BUSINESSMAN Nick Messarra was finally handed the mantle of mayor of Minehead on Tuesday - nearly three weeks after his first attempt to accept the civic role had to be abandoned. But although the handover from former mayor Cllr Terry Venner passed without incident, deputy mayor elect Cllr Stephen Dear sparked a hint of controversy when he decided just two days before the official ceremony that he was not prepared to serve with the new man at the top. Previously, the choice of Cllr Messarra as mayor had proved too contentious for some opposition councillors on the Conservative-controlled town council. They made full use of Tory James Scott's unavoidable absence from the first run at staging the annual meeting in May to demonstrate their feelings and delivered the ultimate insult by staying away. The result was that the seven Tories who turned up were not enough to make the number legally required to allow the meeting to go ahead. However, following the second attempt, Cllr Dear issued a slightly tongue-in-cheek explanation to the Free Press for his reason not to take on the deputy mayorship. He said that had the previous meeting gone ahead he would, by now, have been " the wearer of the smaller chain of office". "Two-and-a-half-weeks, however, is a long time in Minehead politics and I decided at the 11th hour to withdraw my name on health grounds. "Not that there is anything wrong with my health - it's just that at my age I am going to try and keep it that way." While making it clear that he wished Cllr Messarra every success and had no doubt that he would achieve much during his term of office, Cllr Dear forecast turbulent times ahead and the certainty that life would not be dull. He said that the decision of the Tory group to commend Cllr Messarra as mayor had had a mixed reception, which had not come as a huge surprise to anyone. "Insofar as our group is capable of deep reflection in a joined up manner, perhaps I can try to explain our reasoning. "Having Cllr Messarra as a colleague can be an exhausting experience; he is rather like a small portable nuclear reactor, capable of an enormous output of energy but liable to scatter radioactively about the place. "We have decided to take a calculated gamble and attempt to plug him into the local grid in the hope that much good may be achieved for Minehead, not forgetting Alcombe of course, and its citizens." Cllr Dear said the new mayor had achieved some notable things for the town and had an enviable knack of extracting sizeable donations from business people for his projects. The rockery at Ellicombe was now a mature masterpiece, while the seats in the town were enjoyed by many, despite the perceived irregularity of their arrival. Following Cllr Dear's decision, the title of deputy mayor remains with Cllr Ann Foxhuntley, who was elected to the post for another year. The resumed annual meeting was attended by just three opposition councillors - Cllrs Ivor Gibbon, Simon Stokes and Martyn Snell - with apologies sent by Cllrs John Malin, Doug Ross and Brian Blackmore, who previously made no secret of his disapproval of the choice of Cllr Messarra. Cllr Snell, who sat outside the town hall at the May meeting and had been nominated as mayor by opposition councillors, was the first to congratulate Cllr Messarra. But he also praised Cllr Venner for setting an example in the office which would be difficult to follow. "We have had our differences and we will continue to do so, but I hope I can still count him as a friend," said Cllr Snell. In his acceptance speech, Cllr Messarra paid tribute to his family - his wife Alison, sons Joshua, 14, and Ellis, ten, and his 12-year-old daughter Isabella attended the mayor-making ceremony - his friends and his council colleagues for their support. He said they knew how enormously proud they were to have such an honour given to him and he pledged that during the coming year he would do his very best to fulfil the huge responsibility which came with the position of mayor. "I love this town, as anybody who knows me will tell you," said Cllr Messarra. "It is my adopted home and I think it is a wonderful place and deserves the very best efforts I and the rest of my colleagues can give. "I think I am right in saying that I am the first person from a Mediterranean culture to become mayor of this town. "Personally, it is a great achievement to have come halfway round the world, having also lived in Africa and France and other European countries, before settling in Minehead and now to be given such a civic responsibility I am honoured and proud." Cllr Messarra, who also paid tribute to Cllr Venner for leading the council forward and helping to turn adversity into success where possible, said he was happy to work with all his colleagues, whatever their political persuasion because political colours did not matter to the man in the street when he wanted something done. "I am a man of the people and I am a voice for our communities. I have the support of the people and it is to them that I have to answer as I carry out my duties as mayor on their behalf. "It is unlikely that I will get through a very demanding year without making a mistake of one sort or another - no matter how hard I try. "I am only human after all and we all make mistakes from time to time. "But the bottom line is that we are not elected by the people just to sit around a table endlessly talking and getting nowhere fast. "We are elected because the people have put their trust in us to get things done." Cllr Messarra said he wanted to work with the business community to create more jobs and a more sustainable economic environment. "I am approachable and I want to be approached." l The issue of two vacancies on the council, which previously added to the discord when the Tories insisted they were filled with co-options of their choice, was also resolved. Cllr Stan Taylor announced that in the spirit of co- operation, the Tories would not be putting forward a nomination for the Alcombe East ward. Lesley Culverhouse, a former Labour councillor for the ward, was co-opted as an Independent and Tory Norman Hercock was co-opted to fill the Minehead South vacancy.