Providing a platform for the youth to speak and teaching young people about democracy will be a key focus of Marlow’s mayor as he enters his second term following the official ceremony last night.

Cllr Bob Johnson accepted the mayoral chains for a second year running at Marlow Town Council’s annual meeting yesterday evening (May 10) and Cllr Jocelyn Towns will serve as deputy from 2016 to 2017.

The move was unanimously supported by councillors at a meeting of the town council back in March.

Moving forward, the council plans to set up mock elections in primary schools to give younger children a taste of democracy by getting them to vote for their favourite cake.

And Cllr Johnson will continue to engage with secondary schools and work towards creating a youth council which will provide a platform for young people to have their voice heard in the community.

Following his re-election, Cllr Johnson said: “This is such an incredible honour and a great feeling to be appointed the Mayor of Marlow.

“Thank you councillors for all that support. I thoroughly enjoyed my first year as mayor. What is apparent is the energy, ingenuity, diversity and enthusiasm that is about in Marlow. It is a privilege to be an integral part of it

“I feel strongly that the town council should continue to take a leading role within our community but it is not something I can’t do without the support, hard work and dedication of my fellow councillors.

“By any measure you wish to use Marlow is an economic success. It’s buzzing. That happens because of you because people give their time freely.”

Cllr Suzanne Brown handed over the mayoral chains to Cllr Johnson in May last year at the end of her second term in post.

MTC will also focus on making sure the devolved services of grass cutting and hedge trimming will be carried out effectively and echo the "community pride", as it anticipates taking on more services from the district and county councils.