Cllr Alison Cook, Member for Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway, has been elected as the new Chairman of Sevenoaks District Council.

The new Vice-Chairman is Cllr James Gaywood, Member for Hartley and Hodsoll Street

Cllr Cook has been a resident of the District for over 30 years since moving to Leigh from Cambridgeshire in 1974. She trained as a nurse at the Middlesex Hospital in London before moving to Hitchin where she continued her career at the Lister Hospital. This interest in health was renewed when Cllr Cook became Chairman of the Tunbridge Wells Community Health Council, a position she held for several years.

Recently Cllr Cook celebrated her 40th wedding anniversary with her husband James. She has four children, two live in Norwich, one in London, and one in Luxembourg, and six grandchildren.

Cllr Cook's interest in politics was kindled during her school days in Bedford. She was elected to Sevenoaks District Council in 1987 and was Leader of the Council from 1999 to 2005, having previously served as both Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Environmental Health committee and as Vice-Chairman of the Council from 2005-06.

Cllr Cook is heavily involved in community issues and has enormous respect for the voluntary sector. She is a trustee of several local charities, including both Carers First and Spring House. She has been a governor of both Sevenoaks School and Amherst Primary School, and is now governor of Leigh Primary School. In the past she has also been a board member of the Moat Housing Association and remains keenly interested in housing matters.

As a supporter of the arts Cllr Cook chairs the Sevenoaks District Arts Council which assists the rich diversity of amateur arts throughout the District encouraging wider participation, especially amongst young people.

Over the years Cllr Cook has also been active in her local church having served on the Deanery and Diocesan synods.

During her year in office Cllr Cook will look to support and raise the profile of the Carers First and Spring House charities, and lists promoting and encouraging the delivery of the Community Plan as one of her priorities. She would like to visit the various parishes within the District to understand more fully local issues and to showcase the work of the Council and encourage even greater partnership working.

"As Vice-Chairman I have appreciated just how fortunate we are in this District to have so many people dedicated to making a positive difference to the lives of others", says Cllr Cook. "I am looking forward to getting out and about and meeting as many people as possible to learn even more about the opportunities and problems that exist and the role that the Council can play. I am keen to promote the Community Plan which embodies the key priorities and aspirations of local people and I believe it represents partnership at its best. By working together we can achieve so much more, and I want to raise the profile of the Plan and encourage its implementation wherever I can. It’s a great privilege to be asked to take on the role of being Chairman."

The election took place at the annual meeting of the Council on Tuesday 9 May.