Local farmer to chair South Hams Council

New chairman sets affordable housing target

Local farmer Bernard Taylor will chair South Hams Council for the next year.

The Conservative councillor, who represents the Charterlands ward which includes Bigbury and Modbury, was unanimously elected at a special meeting of the authority which he joined in 2019.

“I hope I can do the role justice,” he said. “We have some work to do as a team.”

He said priorities for the council include providing affordable homes for local people.

Outgoing chairman Guy Pannell (Lib Dem, South Brent) was praised for his empathy, civility and fairness, and was voted in unanimously to serve as vice-chairman for the coming year.

Council leader Julian Brazil (Lib Dem, Stokenham) made his annual statement as the elections to the top roles were made.

He pointed out that the full council would not meet again until after the general election on Thursday 4 July, in which he plans to stand for election to parliament in the South West Devon seat for the Lib Dems.

“Things will be said in the heat of battle,” he said. “But let’s remember that we are all here to fight for what is best for our communities and the South Hams.”

At the same meeting, community awards were made to the Kingsbridge food bank and the River Yealm’s dementia-friendly parishes. Robin Cox, Peter Davis and Kieron Grylls were named as community champions.

Members also paid tributes to two former councillors who have recently died – Ian Blackler and Judy Westacott, who was five times mayor of Totnes and an honorary freeman of the town.

Mr Blackler served on the council for 12 years and was described by Cllr Pannell as “a true gentleman.”

Ms Westacott had been “a stalwart of Totnes,” he said. She was a member of South Hams Council from 1991 to 2015 and chaired the authority in 1998.

“She was well known in many circles,” said Cllr Pannell. “Not least the Totnes Elizabethan Market, where she would appear splendidly dressed in her Elizabethan costume.

“She always had a ready wit and a twinkle in her eye.”