The main focus of the meeting was to elect the leader and deputy leader of the Council and chair and vice chair. The agenda also covered chair and vice chair appointments to the council’s key decision making committees.
One of the key outcomes from the night was the decision to re-elect both Councillor Ken James as Leader and Councillor Claire Hodson as Deputy Leader for the fourth year in a row. Councillor Doug Bushby was also re-elected as chair of the Council with Councillor Peter Christie sworn in as vice-chair.
The full list of chair and vice chair positions decided were as follows:
Chair of the Council – Councillor Doug Bushby
Vice Chair of the Council – Councillor Peter Christie
Chair Community and Resources Committee – Councillor Bob Hicks
Vice Chair Community and Resources Committee – Councillor Anna Dart
Chair Plans Committee – Councillor Rosemary Lock
Vice Chair Plans Committee – Councillor Peter Hames
Chair Audit and Governance Committee – Councillor Philip Hackett
Vice Chair Audit and Governance Committee – Councillor Jude Gubb
Chair Internal Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Simon Newton
Vice Chair Internal Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Councillor James Craigie
Chair External Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin
Vice Chair External Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Annie Brenton
Chair Licensing Committee – Councillor Chris Bright
Vice Chair Licensing Committee – Councillor Simon Inch
Chair Standards Committee – Councillor Louis Bach
Vice Chair Standards Committee – Councillor Carl Hawkins
Re-elected leader of Torridge District Council Cllr James said: “I would like to thank my fellow Councillors for once again supporting my election as leader as we continue to work through the issues affecting many of our residents caused by the ongoing cost of living crisis. I look forward to getting to know some of the new councillors a little better but I appreciate the united approach everyone has already shown in supporting both myself, and my deputy Claire, for the position of leader and deputy leader. I hope that we will be able to emerge from the current series of crises affecting day to day life for many, and look forward to delivering some of the bigger projects already in the pipeline such as athe Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre, which received nearly £16m in backing from the government. We’ll also continue to look for other opportunities to grow our economy, and improve job and training prospects across the district.”
Re-elected deputy leader of Torridge District Council Cllr Claire Hodson said: “I am delighted to have been re-elected as deputy leader and appreciate the support shown from my fellow councillors in endorsing me for the role. We’ll continue to collectively do all we can to promote growth and spend the money we have wisely. It will be rewarding to see through many of the projects and initiatives already underway to their conclusion. Hopefully some of the economic headwinds will ease up and allow us a respite from the recent heavy financial burden this has placed on both the council and our residents.”
Councillor Doug Bushby, re-elected chair of Torridge District Council, said: “I would like to express my appreciation to my fellow Councillors for placing their confidence in me and for my re-election as chair of Torridge District Council. There are many new faces in the council and I appreciate their support as well as those that I’ve worked with previously. I look forward to continuing the many exciting projects we are currently working on as councillors.”