Linda Tift, of the Rainworth North & Rufford ward, voted new chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council, with Dover Beck ward member Roger Jackson as vice chairman

The new chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council has been unanimously voted in — and it’s a familiar face returning to the seat.

Linda Tift, of the Rainworth North & Rufford ward and former vice chairman, has been voted in at Tuesday night’s (May 20) full council meeting, taking over from Jean Hall, after the nomination came forward from council leader Paul Peacock, seconded by Rowan Couzens.

Roger Jackson was also elected as vice-chairman of NSDC, having previously served as chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council from 2022 to 2023.

Outgoing chairman Jean Hall thanked former vice chairman Mrs Tift for her support during her term as chairman, and also extended her thanks to all of the councillors who supported her on her fundraising efforts, which saw her visit every parish in Newark and Sherwood to raise money for her three chosen charities — Newark Women’s Aid, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, and Notts Mind.

She has raised £935 for the NWT, £840 for Women’s Aid, and £845 for Mind.

Jean said: “This year I have met so many amazing people ding amazing things for the community, and made friends for life.

“You often only hear the bad things about and this community has so much to offer and the district council does so much people, we should focus on the good.”

As a nod to Mrs Hall’s recent fundraising efforts, new chairman Mrs Tift said: “Jean has been a great chairman, exciting and vibrant, and anyone who can rise a Brompton bike the length and breadth of the district deserves not just this medal, but one as big as a house!”

Other councillors at the meeting paid tribute to Jean’s efforts, with expressing their thanks for shining a spotlight on their smaller parishes during her challenge.

Lee Brazier, newly re-elected mayor of Ollerton, described Jean as a “breath of fresh air” and made wearing the chain fun and enjoyable, praising her charity works as “phenomenal”.

Rowen Couzens added that Jena had “lit up the room” and was the epitome of pubic service.

Coun Tift was previously elected as the chairman of the district council in May 2017 until May 2018.

She said: “Thank you for the vote, and I hope you cna trust me. Jean’s fundraising and shining a light was wonderful and for the time we’ve got left as Newark and Sherwood District Council [before the local government restructure], we should continue to shine that light on every bit of the district and go out with a bang.”

For her chosen charities for the next year, she decided on Newark Emmaus Trust and Samaritans.

She pledged that, as a woman of faith, she would not be reinstating the traditional prayer before the beginning of each meeting but would instead invite members to offer their own ‘reflection of the day’ or offer prayers from many different faiths to represent the diversity of the council and district.