A council has re-elected its chairman for a third year in a row — and also picked a new vice-chairman.
Southwell Town Council held its annual meeting on Wednesday (May 15), in which councillors voted to appoint members to the authority’s leadership roles and committees.
Martin Stott, who was first elected as a chairman in 2021 and again in 2022, was unanimously re-elected to the role.
It was proposed by Peter Harris and seconded by Karen Roberts.
Martin nominated Peter Harris as vice chairman of the council and Peter Brooker nominated himself, which was seconded by Gina Adams.
“I believe that it is unwise and not in the best interest of the town to have both important positions from the same party,” said Peter Brooker.
Peter Harris was elected as the town’s new vice chairman.
Roger Blaney asked the chairman to put on record “our thanks to Malcolm Brock for his year as vice chairman and especially for stepping up over the past few months for what has been a particularly difficult period for this council, he is very much appreciated”.
Councillors volunteered to join the following committees and sub-committees of the council, planning committee, governance and finance, town environment committee and human resources committee.
Jeremy Berridge and Malcolm Brock were appointed as chairman and vice chairman of the planning committee, Peter Harris and Roger Blaneu for the governance and finance committee, Lyn Harris and Karen Roberts for the town environment committee and Martin Stott was elected as the chairman for the human resources committee.
Councillors were also chosen to represent the council to other organisations and initiatives, as follows:
• Minister School Liaison — Jamie Bostock
• NTU Brackenhurst Liaison representative — Martin Stott
• Safer Neighbourhood Group — Penny Rainbow and Peter Harris
• Sports Forum representative — Jeremy Berridge
• Friends of Southwell Playparks — Karen Roberts
• Friends of Ash Tree Spinney — Lyn Harris
• Southwell Leisure Centre trustees — John Lightwood, Phil Barron and Andrew Wilson
• Easthorpe Common Land Foundation — Martin Stott and Roger Blaney
Andrew Wilson who was elected to be a trustee for the Southwell Leisure Centre is independent to the council.
