Thread by @blackburndarwen

At 6pm, our Annual Council begins. It’s the first meeting of the municipal year and one where councillors elect the @BwDMayor for 2019/20. It’s also @BwDDenise ‘s first meeting as chief executive.

Check out our feed at 7pm as we have a visual treat in store to mark today’s occasion.

Council chamber filling up as we await the start of the meeting.

And off we go

We have a new @bwdmayor Councillor Jim Shorrock. Big congratulations Mr Mayor

@CllrAndy and Councillor Phil Riley pay tribute to the incoming Mayor wishing him a very successful year as @BwDMayor.

@bwdmayor is speaking now. He said he’s pleased the last 12 months has seen the election of the borough’s first Asian female councillors, appointment of the Council’s first female chief executive @BwDDenise and now the election of the first borough Mayor in a civil partnership.

@MohammedKhanOBE is now giving a vote of thanks to the outgoing mayor Councillor Pat McFall and her two mayoresses Lucie and Rhona. He says she will be a very hard act to follow and that she achieved a great deal over the year. @BwDMayor @luciehigham

Just a minute to go to our special welcome to the new @BwDMayor