Usha Chopra was formally appointed the new Mayor of Barnet at Tuesday's full council meeting.

Councillor Gill Sargeant was welcomed as Deputy Mayor.

Nominating Mrs Chopra, Labour leader Alan Williams said: "Her commitment and enthusiasm are exemplary. She is the first representative of her community and she will represent the whole borough in a new and exciting way."

Mr Williams also praised Mrs Chopra's work as a voluntary social worker.

In thanking the council after she had received the chain of office from retiring mayor Councillor Agnes Slocombe, Mrs Chopra said: "When I moved to Barnet 28 years ago I never imagined that I would be a councillor or indeed ever become mayor. In those days councillors were generally old men who acted as if the council was a gentleman's club. Barnet has changed in the last 28 years and I think changed for the better."

She added that she would not tolerate council meetings that descended into political bickering:

"If we do go down that path then I will act swiftly and harshly."

The council also expressed its thanks to Mrs Slocombe who praised colleagues who had helped her in her role as mayor, especially her Deputy Mayor, Councillor Mel Packer, and Mayoress Paulette Slocombe, her daughter.

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