Bracknell elected its new mayor at last night’s annual meeting, Bracknell Forest Council has announced. 

Cllr Ankur Shiv Bhandari was voted in during the mayor-making part of the meeting, meaning he becomes the first Bracknell mayor of Indian-origin and also the first person of colour to have taken the role. 

Cllr Bhandari, who has represented Binfield with Warfield ward since 2019, will take over from Cllr Ash Merry, who has been Mayor since May 2020. 

The new Mayor said: “I am looking forward to getting out into our local communities and spreading the message of wellbeing, happiness and saying thanks.  

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“I will be particularly focusing on opportunities for young people and businesses in the borough and will try to further the laurels of Bracknell as the ‘Borough of Opportunity.’” 

Ankur, his wife and two children have considered Bracknell home for 17 years.  He is an entrepreneur, running businesses in the fields of Shopper Marketing and Digital-led training. 

The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Ash Merry, said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to be Mayor of this very special Borough for the past two years.  

“I send Ankur, our new Mayor, my best wishes in this, Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Year.”