TORRIDGE District Council has chosen its new leader.

Cllr Jane Whittaker was elected as the council's new leader at the recent annual meeting. This saw the 20 re-elected and the 16 new members of the council come together to nominate and elect not only a new leader, but also decide on the composition of key committees responsible for conducting council business.

Torridge, for the first time and perhaps uniquely across many councils, now has two women in the top positions within the council, in both Cllr Whittaker's key role as leader and also through Jenny Wallace's role as head of paid service. Cllr James Morrish was elected as deputy leader.

Cllr Whittaker said: 'I have been very lucky over the last few weeks to receive the backing of the electorate to represent the Northam ward for another term and now also to receive the backing of members to represent them and the council in the position of leader.

'It is all the more gratifying to know that I have not only received this backing from people that voted for me at the election and my own party, but from all groups within the council.

'There is much work to be done in the future, not least the delivery of projects begun by the last administration, which will focus on re-shaping services for residents and visitors against a background of reducing grants from Central Government.

'I am confident that we have the right plan and the right team of officers and members in place to deliver on this.

'I want this to be a cohesive council where we all work together for the benefit of Torridge which is why we were all elected as councillors.

'It will certainly be a busy time.'