SWEEPING changes at Somerset County Council have been made with a new leader, chairman and executive board announced this week

The new Liberal Democrat administration was formally ushered in at the full council meeting with Cllr Cathy Bakewell named as leader and Cllr Robin Bush voted in as chairman.

The meeting was the first official gathering following the General Election, at which the Liberal Democrats were returned to power but with fewer seats.

The Lib Dems secured 29 of the 58 seats, the Conservatives gained 24 and Labour increased its share to five.

Cllr Bakewell said she regretted that the opposition Tory group did not take its four allocated seats on the executive board, but was still optimistic that the council would take a more "consensus view" of operating in the future.

She also stressed that, although the council faced ever-changing legislation and new structures, most people were only interested in matters that affected them.

"People want to know about health, education, safety on their roads, and the real issues that affect them - not structures," she said.

"We promised to invest in schools, libraries and fire stations, to give the priority to children in schools, the care of the elderly and the safety of citizens and to care about the environment amongst other things.

"We kept all of these promises and many more but we recognise that there are many challenges that face the county."

Cllr Bakewell said the effects of the foot and mouth crisis were still prominent and the end of the epidemic was not yet in sight.

She said: "Staff at the county have been working hard over the past few months to both try and limit the spread of the disease and open up the countryside to help boost our rural businesses.

"It has been a difficult balance but we must now concentrate on working with other agencies to develop and deliver the county's action plan to ensue that businesses get the assistance that they need."

Cllr Claire Gordon, former chairman of the council's care and safety board, was chosen as deputy leader while the role of vice-chairman has been filled by Cllr Brian Livings.

Tributes were paid to the outgoing chairman Cllr Humphrey Temperley and the three former group leaders who stood down - Liberal Democrat Cllr Chris Clarke, Conservative Cllr Alan Ham and Labour Cllr Andrew Govier.