COTSWOLD District Council has appointed Councillor Mark Annett as its new chairman for the municipal year 2015-16, replacing the outgoing chairman Councillor Clive Bennett. Cllr Annett was previously the vice-chairman and that role will now be filled by Cllr Julian Beale.

Cllr Lynden Stowe and Cllr Nick Parsons were re-elected as leader and deputy leader respectively.

Councillor Stowe said: "I believe that our new council chairman and vice chairman will be well suited to their new roles..

"I would also like to thank all the councillors from the previous administration who are no longer serving this time around, and I wish them all the best of luck in the future. In particular, I must highlight the contribution of Cllr Bennett who served as the council chairman with distinction and had also previously proved his worth as an able chairman of the Licensing Committee and Cabinet Member."