THE new chairman of West Somerset Council has said he does not underestimate the challenges facing the authority in the coming year and has pledged to do his utmost to showcase everything the district has to offer.

Sporting patriotic Union Jack socks, West Quantock Conservative member Cllr Stuart Dowding took over the ceremonial chain of office from outgoing chairman Cllr Dog Ross at the authority's annual meeting on Wednesday.

He said West Somerset was about to host Europe's biggest civil engineering project in the shape of Hinkley Point C and he was honoured to be able to take the helm at such an important time.

"We are looking at Hinkley Point C as a showcase for West Somerset," he said.

"We are going to be under intense scrutiny.

"It is a special honour for me to take up this post."

Former chairman and Watchet member Cllr Tony Knight was appointed as deputy chairman, while Carhampton and Withycombe member Cllr Tim Taylor was returned as leader.

Quantock Vale member Cllr Chris Morgan stepped aside from the role of deputy leader, paving the way for Old Cleeve's Cllr Kate Kravis to take up the gauntlet.

Cllr Dowding thanked Cllr Ross for being "a real schoolmaster" while he served as his deputy, praise echoed by both Cllr Taylor and chief executive Adrian Dyer.

"You've given long and loyal service to West Somerset. It has been a very successful year for this council," Cllr Taylor told Cllr Ross.

Mr Dyer congratulated Cllr Dowding and said Cllr Ross had made officers' jobs far easier due to his excellent skills as a chairman in maintaining order in the council chamber.

Cllr Ross was presented with a commemorative past chairman's badge in recognition of his work.

He told the meeting it had been an honour to represent the council over the last year.

"I think it is relevant in the spirit of West Somerset that a Conservative-led council elected an independent as chairman," he said.

"I said at the time that I hoped we would work together - we have had our differences, but we have worked together well."

As well as the chairman and leadership roles, councillors also agreed the membership of the cabinet, shadow cabinet and committees. Full details inside the Free Press.