TEIGNMOUTH'S brand new Town Council held its first meeting recently at Bitton House following the local elections in May.

Cllr Joan Atkins was elected as Mayor with Cllr Cate Williams elected as Deputy Mayor.  

Mayor Atkins expressed her hope for all councillors, both existing and newly elected, finding a positive way of working together towards a common goal of promoting Teignmouth to be the best town that it can be, and to progress the many projects which are on the books to be brought to fruition.

The outgoing Mayor, Cllr Iain Palmer, and Mrs Jackie Palmer were warmly thanked for all their efforts over the last year. 

The Council then got down to the business of establishing committees, both within the Council and on external bodies.  

The full list will be published on the Town Council website with each committee electing a chair at each new  committee meeting.   

The new full Council now comprises: Cllr Joan Atkins (Cons.)  Central Ward - Mayor ; Cllr Cate Williams (LibDem.) Rowdens Ward– Deputy Mayor; Cllr Lilian Chasteau (Lab.)  East Ward; Cllr David Cox (Lib.Dem.) West Ward; Cllr Mike Jackman (Lib.Dem.) - East Ward

Cllr Jackie Jackson (Lab.) – West Ward; Cllr Penny Lloyd (Lib.Dem) – Central Ward; Cllr Sonia Miller (Lib.Dem) – Central Ward; Cllr Chloe Myers (Lib.Dem) – West Ward; Cllr Robert Phipps (Cons.) – East Ward; Cllr Vanda Rudge (Lib.Dem) – West Ward; Cllr Steve Walsh  (Lib.Dem) – West Ward. 

Mayor Atkins has already been busy opening a new café in town, presenting the awards for Teignmouth Art Society’s recent exhibition at the Rugby Club and attending an AGM for the Richard Newton Hall Residents Association.  

These are the first of many interesting events not to mention  plans to attend the town’s regular events such as the Folk Festival and the Shanty Festival.   

Mayor Atkins said ‘It is an honour and a privilege to be Mayor of our town and I am already meeting lots of people and visiting local organisations for this first time and becoming involved in really interesting events later in the year.  

‘I hope that the Council can move forward, and you will see that we can deliver the projects we have been working towards to get Teignmouth looking its best over the next year.’