‘Mayor for all’ will unite town

Fulzar Ahmed has given up his paid job of 14 years to devote his entire time to civic duties over the next year.

He will focus on bringing the town’s community together by meeting with as many voluntary organisations, faith groups, businesses and youth groups as possible.

He said: “I want to be a mayor for everybody and give everything to what Keighley does. We live in a diverse community so I want to be involved in every aspect of it.”

Cllr Ahmed is waiting until the official “mayor-making” ceremony on May 31 before revealing which good causes will directly benefit from fundraising during his year of office.

He spoke exclusively to the Keighley News of his plans after a tie-break vote at Keighley Town Council last Thursday to choose who should wear the mayoral chains for the next year.

The casting vote of outgoing Keighley town mayor, Cllr Mohammed Nazam, was needed to break the deadlock in a tied vote to decide between Councillors Fulzar Ahmed and Philip Shaw. They each gained 14 votes.

Cllr Ahmed this week told the Keighley News he would be the first Bangladeshi mayor in Keighley – and possibly in Yorkshire – which he said showed the diversity of Keighley Town Council.

A councillor for Spring Gardens and Utley ward since 2015, Cllr Ahmed was born in Worcester and moved to Keighley at the age of seven.

He was educated at Greenhead High School (now UAK), Craven College and Lincoln University, and for the past 14 years has been at a communication sales manager in Keighley town centre.

He said: “I’ve given up that job to be able give my full commitment to being town mayor. If you want to really make a difference as mayor, you have to give the time and energy.”

Councillor Ahmed said he wanted to engage with all organisations in Keighley and make everything inclusive.

He said: “I’m very much wanting to engage with the young generation and promote their achievements. I’ll be writing to all schools to ask if there’s anything I can do to help them.

“I will attend as many organisations as I can this year. We’re in a time when resources are limited in terms of funding. Voluntary organisations and local charities do a fantastic job, and I want to raise their profile and give them what they need.

“I will also talk with faith leaders, churches and mosques.

“Businesses are part of our community, they invest a lot in our community. I will try to work with them to find out what they can do for Keighley as much as Keighley does for them.”

At last Thursday’s council meeting, (May 17), Cllr Ahmed was put forward for the role of mayor by Cllr Peter Corkindale and seconded by Cllr John Kirby.

Cllr Ahmed said before the vote: “I was elected about three years ago with the sole intention of serving all people, and I want to be a mayor that brings all communities together.”

After being chosen as mayor, he said he “honoured and humbled”, adding: “I will try my best to uphold the dignity of this office. I know I have a challenging year ahead of me but with councillors’ support I know I can overcome those challenges.”

The other mayoral challenger, Cllr Philip Shaw, was proposed by Cllr Kaneez Akthar and seconded by Cllr Anayat Mohammed.

Cllr Akthar said: “Cllr Shaw has the qualities which I feel are required for the coming year. He has already represented other people through his trade union work and I know he would represent the town in the best way possible.”

Cllr Mohammed said: “We’ve had a hard time as a council and the outgoing mayor has sustained a lot of difficulties in taking us through a very turbulent period.

“We need someone with experience of diplomacy and building partnerships to take the council ‘s forward.”

Speaking in support of his nomination, Cllr Shaw said he was aware some councillors were concerned about his position on the Labour party, but he stressed he would be there for everyone, not just his party.

Before stepping down as mayor, Cllr Nazam conceded it had not been an easy year, but said he had enjoyed meeting so many volunteers and organisations which do such good work for Keighley behind the scenes.

Addressing his fellow councillors, he said: “I’ve tried to make the best decisions with the legal advice and information presented to me, and to do so in the interests of the council.

“If I’ve upset anyone in carrying out those decisions I ask their forgiveness.”

The vote for deputy mayor was a less hard-fought contest, with Cllr Peter Corkindale picking up 17 votes to rival contender Cllr Gulfraz Hussain’s nine votes. There was one abstention.