BUCKFASTLEIGH'S new mayor this week answered criticism after he passed the responsibility of chairing the town council to his deputy.

Cllr Ron Fox, one of nine new faces elected to the town council, accepted the mayoral role but then asked deputy mayor Cllr Pam Barrett to take over last week's meeting.

And Cllr Fox – who has never been a councillor before – admitted he has no experience of chairing meetings.

After the annual town meeting last week – a