TORRIDGE councillors met recently at the council’s annual meeting to elect the leader and fill other key positions across the council’s decision-making committees — this included the positions of chair and vice chair of the council as well as the chair and vice chairs of committees.

One of the key outcomes from the night was the decision by councillors to unanimously re-elect both Cllr Ken James as leader and also Cllr Claire Hodson as deputy leader.

Other posts decided at full council included the following chair and vice chair positions: Chair of the council – Cllr Doug Bushby; Vice chair of the council – Cllr Peter Christie; Chair community and resources committee – Cllr Bob Hicks; Vice chair community and resources committee – Cllr Anna Dart; Chair plans committee – Cllr Chris Leather; Vice chair plans committee – Cllr Margaret Brown; Chair audit and governance committee – Cllr Philip Hackett; Vice chair audit and governance committee – Cllr Ruth Craigie; Chair internal overview and scrutiny committee – Cllr Pete Watson; Vice chair internal overview and scrutiny committee – Cllr Tony Inch; Chair external overview and scrutiny committee – Cllr Joanne Manley; Vice chair external overview and scrutiny committee – Cllr Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin; Chair licensing committee – Cllr Jamie McKenzie; Vice chair licensing committee – Cllr Richard Wiseman; Chair standards committee – Cllr Nick Laws; Vice chair standards committee – Cllr Judith Gubb.

Re-elected leader of Torridge District Council, Cllr James said: “I would like to thank my fellow councillors for their support in what has been a unique and unprecedented period of time in this council’s history in dealing with the Covid pandemic. However as far as I am concerned, I am just the head of a team of 36 councillors and council officers and our achievements are as a result of this team effort. While there are still many hurdles to overcome, I feel that we are in a good place and together we can continue to move forward.”

Re-elected deputy leader Cllr Hodson said: “I have enjoyed working alongside our leader, other members and officers to support our communities and residents through the recent crisis. While there are still many challenges to be met, I look forward to working with everyone in delivering our vision and strategy for Torridge and to a return to more normal times.”

Cllr Bushby, newly-elected chair said: “I would like to thank my fellow councillors for placing their trust in me and electing me to the office of chair of Torridge District Council. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing chair Councillor David Brenton for his sterling work as our chair through the recent extraordinary times, we all appreciate everything that he achieved. I look forward to working with colleagues on the many exciting projects that we are currently working on.”