FRESH faces have taken over the reins at Wear Valley District Council after an annual meeting yesterday.

The new chairwoman, Councillor Margaret Jones, has succeeded Councillor Margaret Douthwaite, with Councillor Alex Clements as deputy.

Tributes were paid to Mrs Douthwaite, who raised more than £6,000 during her year in office for prostate cancer and breast cancer charities.

Re-elected Labour leader Councillor Olive Brown described her as "an excellent chair and an excellent ambassador for Wear Valley".

Liberal Democrat leader Chris Foote Wood said: "She has been gracious and kind, while retaining control at all times."

Mrs Jones, who represents the Bishop Auckland Town Ward, said her charity for her year in office would be the Parkinson's disease unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

The council is setting up a standards committee to ensure members abide by its code of conduct. It will be made up of four councillors, two independent people and two parish councillors.

The public will be allowed to speak at meetings of the licensing committee, following the success of a similar scheme with the development control committee.