Cllr Tom Deakin re-elected leader of Taunton Town Council

Cllr Tom Deakin will be the leader of Taunton Town Council for 2024/25 after being re-elected at a full council meeting yesterday (Tuesday, May 21).

Cllr Amber Packer-Hughes, who will succeed Cllr Martin Straus, was elected as deputy leader.

Cllr Amber Packer-Hughes, the new deputy leader, with Cllr Tom Deakin, who has been elected leader of the council for the second time (Image: Cllr Tom Deakin)

Cllr Deakin was elected leader of the council for the first time in May last year as the authority got ready to have its own council for the first time in half a century.

After yesterday's election, he said: "It is an honour and privilege to have been unanimously elected leader of Taunton Town Council for another year by my fellow councillors.

"We have achieved so much in the past year and will be able to deliver so much more for our community in the coming twelve months.

"I am delighted to have Cllr Amber Packer-Hughes (Vivary Ward Taunton Town Councillors) as my deputy and can’t wait to work with all councillors and staff as we continue to positively shape Taunton’s future."

Cllr Amber Packer-Hughes, voted in as deputy leader, said: “I feel so honoured to have been elected as deputy leader of Taunton Town Council, supporting Councillor Deakin in his second year as leader.

"I stood as a councillor because I feel passionate about making positive changes for Taunton.

"As deputy leader and chair of both the Personnel and Grants committees, I have the opportunity to harness this passion for both the residents of my ward and the wider community."

Yesterday’s election came after the one that named a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Cllr Vanessa Garside was elected Mayor of Taunton at a ceremony held at Taunton Minster last week (Tuesday, May 14).

Mayor Cllr Vanessa Garside during the ceremony at Taunton Minster (Image: Taunton Town Council)

She was elected after being proposed by the former Mayor, Cllr Nick O’Donnell, and said it is “a big responsibility to represent all the people of Taunton”, but also “a massive pleasure”.

She will be the Mayor of Taunton for 2024/2025, while Cllr Martin Straus will be the Deputy Mayor.

Mayor Cllr Garside said: “I am honoured and privileged to be chosen as Mayor of Taunton. Thank you to Taunton Town Council for choosing me and electing me.

“I know it is a big responsibility to represent all the people of Taunton, but also a massive pleasure.

“Taunton has a creative approach to welcoming people. Residents are very proud of Somerset, and there is so much to be proud about.

“There’s a fantastic cultural scene and history.

“I am very grateful I have chosen to make Taunton my home and the centre of my world.

“I will do my very upmost to promote this lovely town and lovely citizens to attract visitors and investments.”