To elect the Chairman of the Council

(Councillor J Stone in the chair.)

(Councillor DB Wilcox declared a pecuniary interest and left the meeting for the duration of this item.)

Councillor AW Johnson proposed and Councillor TM James seconded the nomination of Councillor DB Wilcox.

RESOLVED: That Councillor DB Wilcox be elected Chairman of the Council for the forthcoming municipal year.

(Councillor DB Wilcox in the chair.)

Councillor Wilcox thanked Members for the confidence they had placed in him and assured them that he would seek to uphold the council’s good name and promote the county.

He paid tribute to Councillor Stone, as outgoing Chairman for the last few months of the previous administration, and to former Councillor LO Barnett who had chaired the council from May 2011 until her death in November 2014.

He also welcomed new and returning councillors.

Councillor Stone thanked all councillors for their support and in particular former Councillor R Preece who had served as his Vice-Chairman.