BRECON Beacons National Park Authority saw several roles change hands at its annual general meeting on Monday (July 30) with the appointment of a new chairman and others in key roles.

Ed Evans, a Welsh Government-appointed member, was unanimously voted in as the new chair of the authority with Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe as his deputy.

Julian Stedman was elected chairman of the planning committee with Cllr Edwin Roderick chosen as deputy chair.

Cllr Evans, who takes over from outgoing chair Melanie Doel who is standing down after her second four-year term, said: “I would like to thank you all for your support and look forward to us working together over the next 12 months. My future priorities, working with all our members, will be to support our chief executive, Julian Atkins, in delivering a new organisational structure fit for the future, including supporting governance arrangements and the implementation of our new Policy Forum.

“We also received positive news from the Minister for Environment, Hannah Blythyn on her visit to the Park last week regarding our funding (which will remain at last year’s level) but we will continue to use our budget as efficiently as possible. There are challenging times ahead and we will engage and support our communities especially as we approach the post Brexit period.”

Cllr Ann Webb will resume her role as chair of audit and scrutiny, with Ian Rowat as her deputy. Deborah Perkin stays as chair of the sustainable development fund committee with Cllr Karen Laurie-Parry her deputy.

The new policy forum will be chaired by Cllr Emily Durrant with Cllr Graham Thomas her deputy.

Chief executive Mr Atkins said: “I would like to congratulate all of the members who have been elected to new posts and those who are resuming posts.

“These are changing times for Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and I look forward to working together over the next 12 months to ensure our National Park remains valued and resilient.”