Devon County Council announces new chairman

Devon County Council has announced its new Chairman for the coming year.

Outgoing Chairman, Councillor George Gribble, handed over to the Council's new Chairman, Councillor Christine Channon, at a meeting of the Full Council this afternoon (Thursday 14 May).

Councillor Channon has represented Budleigh Salterton as local member for 22 years, and has served on many of the County Council's Committees.

Christine was Leader of the Conservative Group on the County Council for nine years, and Leader of the Council between 2002-03 and 2004-05 under a 'Rainbow' administration.

Among her many appointments Christine has been Deputy Chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA) Scrutiny Panel, and recently served on the LGA Children and Young People's Board.

She moved to Devon in 1964 to take up an appointment at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, having first trained as a Clinical Biochemist with the Royal Army Medical Corp.  She has a degree in Theology and Philosophy, and is a trained teacher.

More recently Christine became licensed as a Lay Reader in the Church of England and is an active member of St Peter’s, in her home town of Budleigh Salterton.   She is also Trustee and the founder member of a youth club in the town, where the club is run by volunteers and qualified youth workers.

Christine said:  "It is an enormous privilege to be asked to be Chairman of Devon County Council, and I am extremely proud to accept the honour."

Barnstaple South member, Cllr John Matthews has replaced Cllr Jim Knight as vice chairman.