A NEW clerk takes over at Launceston Town Council this month.

Christopher Drake, who said he is looking forward to new challenges with what he described as the ‘professional, well run, and forward thinking council’, will take over from outgoing town clerk Rita Skinner.

Ms Skinner retires tomorrow (Friday) after nine years at the council.

Mr Drake, originally from the South East, who moved to Devon in 2013 and relocated this summer to take on the role, has worked in local government since 2004. His previous role was town clerk at Seaton Town Council.

His first experience of Launceston was when attending a joint Devon and Cornwall meeting of the Society of Local Council Clerks some time ago in the town hall. He said his exact words at the time of his visit to Launceston were ‘this is a proper council’.

He added: “It is a professional, well run, forward thinking council. It’s faced a number of challenges from Cornwall unitary authority, which it has handled and dealt with to date. We know there will be more, but if we deal with them with the same sort of attitude I see it as a very positive thing.

“We know Cornwall keep capping services and that’s probably the biggest challenge we will have.”

The town council is part way through discussions with Cornwall Council about the town’s library. There is the potential for the running of the library to be devolved to the town council — the town council has submitted a number of terms on which it would consider taking on the library to the local authority.

Mr Drake added: “We will deal with the library accordingly.”

He said his ‘immediate goal’ is to make sure the town council continues ‘in the direction it’s going — a very positive direction.

“The way I see it is whatever town you are in, people give us their money. It’s not mine or the councillors’ to spend — it’s local people’s. This council has got to be community led. We can only do that if people are telling us what they want to see.

“There’s so much here and I just think, like all things, perhaps people don’t see the good stuff going on, but there’s loads really. It’s just making sure as a council we support that.”

Experiencing Cornwall for the first time — he has relocated to just outside of town with his partner and son — an area he said he doesn’t know ‘at all well’, he has been impressed with the sense of community — especially in Launceston, mentioning Lawrence House Museum as an example. The museum is run by a curator and a dedicated team of volunteers.

Mr Drake added: “Cornwall, I’ve noticed in the first few weeks, is really proud of itself, I can’t put my finger on it, but in a good way.

“Every person I’ve met has shown an interest and got an interest in what’s going on around them. I think that’s a South West thing but I think I have noticed it even more crossing the border — there’s even more of a passion and interest.

“It’s quite overwhelming what people feel — I’ve heard it more than once that people say [when entering Cornwall] they are ‘coming here from England’!”

As well as the challenges facing the town council, there could be further change as 2017 will see town council, as well as Cornwall Council, elections. Mr Drake added: “We might end up with 16 new councillors, it might change the direction of the council.

“The fundamental basics of a well run organisation are in place — really strong staff, we have got the assets, things have been looked after and done properly.”

The retiring town clerk, Rita Skinner, has expressed her pride on the achievements of the town council during her tenure — as well as the refurbishment of the town hall in 2010, other achievements have included the restoration of Launceston Priory Ruins and the creation of the coach park in Westgate Street.

On the refurbishment of the town hall, which she said she was pleased to be involved with, Ms Skinner said: “It has been such a success, well used and enjoyed and I’m so glad people like it.”

Shortly before the refurbishment of the town hall, there were months of work on the roof tiles, and at the same time the town hall clock was reguilded, Ms Skinner adding: “and it has looked fabulous ever since. I am proud of that.”

More recently, restoration work has been undertaken on nearly all of the town council’s paintings. Ms Skinner said: “We have an obligation to preserve the town’s past, and with the paintings in particular.”

Reflecting on nine years at the council, having started in October 2007, Ms Skinner said: “The council has grown enormously. I supported the town council in its efforts when it took on the award-winning Tourist Information Centre.

“We have taken on two public conveniences from Cornwall Council, and I said at the time we were probably the only council in the whole country to open up another set of toilets, at Newport.”

The town council also opened up the allotments and play area at Grammers Park, and acquired Windmill Woods, but Ms Skinner said she is ‘proudest of’ the community cinema project ‘FLIC’, which she said was ‘great to be part of setting it up’, and the Charles Causley Festival.

She added of the council: “We have managed to expand our services, our facilities. We have built up our reserves and managed to spend wisely, I hope, in improving the services we offer.

“I think we have been very fortunate, we have very good working relationships between councillors and staff — there’s mutual respect. We are all working to the same end. I have enjoyed working with every mayor, they have all had their own strengths.

“I do admire anyone who stands and becomes a councillor. It’s hard work and can be rather thankless. They give a lot of their time and energy for nothing.

“I think the fact we have had so many councillors on the council for so long… it’s a very strong community and sense of community, and they are forward thinking, too. They have accepted change an awful lot and that’s very commendable.

“Even now, thinking about the library, and Newport and possible ways of regenerating it — they are not just saying it’s fine as it is.”

Ms Skinner also takes personal pride in representing Cornwall on the National Executive Committee of Local Council Clerks, adding: “I’ve always felt it quite important to get out and about a bit, so people think Launceston is something to be reckoned with, not a small town to be overlooked.”