Susanna Pressel new chair of Oxfordshire County Council

Susanna Pressel was formally announced as chair at the annual general meeting of the council, and visiting traveller sites is high on the agenda.

The chair is the ceremonial head of the council, and must be a serving county councillor – but must remain politically neutral.

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Liz Brighouse, deputy leader of the council, nominated Ms Pressel and said at the meeting: “She’ll not allow any dissent, she’ll make sure we all work together.

“She’s already started looking at things she wants to do. She’s going to visit traveller sites, one of our most underrepresented communities in our society.”

The nomination was seconded by Liz Leffman, the council’s leader.

In a quirk of fate, Ms Pressel’s husband, James Fry, is set to be sworn in as Lord Mayor of Oxford tomorrow.

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Ms Pressel, who was Lord Mayor herself between 2008 and 2009, said: “I look forward to visiting every corner of this beautiful county. There’s a lot to learn and I can’t wait.”

Susanna Pressel was Lord Mayor of Oxford between 2008 and 2009. Picture: Jon Lewis

John Howson, the outgoing chair, said: “Despite Covid, I’ve been privileged to meet a large number of people across the county.

“Sadly, my year ends in a different world to the one we started in, and I am proud that the flag of Ukraine flies from the county hall.”

On Mr Howson’s time as chair, Ms Leffman said: “You took that seat and made it your own. Thank you for being so dogged for getting that flag of the Ukraine – everyone wanted one at the time and you managed to get one.”]

John Howson, the outgoing council chair. Picture: Ed Nix

A new chair is elected each May at the annual general meeting of the county council.

Ms Pressel’s chosen charities for her year of office will be Age UK Oxfordshire, ARCh, Asylum Welcome and Oxfordshire County Music Service.

She represents the Jericho and Osney division at the county council, and has lived in Oxford for most of her life, since being a student at the University of Oxford’s Somerville College.

She has been a city councillor since 1996 and a county councillor since 2009.

Ceremonial duties performed by the chair include acting as an ambassador for the county council, and promoting the objectives and services of the local authority.

At the meeting, Felix Bloomfield was made vice-chair of the county council.

Mr Bloomfield, who represents the Benson and Cholsey division, was previously South Oxfordshire District Council’s youngest ever chairman.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Liam Rice, he joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.

Liam covers politics, travel and transport. He occasionally covers Oxford United.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Liam.rice@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailLiamRice

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