Mansfield Council votes in youngest ever chair

Katrina Atherton aged 28 was appointed to the position at the council’s annual meeting last week.

The ward councillor for Manor is also chair of select commission two, which covers crime and regeneration.

She told Chad: “I am thrilled to be appointed as chair, it is a great honour and I am looking forward to the year ahead.”

The chair and vice-chair are responsible for upholding and promoting the principles of the council’s constitution and presiding over meetings, so that council business is carried out efficiently and with regard to the rights of the elected members and the interests of the community.

Coun Atherton said: “It’s exciting - traditionally th evice chair becomes chair but in the years between th e elections you don’t know if th e powers that be start to shift.

“There was a vote and I won. Not many chairs are female and under 50.”

The first meeting i chaired was the AGM and it was a difficult one with new members who had never done it before getting used to it.

“I have had lots of support from the officers and other councillors I am sure we have an exciting year ahead.”

Coun Atherton says she is particularly interested in helping young people to get engaged with politics and to help them find future careers.

She is writing to all headteachers in the town to visit and speak to students. “Not as a party politician, but to say the council is there and you are free to get involved. “There is talk of 16 year olds being able to vote in the EU referendum and I think that’s a great idea.”