Newly-elected Whitchurch town mayor, Councillor Bev Duffy, has praised her predecessor Cllr Tony Neville.

Cllr Neville stood down from the role after two years as mayor, while Cllr Duffy was elected unopposed at Thursday's annual meeting, which w as followed by May's full town council gathering.

Cllr Duffy added that she was looking forward to the forthcoming year.

"I’m sure I speak on behalf of the council but I would like to say thanks to Tony who is so well respected in the council and the town," she said.

"He’s worked so very hard for the town in his own quiet way and I hope enjoys his time after being mayor."

Cllr Terry O’Neill was elected as deputy mayor; however, Cllrs John Sinnott, Andy Hall and Alan Chesters abstained from the vote.

Cllr Duffy has served as deputy mayor for the previous two years and immediately chaired the meeting, held in the Civic Centre.

It was agreed the structure of the sub-committees within the council will change, with one difference from the original proposal.

Currently, there are seven committees in the council – Finance, Parks and Public Realm, Civic Centre, Events & Entertainment, Heritage, Planning and Personnel.

It has been proposed to move the Civic Centre committee into wider Cultural committee, with a change in the frequency of meetings for committees such as Heritage.

However, Cllr Chesters said: "I’ve not got an objection to change but I don’t think this is justified.

"It sees the removal of an important committee in the Civic Centre but there’s no mention of it or the Hub.

"The Friday market is shown in parks and public but why should it go in that? If we need change then we have to get it right and there’s too many anomalies.

"We shouldn’t rush into it."

There is also a suggestion for the planning committee to be 'virtual' – all comments made online – and then meet when necessary.

Cllr Sinnott echoed Cllr Chesters' concerns but Cllr Hall proposed that the changes be adopted with the Cultural committee renamed 'Civic Centre and Cultural', with responsibility for the markets moved back into it, which was agreed.

Councillors were also appointed to committees for the forthcoming year with decisions on chair and vice-chair roles to be made at relevant meetings.

Meanwhile, Cllr Chesters – as current chair of the finance committee – will work with town clerk Nicola Young to find a budget to replace ropes in the Theatre Hall as per recommendations from town centre manager Zoe Dean.

Miss Dean's advice came from theatre professionals after parts of the stage were deemed unsuitable at a recent production, and said the ropes were necessary to utilise all of the stage.