HALSTEAD’S Mayor has spoken of her pride after being elected to serve the town for another year.

Shirley Diver received a vote of confidence at a Halstead Town Council meeting on Monday night.

Councillors agreed all committees will retain the same membership.

Mrs Diver will stand for her second term at the helm of Halstead Town Council, after replacing David Hume last year, who had stood for eight years previously.

Mrs Diver said: “I am pleased, and I am honoured to have been elected to stand for a second term. I never take anything for granted, and we are a team at council, and it is essential that we work as a team.

“It has not been an easy year, it was never going to be easy to replace Councillor Hume after his eight year spell as Mayor, and starting the year with a new Mayor and new town clerk was never going to be easy. But I feel we have come a long way, and we look ahead now to another promising year.”

The Mayor knows the upcoming year will not be plain sailing, with a host of controversy already surrounding the proposed move to Queens Hall.

Mrs Diver added: “We are all aware that there is an awful lot of work to be done other the coming year, particularly with the town council’s move to Queen’s Hall.

“It is going to be a different year again, and will come with new challenges, but we are confident in ourselves as a town council.

“Our main priority is ensuring Halstead is a happy, and pleasant town to live in.

“The town has so much to offer and our role is to make sure it can run as smoothly as possible.”

Andrew Munday will continue as vicechairman.

There is also no change in the make-up of committees, with Mr Hume to continue as planning chairman, with the assistance of Jackie Pell as vice-chairman.

Mick Radley will head up the finance committee, with David Gronland acting as his vice-chair.

Shirley said: “Everyone in the committees seems happy and enthusiastic.

“It is important for councillors to be passionate about the matters they work on, and these are, they care about the issues and have the knowledge to help residents.

“In all honesty, I have thoroughly enjoyed the last year, I have had some fantastic experiences and met some fantastic people, and I hope that will continue over the next year.”