RUMOURS have been circulating that leader of the council Charles Fairbrass is to don the golden chain of office for his final year as a councillor. The POST has heard that Cllr Fairbrass MBE may be made Mayor of Barking and Dagenham at the Mayor- Making c

RUMOURS have been circulating that leader of the council Charles Fairbrass is to don the golden chain of office for his final year as a councillor.

The POST has heard that Cllr Fairbrass MBE may be made Mayor of Barking and Dagenham at the Mayor- Making ceremony in May.

When asked if the rumours were true Cllr Fairbrass replied with a smile: "It's certainly a possibility."

If he were to take office it would be his second time as Mayor of the borough, he accepted the role once before in 1984 - 1985.

Cllr Fairbrass, who was awarded the MBE in June 2008 in the Queen's birthday honours list, is to step down as a councillor after 38 years of loyal service.

He will not stand in the 2010 elections.

Since 1971 Cllr Fairbrass has represented the Labour party and the community in Heath Ward, Dagenham.

In 1998 he was elected council leader, a position he has held for over a decade now.

Cllr Fairbrass also served the community as deputy leader for eight years and was chairman of the Dagenham Constituency Party and several council committees.

He was given Freedom of the Borough, the highest honour the council can bestow, in 1992.