A GAUNLESS valley parish council swelled its numbers when members agreed to co-opt not one, but two, new representatives.
Evenwood and Barony Parish Council has 15 seats for councillors, but has had six vacant spots for some time.
So, at their latest meeting members voted unanimously to co-opt Anne Marshall and Charlotte Roche.
Retired pharmaceutical analyst Mrs Marshall, who lives in Bowes Close, is a governor at Ramshaw primary school. She said: “I enjoy meeting people and I feel I have the skills to help the community.”
Mrs Marshall will represent Evenwood ward.
Mum of five Charlotte Roche was also co-opted onto the council.
Originally from Sheffield, Mrs Roche moved to the area 18 years ago, firstly to Bishop Auckland and to Evenwood two years ago.
The former maths teacher, who now works for Defra, said: “I’m very community minded and my mum was a parish councillor for years and it seems to be the appropriate thing to do.”
Mrs Roche will take up one of the Lands ward seats.
The council also elected a new chairman, after Cllr Barbara Nicholson, who has held the position for 15 years, decided to stand down.
Long-time councillor Bob Bolden was nominated to take over and voted in unanimously.
Cllr Bolden thanked councillors and said: “I will try and run the council in the way it should be. I should like to thank Cllr Nicholson for all her hard work and for sitting in the chairman’s set for so long.
“Moving forward I’m a procedures and policies man and it has been my job for the last 50 years.
“I would like to make the parish council more inclusive and inviting place for residents to serve the people of Evenwood,” he added.
