County Council appoints a new Chairman

The new Chairman of Buckinghamshire County Council, Val Letheren, was officially installed today (Thursday).

Val Letherenis the new Chairman of Buckinghamshire County council. She received the chain of office from retiring Chairman Bill Chapple OBE at the annual council meeting today (Thursday May 26).

The new Vice Chairman is Patricia Birchley.

Val, a County Councillor since 2001, who represents Terriers and Amersham Hill in High Wycombe, paid tribute to Bill’s year in office during which he was at the forefront of celebrating community milestones, such as the centenary of the Women’s Institute and The Queen’s 90th birthday.

During her own year in office, Val would like to meet and show gratitudeto people who work on the front line of Buckinghamshire’s communities. And she wants to give her personal thanks to the County Council’s 1,200 volunteers.

‘People like our social workers and those who run our emergency services just get on with the job with no fuss and in such a professional way,’ said Val. ‘They deserve our heartfelt gratitude, and I’d like to show this on behalf of the County.’

Val, a district councillor for 14 years, has been Mayor ofHigh Wycombe and Wycombe District Council Chairman. During her service on Buckinghamshire County Council, Val spent six years as Transport Cabinet Member, and has been Cabinet Member for Children’s Services. More recently she chaired the Council’s Select Committee on Children’s Social Care and Learning.

Val, aChartered Physiotherapist, has now retired from the practice she ran in Wycombe for 30 years, and in her spare time enjoys looking after her greenhouse, classical music, the local theatre and travelling with her husband, David.