NEW mayor Cllr David Selby promised he would make Newtown a “listening council” after being elected to the post this week.

Cllr Selby spoke to the Town council’s annual meeting after taking the reins from departing mayor Sue Newham, and promised the council would do all it could to help tackle the problems faced by some of the town’s poorest residents.

“It’s right me to point out how shocked I was when I read the recent report that showed that two of our town council wards were among the top 20 in Wales for child poverty. That, I find shocking,” he said.

“It’s not something that this town council can solve but we can do our best to help.

“I was also saddened when I visited Kaleidoscope to learn that they have dealt with 468 clients in the town in the last year, of drug and alcohol abuse. That’s a shocking figure for a small town like ours.

“This council can’t solve the problems of poverty but we must always ensure that our plans are adapted to those people and when we consult we ensure that we listen to those that don’t make a noise as well as those who do."

Also elected as Deputy Mayor was Newtown Central councillor Richard White.

Cllr Selby paid tribute to his predecessor Cllr Sue Newham and said that after 28 years in the town he felt like a “Newtonian”. He added that the “friendly and professional” way the council conducts it’s business was one of it’s strengths.

“I’d like to thank Sue for her service not only to this council but also to the town during her time as mayor. I know Sue as a hard-working, thoughtful and determined person and I’ll have to work very hard to emulate those skills.

“I moved to Newtown 28 years ago - I feel like a Newtonian and whether I’m working on Powys Council or this one I continue to do all I can to help make it a better place and to keep it as the town that we know it is.

“I’ve always found good debates here, and great differences as we should, and those must continue in the friendly and professional way they always have.

“I want to have a council that is forward-looking and ambitious but also one that recognises that the town faces and is careful not to exclude those who find it difficult to be included for many reasons,” he added.