NEWLY elected councillors will be joining the executive at Taunton Deane Council, following the local elections earlier this month.

Cllr John Williams remains as leader of the Council, subject to formal confirmation by full council this evening, (Wednesday, May 20) and he has appointed his executive, the seven councillors who each have specific areas of responsibility – their portfolios.

The executive is the principal decision-making body and is chaired by the leader of the council.

The new executive will comprise.

*Cllr Mark Edwards – Deputy Leader and Business Development, Asset Management and Communications.

*Cllr Roger Habgood - Planning Policy and Transportation.

*Cllr Catherine Herbert – Sports, Parks and Leisure.

*Cllr Jane Warmington – Community Leadership.

*Cllr Terry Beale – Housing Services.

*Cllr Richard Parrish – Corporate Resources.

*Cllr Patrick Berry – Environmental Services.

New to the Executive are Cllrs Habgood, Beale, Parrish and Berry who were elected to the Council on May 7/8.

Cllr Bob Bowrah will chair the Planning Committee, Cllr Kelly Durdan will chair the Licensing Committee and Cllr Vivienne Stock-Williams will chair Corporate Governance.

Cllr Williams said: “I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank those that have agreed to accept what I know is a considerable commitment.

“But equally, it is an enormous opportunity to contribute and continue the good work that has been going on over the last few years by building on the successes and delivering new initiatives. We now have the ability to think beyond the box, we must deliver.”

He also thanked those councillors who had served on the Executive during the last administration, adding: “Those councillors worked exceptionally hard on behalf of Taunton Deane’s community and I would like to thank them for their tremendous contribution.”