Councillor Karen Walker is the new Chair of Bath and North East Somerset Council. She has spent the last year as Vice-Chair, supporting the outgoing Chair, Councillor Cherry Beath.

Cllr Walker has represented the Peasedown St John ward since 2015, and has been a hard-working campaigner in the village since 2008. As Chair, she has chosen Dorothy House and Forces Online as her official charities for the year. Cllr Walker said: “I’m hugely honoured to have been elected to this position, particularly in the year that we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first women being able to vote here in the UK.

“If you’d told me ten years ago that one day I would not only become a B&NES Councillor, but the Chair of the Council, I wouldn’t have believed it.

“Since I first began to get involved in my own community all those years ago, I’ve passionately believed in ensuring everyone has the same opportunities, and the same chances in life. It’s because of this that my theme for the year will be ‘inclusion for all, living life to the full.’

“Inclusion for all; because all people, regardless of their gender, faith or nationality, are welcome here in B&NES, and living life to the full because people of all ages should feel they can get involved with their local communities and activities.”

Cllr Walker has also served as a parish councillor since 2011, which has included six years as Chair of the Planning Committee, and three years as Vice-Chair of the Council.

The new Vice-Chair of B&NES Council is Cllr Eleanor Jackson, who is representing Westfield since becoming a Councillor in 2007. She said: “Being elected Vice-Chair of B&NES Council is a tremendous honour, though given what previous Chairs have achieved since I was first elected in 2007, it fills me with trepidation as well. I look forward to working with Cllr Walker as Chair of B&NES.”