The new chair of North Yorkshire Council has pledged to ensure local democracy is promoted for the benefit of all communities in the run-up to the authority’s elections next year.
Conservative councillor, Cllr David Chance, who represents the Danby & Mulgrave division, has become the fourth chair of North Yorkshire Council and succeeded Cllr George Jabbour, who was the council’s chair for the past year.
Labour’s Cllr John Ritchie, who represents the Woodlands division, was appointed as the vice-chair.
At a full meeting of the authority on Wednesday, May 20, members praised the outgoing chair, Cllr Jabbour, for being “a superb advocate for this county”.
Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Gareth Dadd, said: “I think we should all remember that George has been a different kind of chair, probably more different than this chamber has seen.
“In 2004, he arrived in Britain from Syria, and for him to be elevated as he has been these last 12 months is a credit to him. It’s also a credit to us because I think in his appointment we’ve embraced the diversity of the changing population of this great county, and he’s embraced the traditions of this great county.
“That’s no easy feat to achieve, and for that we should be very grateful indeed. Thank you, George.”
Leader of the Green group, Cllr Kevin Foster, said: “Globetrotting George, right across the county, all over the place. He’s come to my ward a few times, and the feedback I get from my residents is that they love you, and I echo what everyone else says: You’ve really represented the county in a positive way at a difficult time for everyone in the world.”
A former senior analyst at the global financial services company, Goldman Sachs International, Cllr Jabbour thanked colleagues for their praise.
“I am genuinely grateful to everyone in this chamber, the wider council, and the whole community for their support during my time as chair,” he told the meeting.
“It has been a true pleasure and a real privilege to enjoy many opportunities to work with councillors from every group and members of other councils and the national park. I look forward to building on our cross-party success.
“We may have different political persuasions, but we are all united in our desire to do the best for our residents and in our love for our stunning county of North Yorkshire.”
The new chair of the council, Cllr Chance said: “It is an honour to take on the role of the new chair of the council, especially during such an important 12 months for the authority.
“The all-out elections which will be held on May 6 next year will be the first since North Yorkshire Council launched in 2023, giving our voters the chance to shape the future of the authority and the county as a whole.
“I will use my time as the new chair to help to promote the work of the council and to make sure that local democracy operates as effectively as possible to serve all of our residents and businesses across North Yorkshire.”
Cllr Chance has been a councillor for 15 years after he was elected to the former Scarborough Borough Council in May 2011.
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