EXMOUTH S youngest-ever mayor, Darryl Nicholas, has been shortlisted for the national Young Councillor of the Year award.

EXMOUTH'S youngest-ever mayor, Darryl Nicholas, has been shortlisted for the national Young Councillor of the Year award.

He is in the last five of the Local Government Association award which recognises a councillor who was under 30 when elected and who has contributed significantly to their community.

Darryl, 30, was elected to the town and district council in 2007 and become mayor a year later - he is also EDDC's member champion for Exmouth.

The award ceremony will take place at the on February 4 at the Emirates Stadium in London, and the event will include speakers including the Rt Hon John Denham MP, Caroline Spelman MP and Julia Goldsworthy MP.

With the average age of councillors being 59, the award was set up to recognise that young people often face a particularly difficult task overcoming barriers to get elected.

Cllr Nicholas said: "It is nice to have made it on to a national shortlist of five for this award - though my aim in standing for town and district council was always to work hard to ensure my home town has a bright future."

Since being mayor he has pushed forward high profile projects like the Community Liaison Panel.

Community groups previously suspicious of local government were brought in from the cold and now work closely with the town council for the collective benefit of Exmouth.

He added: "I felt that the council and community needed to work together more closely to achieve real success, and firmly believe we have made great strides with this in recent times, with great credit going to fellow Councillors, community representatives and the incredibly hard working staff of Exmouth Town Council.

"As the largest town in Devon there are real challenges during this recession, but we are facing up to these head on whilst still planning for the future.

"We have large public realm and regeneration projects commencing this year that will support business in the town and improve the Exmouth experience for residents and visitors alike. 2010 is going to be a big year for our town."

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