Former deputy leader of Luton council steps in to new role as mayor
Labour Beech Hill councillor Javed Hussain has been elected the new mayor of Luton, after the post was contested by the Liberal Democrat opposition group.
Councillor Hussain succeeds Labour Northwell councillor Amy Nicholls in the role for the next 12 months, and leaves the borough council’s executive in the process.
He was appointed deputy leader of the local authority after Conservative Poets councillor Aslam Khan left the town’s Labour ruling group to become an Independent in September 2023, before joining the Tories later that month.
Councillor Hussain was also portfolio holder for sustainable development and highways on the executive, a post which he had to relinquish ahead of becoming the town’s mayor.
He was nominated by fellow Labour Beech Hill councillor Rumi Chowdhury, but faced a challenge for the post when Liberal Democrat Sundon Park councillor Clive Mead put forward Liberal Democrat Round Green councillor Gillian Fry as a candidate for the civic role.
A vote was taken, with councillor Nicholls confirming councillor Hussain as her successor for the next municipal year by 26 votes to 17.
Councillor Hussain signed the formal declaration of acceptance of office, with the mayoral investiture service due to be held on Tuesday, June 30 at the Town Hall.
He has previously described himself to the local democracy reporting service as “a passionate and proud Lutonian”, who attended local schools and the university when it was still a polytechnic.
Labour Central councillor Fatima Begum was then elected deputy mayor, after this post was also contested by a Liberal Democrat candidate. Her Labour Central ward colleague councillor Mohammed Yaqub Hanif proposed councillor Begum for the role.
Liberal Democrat Vauxhall councillor Lee Bridgen nominated his Vauxhall ward colleague, Lib Dem councillor Terry Keens. This time the result of the vote was announced by the new mayor councillor Hussain, with councillor Begum receiving 26 votes to 18 for councillor Keens.
Councillor Begum as deputy mayor elect then signed the formal declaration of acceptance of office. She succeeds Labour Saints councillor Shahanara Naser in the role for 2026/27.
Presenting a motion to a full council meeting in January 2024, councillor Begum revealed she has received the “gift of life” twice through transplant operations. Her motion called on LBC to support the work of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s organ donation committee.
The mayor and his deputy will remain in office until next May, when all the seats on the borough council are due to be contested at the local elections.
The largest party on the local authority traditionally chooses a candidate to serve as the next mayor.
Councillor Nicholls steps aside having, aged 30, became the youngest ever first citizen of the borough a year ago.