The Mayor

About the Mayor and Deputy Mayor

The Mayor and his interests

Councillor Nigel Patrick

Nigel was born in 1963 in Barnborough and in 1968, moved to the Holme Valley with his family where they took up farming. He and his older brother Richard attended Shepley Junior School, Kirkburton Middle School and Shelley High School.

In 1977 Nigel's father died suddenly and the two sons were brought up by their mother at the farm high on the hills above New Mill. Both boys went onto higher education and graduated; Nigel in Biology and Richard in English Literature.

Having spent over six months of his degree course in Scotland working for the Forestry Commission, Nigel returned to Edinburgh in 1985 to work for the Forestry Commission as a research worker, going onto further research in the field of tree pathology at The University of Leeds and The University of East Anglia.

He later returned home to the farm, where, after his brother's death in a climbing accident, he settled, taking a position at Leeds City Council in 1991.

Politics never really featured in Nigel's life although looking back at school reports there may be some clues. As the shy boy of the class, he grew in confidence, and developed strong opinions. In 1995, Nigel was asked to stand for The Holme Valley Parish Council.

Convinced he wouldn't be elected he agreed to stand, and served The Parish Council for eight years and was made Chairman in 2002/3. In the same year, Nigel was elected to Kirklees Council as Ward Councillor for Holme Valley South. Since then he has held a number of positions within The Conservative Group and on The Council and was Chairman of Scrutiny from 2011 to 2015.

Nigel is married to Judith and they live in Netherthong. Judith shares Nigel's love of the countryside and together they farm a small flock of Hebridean sheep and two hens.

He said, "It's a great honour to serve Holme Valley South and the communities I grew up around, and I am honoured to be serving the borough as Mayor."

The Mayor and Mayoress of Kirklees, Councillor Nigel Patrick and Judith Patrick

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Mahmood Akhtar and his interests

Councillor Mahmood Akhtar is one of three servicing councillors for the Batley East ward. Together with his wife of 50 years, they have five children and seven grandchildren.

He has always taken an active role in his local community. One of his biggest achievements and most proud moments was in 1996 when working on the planning and development of the Pakistan and Kashmir Welfare Association's community centre.

Proud of his strong, working-class roots, he has always had a passion to improve people's quality of life, supporting communities, empowering local people at grass-roots level helping them achieve social change and social regeneration.

As councillor, Councillor Akhtar sits on the Heavy Woollen Planning Sub-committee, and on the Corporate Scrutiny Panel. He has also been a member of the Children & Young People's Services Committee, and served on the Licensing Committee, WYJ services committee and WYFRA committee.

He has previously served as a governor at Park Road J I & N School, and at Howden Clough Girls (now Batley Girls) High School and at Batley Boys High School.

His main interests are learning about current affairs in British politics alongside keeping his finger on the pulse of South-Asian contemporary events, particularly in Pakistan.

Having lived in Batley all his life he is proud to represent his local area. He is looking forward to meeting new people, creating opportunities with community organisations, local businesses and projects across Kirklees.

The Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress of Kirklees, Councillor Mahmood Akhtar and his wife, Ghulam Hafiza

The Mayor's charity appeal

The Mayor has chosen Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team for his charity appeal, and for him it was an obvious choice - from holidays in the Lakes where the change from a round of drinks would go in the tin on the bar, to his brother's tragic accident where the enormity of the work undertaken by this organisation became a personal reality.

Watch a video of the team discussing the work they do and life as a volunteer for Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team.

Make a donation to the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team

Allowances

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor both receive a monetary allowance. This is paid to cover additional costs incurred whilst undertaking Civic duties, and includes things like clothing, personal grooming, donations at services or to charity and purchases at events, as well as personal hospitality and travel.

Current allowances

2021 - 2022:

• Mayor: £15,289.39
• Deputy: £6,798.60

Invite the Mayor

The Mayor would be delighted to receive invitations to your events, no matter how large or small. Across the year, the Mayor attends lots of different functions including:

• School visits
• Awards presentations
• Business/charity events
• Community events
• Remembrance/commemorative events

Along with the attendance of The Mayor, we can also promote your event on our social media channels.