Settle councillor Wendy Hull is next chairman of Craven District Council

Cllr Hull, elected unanimously and unopposed at Tuesday’s annual meeting of the council, said she was ‘very honoured and privileged’ to be elected first citizen of Craven and would carry out her duties to the best of her abilities.

She thanked outgoing chairman Cllr Stephen Place for his helpful advice, encouragement and for never missing a meeting.

As a Settle ward councillor, she said she was especially pleased to be wearing the chains of office, which originally belonged to Settle Rural District Council.

“Whenever sighted in greater Settle, there is the cry, we want our chains back,” she said.

Cllr Hull, a Conservative, said she had been looking through the minutes of the former authority stored at The Folly museum and many issues were the same as today - such as the need for more affordable housing and concerns for the future of the hospital.

Her consort for the year will be her elder daughter, Claire Lindblom, who she said would bring a different perspective to the role of chairman’s consort.

Skipton councillor Paul Whitaker was voted vice chairman of the council.