THE mother of the newly elected district council leader looks set for a high profile role too.

Cllr Fran Smith is favourite to be voted into the freshly created role of Mayor of Taunton.

Her daughter, Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, was chosen as leader of the Somerset West and Taunton Council following the LibDems' stunning election victory earlier this month.

Cllr Smith, who has represented Blackbrook and Holway since 2003, has for the past year served as Deputy Mayor of Taunton Deane and is on the executive of the new administration, with responsibility for housing.

That would normally entitle her to a shoo-in as first citizen the following year, but the position was scrapped after the merger of Taunton Deane Borough and West Somerset Councils.

There were fears Taunton could become one of the country's few county towns without a Mayor until a group of charter trustees was formed to create the new post of Mayor of Taunton.

The first incumbent will be chosen at the trustees' annual meeting at the Deane House, Taunton, on Tuesday.

Nominations will be invited from councillors and it is likely that the LibDems will put Cllr Smith forward.

The meeting will also see a Deputy Mayor elected.

The council will then be asked to transfer council tax collected from the unparished area in and around the town centre to be used to fund the two roles.

The charter trustees will then raise their own precept in future years.