Castle Bromwich Community Website

Councillor Ian Courts became the 57th Mayor of Solihull on Tuesday night, at the annual Mayor Making ceremony at the Council Chamber. He takes over from Councillor Norman Davies, who has become the new Deputy Mayor of Solihull.  As the retiring mayor’s gift, CouncillorDavies donated a Deputy Mayor’s robe to the council, which was created by local seamstresses Faith Saunders and Pauline Robinson.

Born in the Isle of Ely, Cllr Courts attended March Grammar School, beforegaining an Exhibition Scholarship to Trinity Hall Cambridge to study Law. He was articled to a London firm of solicitors in 1971. After qualifying, he left to join the John Laing Group in 1974, initially asa solicitor, but then went into management and stayed with the firm for over 30 years until retirement in 2004.  For several years he was a part-time lecturer and Visiting Fellow at Reading University, retiring in 2009.

Ian began working in the Midlands in the early 1990’s, moved to Balsall Common in 1997. Councillor Courts has been a Councillorf or Dorridge and Hockley Heath ward since 2003.  Whilst a member, he has chaired Overview & Scrutiny and most recently served as Cabinet Member for Economic Development & Regeneration. He has had particular interests in planning, the environment and climate change. Councillor Courts’ personal interests include the natural world and bird watching, history, photography, travelling and experiencing different cultures.  Both he and his wife,Sheila, the new Mayoress of Solihull, are active members of the Meriden Rotary Club and are involved in a number of charitable activities.

The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Courts said: “I feel very privileged to have been given this office and hope that I shall be deemed as worthy as my predecessors in its undertaking. Solihull is very diverse as a borough, it is rich in culture and history, and has a wide range of skills and talents. I hope that, as a public figure, I will be able to raise awareness of the great work that is carried out by the many community groups and charities in Solihull. I want to do whatever I can to promotethe economy of the borough through the recession and heighten residents' environmental concerns. I am also keen to promote the need for prevention, instead of cure, in respect of health issues such as cancer. I also want to thank, most sincerely,the retiring Mayor and Mayoress for the advice and support they have given Sheila and myself, as we take up this role.”