New chair and vice chair of council appointed
Councillors Colin Hay and Shaun Parsons have been appointed as chair and vice chair respectively of Gloucestershire County Council.
At a full council meeting on Wednesday 11th May, both councillors were unanimously voted into their new posts for the 2016/2017 civic year.
Liberal Democrat Cllr Colin Hay steps up from the role of vice-chairman and brings with him a wealth of experience in civic duties, having previously served as Cheltenham's Mayor.
The county councillor for All Saints and Oakley, said: "It is an honour and a privilege to be appointed chair of this council, and I hugely appreciate being given the opportunity by my colleagues.
"There is a lot of importance in the civic function, particularly in the eyes of the public and I am looking forward to working with colleagues within the council as we come into this election year."
Conservative county councillor for South Cerney, Shaun Parsons, becomes the new vice-chairman.
Cllr Parsons said: "It's a tremendous honour to represent this great county of Gloucestershire as vice chair.
"I've lived here nearly all my life, and believe it to be the best county in the country. I look forward to working with the members of the council."
The outgoing chairman, Labour county councillor for Cinderford, Cllr Graham Morgan, reflected on his year in the chair:
He said: "It has been an honour to represent Gloucestershire as chair of the county council, and I have every confidence that Colin Hay will do a great job of it
"A particular highlight was meeting the Queen with other chairs, and it is something that will stick with me."