, I'm really honoured to be Lord Mayor," Bell said.

"It's something that I've thought about for a long time, but other things have come up before. I'm really looking forward to my year in office."

Outgoing Lord Mayor Steve Watkins told the meeting that about £5,300 had been raised for each of his chosen charities - Help for Heroes, National Literacy Trust Stoke and Saltbox Carelink – during his year in office.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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