Sandra takes Barnard Castle chains of office for second time

A FAMILIAR face will don the mayoral chains in Barnard Castle this year.
Cllr Sandra Moorhouse will take on the role in 2017/18 for the second time in two years.
Departing mayor Cllr John Blissett passed on the chains of office at last week’s first council meeting following local elections.
Meanwhile, this month’s election poll topper, Cllr Roger Peat, was unanimously ushered in as deputy mayor.
Cllr Moorhouse welcomed new councillors Rima Chatterjee, Mark Wilkes, Richard Child, Kelly Blissett and George Hallimond,
Cllr Moorhouse added: “I hope we will be able to work together for the benefit of the town.”
Just ten votes separated the highest losing councillor and successful candidates in a tight election campaign on May 4.
Cllr Child claimed 518 votes for the Conservative Party while Cllr Chatterjee and Cllr Blissett took 284 and 263 votes respectively.
One position is still to be filled on the town’s east ward and Cllr Judi Sutherland told members she wanted to see her Labour colleague, and highest polling losing candidate, Emma Rowell, co-opted.
She said: “I just feel someone who has actually put their name forward and stood deserves some precedence over those who would not be subject to a public vote.
“I would say it’s more democratic to approach candidates who have stood for office. These people were interested but not interested enough to put themselves up for election.”
But Cllr Moorhouse said there may have been other reasons why they hadn't come forward.
Cllr Hallimond added: “Four people have shown interest – it’s letting them down if we go a different route.”
Pleas to co-opt Ms Rowell fell on deaf ears and members voted down the proposal.
However, a recommendation to select candidates using a list of criteria, which included favouring those with A Levels, degrees and experience in financial control and budgeting, was waved through by councillors.
Four people – Gary Marshall, David Kinch, Ian Kirkbride and Ms Rowell – have put their names forward for the vacant east ward seat.
Following the meeting, Mr Kinch said the criteria
list would put people off joining.
He added: “Now that the council have done that, it’s fixed in stone. What on Earth are they playing at?”
The deadline for applications is June 12 and a decision on who will join the council will be taken on June 19.