A youth mayor for Stevenage was appointed for the first time alongside the new town mayor last night.

Amy Danaher, a 14-year-old Barnwell School pupil took up the new post at Wednesday’s annual meeting of the borough council after she was nominated by the Stevenage Youth Council.

The role is the first of its kind in Herts created to promote youth issues in the town with an accompanying annual budget of �3,300.

Amy said the main roles of a youth mayor should be representation, communications and voicing young people’s opinions.

“I’ve got lots of ideas that I would like to develop during the year, but more importantly I want to encourage other young people in Stevenage to tell me what they want me to do.”

Council leader Sharon Taylor said the position is fantastic for Stevenage.

“It gives young people in the town an additional voice to get across their concerns and the sorts of things they want to see the council doing.

“Amy will be an ambassador in Stevenage for young people. Young people get a bad reputation, but there are thousands of really fantastic teenagers and children in the town doing some great things. So let’s celebrate them,” she said.

At the same meeting Labour’s John Lloyd was elected town mayor for the coming year.

Outgoing mayor Carol Latif said representing the town has been a great honour.

“I am delighted with the generosity that people have shown over the last year. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the many different experiences that the role presented and I would like to thank everyone for their hospitality,” she said.

Cllr Latif raised �5,500 for her chosen charities - Age Concern Stevenage, Cancer Hair Care, Stevenage Community Trust and Stevenage District Scouts in her year of office.

“This is a fantastic sum to have raised for my chosen charities and I am extremely thankful for the support of Stevenage people,” she said.