DAVE Bulmer was resound - ingly backed to be sworn in as Chard’s new mayor on Monday evening.

Chard Town Council met for the first time since the General Election with a number of new faces joining some long-standing members.

Outgoing mayor Cllr Jenny Kenton used her final address to welcome new members of the council and reassuring them that they will soon get used to their new roles.

She added: “When I decided to stand for mayor I decided I wanted to be the best mayor I could and set about talking to a number of previous mayors across all parties.

“I hope I will be remembered as a good mayor and some of that will be from talking to those people.”

Cllr Mrs Kenton then invited councillors to nominate members for a worthy candidate to take on the chain of office.

Cllr Cathie Morrison nominated Cllr Bulmer, who has been on the council for 17 years.

She said: “In the last 17 years he has been on the Jocelyn ward and he has been a dedicated chairman of several committees, and is currently working very diligently with the football clubs on Jocelyn Park.

“He is a good advocate for Chard and represents us well.”

Cllr Garry Shortland, who was re-selected in his role as deputy mayor said he had “no hesitation” in seconding the nomination and Cllr Bulmer said he was “delighted” to have been voted in.

Mr Bulmer selected Reverend Jeffrey Williams from the Church of the Good Shepherd as his chaplain and his partner Marilyn Page as his consort.

The mayor will host a number of fundraising events during his tenure for his two charities, which were selected as St Margaret’s Hospice in Somerset and Macmillan in Somerset.

During the meeting, members also selected who will sit on a string of committees and sub-committees including Planning and Highways, Guildhall and Amenities, the Saturday Market Working Group and the new skatepark Improvement Working Group.

Cllr Brennie Halse was nominated as the chairman of the Planning and Highways committee, given her experience.