COUNCILLOR Karen Walker has been elected as the new chairwoman of Bath and North East Somerset Council after receiving unanimous cross-party support to take on the role at the authority’s Annual General Meeting.

Cllr Walker has made history by being the first person in the 29 years since the council was created to hold the position twice – having previously served as Chair from 2018 to 2019.

Cllr Walker, who has represented the village of Peasedown St John as an Independent Councillor since 2015, said: “I feel hugely honoured to have been re-elected to the position of chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council. I’m very much looking forward to the year ahead.

“My theme in office is ‘inclusion for all, living life to the full’.

“Bath and North East Somerset is a fantastic place to live, work and visit - so I’m hoping to spend as much time as possible over the next 12 months highlighting much of the wonderful work our community groups and local charities do to support those in need.”

Cllr Walker will be visiting as many community groups, charities and local businesses as possible over the next year. Any readers who’d like the chairwoman of B&NES Council to visit their organisation can email [email protected]