CROWCOMBE and Stogumber councillor Anthony Trollope-Bellew has taken over the reigns at West Somerset Council after being elected as leader of the Conservative-led authority.

Cllr Trollope-Bellew previously served on the council's cabinet and is a former member of Somerset County Council.

Minehead Central councillor Mandy Chilcott was elected as deputy leader.

She will take the cabinet portfolio for resources and central support, while Cllr Trollope-Bellew will be the lead member for performance and corporate support.

Other cabinet members elected at Wednesday's annual meeting of the council were councillors Martin Dewdney, Karen Mills, Chris Morgan, Steven Pugsley, Keith Turner and Dave Westcott.

West Quantock councillor Stuart Dowding was returned as chairman for a second year, with Dulverton and District member Cllr Bruce Heywood as vice-chairman.

Cllr Dowding said: "I will do my best to represent the council at all levels and all the people of West Somerset in the ensuing year.

"I also hope during the year to visit as many small businesses in West Somerset as possible as they are this district's lifeblood."

Cllr Steven Pugsley was appointed as chairman of the planning committee, with Cllr Brenda Maitland-Walker as deputy, while Cllrs Peter Murphy and Richard Lillis will continue as chairman and vice-chairman of scrutiny.

Cllr Lillis will also chair the licensing and audit committees, while Cllr Keith Turner will be chairman of the local development panel.

The full committees are:

Cabinet – Anthony Trollope-Bellew (leader and performance and corporate support), Mandy Chilcott (deputy leader and resources and central support), Martin Dewdney (environment), Karen Mills (regeneration and economic growth), Chris Morgan (energy infrastructure), Steven Pugsley (executive support and democracy), Keith Turner (housing, health and wellbeing), Dave Westcott (community and customer).

Scrutiny – Peter Murphy (chairman), Richard Lillis (vice-chairman), David Archer, Stuart Dowding, Brenda Maitland-Walker, Jean Parbrook, Rollo Clifford, Rosemary Woods, Adrian Behan.

Planning – Steven Pugsley (chairman), Brenda Maitland-Walker (vice-chairman), David Archer, Stuart Dowding, Sue Goss, Andrew Hadley, Bruce Heywood, Chris Morgan, Jean Parbrook, Keith Turner, Rosemary Woods, Ian Aldridge, Tom Hall, Ivor Jones, Peter Murphy.

Licensing – Richard Lillis (chairman), Hugh Davies (vice-chairman), Sue Goss, Bryan Leaker, Jean Parbrook, Roger Thomas, Nick Thwaites, Keith Turner, Dave Westcott, Ian Aldridge, Tom Hall.

Audit – Richard Lillis (chairman), Terry Venner (vice-chairman), David Archer, Nick Thwaites, Roger Thomas, Rosemary Woods, Hugh Davies.

Standards advisory – Peter Murphy, Nick Thwaites and Dave Westcott.

Local development panel – Keith Turner (chairman), Sue Goss (vice-chairman), David Archer, Bruce Heywood, Brenda Maitland-Walker, Jean Parbrook, Ian Aldridge, Terry Venner.

l A minute's silence was held at the start of the meeting in memory of former district councillor Simon Stokes who died earlier this month.

Cllr Chilcott led the tributes to him and said he had been a vibrant and caring character who would be sadly missed.

Simon served three terms on the council as the representative of the then Alcombe West ward.