Torbay selects a new mayor – at last

Brixham Conservative councillor Hannah Stevens is to be the new mayor of Torbay.

The Furzeham with Summercombe councillor takes on her role more than two months late, having had to wait because of bitter wrangling over the role.
The annual mayor-making meeting in May ended in anger, tears and a mass walkout, as the Conservative administration clashed with the Liberal Democrat and independent opposition over who should have the job.
Liberal Democrat Swithin Long (Barton with Watcombe) had expected to take on the post as a formality, but the Conservative group withdrew its earlier support. With the council evenly split and under no overall control, the role of the mayor is vital, along with the casting vote that goes with it.
Months later, and with a ‘must do better’ rebuke from the Local Government Association (LGA) ringing in councillors’ ears, Cllr Stevens has finally been able to don the chain of office.
Cllr Andrew Strang (Con, Furzeham with Summercombe) proposed her appointment and said: “It is only right that having taken the deputy’s position she should be allowed to take on the full job.
“I would like to see us out down the differences of the past six to eight months and get behind her.”
Cllr Long said the appointment of the new mayor should wait until after planned mediation in the wake of the LGA report, and Cllr Darren Cowell (Ind, Shiphay) said it was time to turn down the temperature in the council chamber from ‘beyond 100 degrees’.
Opposition councillors abstained from the vote to make Cllr Stevens the mayor, who said she was ‘honoured’ to represent Torbay.
Cllr Barbara Lewis (Con, Preston) will serve as deputy mayor.