Date published: 2025-05-23 | Category: Delivering for local residents, Democracy, Elections
Councillor Liz Hardman has been elected as the new Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Councillor Hardman has been the ward councillor for Paulton ward since 2011 and served as Vice Chair last year. She was elected to the role of Chair at the Annual Meeting of the Council yesterday (May 22).
The Chair is an annual non-political role elected by councillors, which includes chairing official council meetings, supporting the community, celebrating landmark local events and welcoming royal and other VIP visitors to Bath and North East Somerset.
Councillor Hardman said: I am deeply honoured at being elected as the new Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council. I look forward to representing the council at the many forthcoming events in the coming year, such as presiding over citizenship ceremonies as well as supporting the council’s role as a corporate parent to our looked after children.
“As a councillor, I have represented my ward of Paulton since 2011 and I do believe I am the very first Paulton councillor to hold the position of Chair of our Council. A proud moment for Paulton.”
The new Vice Chair of the council is Councillor Shaun Stephenson-McGall who previously served as Chair of the Council in 2022/23 and was first elected in 1999, including representing Oldfield Park for 20 years and Timsbury ward since 2023.
Councillor Stephenson-McGall said: “I look forward to supporting, and deputising for Councillor Hardman in her role as Chair of Council. It’s a great honour to be chosen by my colleague for this important role supporting our diverse communities across Bath and North East Somerset.”
Learn more about the Chair of the Council.
ENDS