A new chairman has taken over at Mansfield District Council.

Coun Andy Sissons, ward councillor for Newgate and member of Mansfield Independent Forum, has served as vice-chairman for the past year.
He replaces Coun Kevin Brown, who was thanked by the Mayor of Mansfield, Kate Allsop.

She said he had been an excellent chairman.

“Thank you for doing a wonderful job of chairing the meetings all year, I am sure that everyone will agree with me you have done a tremendous job,” she said.

The mayor spoke of what she called a challenging year for the council.

“Across the country local authorities are struggling to deal with the cuts imposed on them,” she said.

But she said Mansfield had been able to meet the challenge — with no increase in council tax.

She pointed to many success stories in the district, including:

•A 5.4% increase in footfall in the town centre against a national picture of a 3.4% decrease.
•Plans to build hotels in the town and to refurbish and repurpose the Old Town Hall as shops and offices.
•Plans to bring an outdoor Christmas ice rink as well as several themed-markets to the Market Place.
•Plans for new private rented housing at the old Mansfield Brewery site on top of the 171 council homes built in recent years.
•A scheme to help first-time buyers run in conjunction with Mansfield Building Society.
•The successful setting up of a property development company, Mansfield Homes Ltd, which is on course to bring in £900,000 to the council from its first project.
•A commitment to help the most vulnerable with success in bringing down the number of rough sleepers.
•Successful implementation of the ASSIST housing scheme to reduce bed-blocking by hospital in-patients.
•The successful launch of the Robin Hood Lottery to help local good causes.

The mayor also highlighted a number of consultation initiatives to help the council understand and deal with issues facing local people, including the Warsop Commission, Healthy Mansfield Commission and Meet Rhe Mayor sessions.

The new vice-chairman is Coun David Smith, ward councillor for Woodlands and a member of Mansfield Independent Forum.
Members of the cabinet and committee chairmen remain unchanged.

Chief executive Hayley Barsby is pictured congratulating the new chairman of Mansfield District Council, Coun Andy Sissons.