Annual Council Meeting sees new Mayor and Deputy Mayor elected

At its Annual Council Meeting in Buxton on 8 May, councillors elected fellow councillor Dom Elliott-Starkey to serve as the Mayor for 2025-26. He had been the Deputy Mayor for the past 12 months.

Councillor Elliott-Starkey is 26 years old and one of the youngest people to be selected as Mayor. He represents Dinting Ward and lives in Glossop. His consort will be newly re-elected County Councillor Jean Wharmby, also from Glossop.

He has chosen as his charities, for the year ahead, Reuben's Retreat and Mentell based in Glossop and The Thomas Theyer Foundation based in Buxton. They reflect his interest in supporting children and men's mental health.

The new Mayor has pledged to build relationships with neighbouring districts and in particular to invite their civic heads to High Peak which he called `the best place in Derbyshire`.

The Deputy Mayor will be Councillor Barbara Hastings-Asatourian who represents Whitfield Ward in Glossop. She has had a long career in nursing, midwifery and health visiting.

Current Chairman of Council Business, Councillor Bob McKeown, from Hadfield South Ward, was appointed to serve to the end of the current term of the Council.

Thanks and commemorative badges were given to outgoing Mayor, Councillor Stewart Gardner, from Simmondley Ward and the Mayoress, Melissa Gardner. Councillor Gardner said one of the highlights of his year had been representing High Peak at a Garden Party at Buckingham Place during this week to mark 80 years since VE Day.

Published 9 May 2025