The city will have its first Green mayor following a vote by councillors.
Cllr Stephen, who takes over from long-standing Labour councillor Adrian Gregson who served has served as mayor for what turned out to be a historic 12 months for the country, said it was “fantastic” that the appointment of the first Green mayor showed the city council could work together when it needed to.
“It’s a great honour to be elected mayor of Worcester,” he said at the meeting. “It’s a position that dates back not decades but centuries. Thank you to everyone who has supported me.
“It’s not lost on me that I will be the first Green mayor of Worcester and I think one of the things that is fantastic, and I’m looking at everyone in the room, we have de-politicised the role of mayor and we now take it in turns to allow each of the political groups to have the role of mayor.
“I think that is a great way to show that we are prepared to work together and it is a sign of our maturity and willingness to do cross-party work when we need to do so.”