ASHINGTON TOWN COUNCIL APPOINTS CHAIR, VICE-CHAIR AND CIVIC HEAD FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
Ashington Town Council has confirmed a number of key appointments for the forthcoming year following its Annual Meeting of the Council held last night.
Councillor Mark Purvis was elected to return as Chair of the Council and will continue to lead Full Council meetings over the coming year.
Speaking following his election, Cllr Purvis said he was proud to be elected once again and thanked fellow councillors for their support.
He said:
“I’m proud to be elected again and I hope the Council continues to work well together as we did over the previous year. We won’t always agree, but we can disagree constructively, and I’m grateful to start the year on a high and accept the position.”
Councillor Melanie Fox was elected as Vice-Chair of the Council.
The meeting also saw Councillor Caroline Ball appointed as Civic Head for the year ahead. Unlike some councils, Ashington Town Council operates a separate Civic Head role rather than a Town Mayor model. The Civic Head represents the Council at civic and ceremonial events across the town and wider area.
Cllr Ball said she was delighted to return to the role, adding:
“I really enjoyed my previous time as Civic Head in 2024 and I’m looking forward to taking on the role again.”
Councillor Lynne Grimshaw was elected Chair of the Finance and General Services Committee.
The Council also received and approved updated committee Terms of Reference and a range of revised Council policies as part of its annual governance review.
Chairs and Vice-Chairs for the Council’s remaining standing committees will be elected at their first meetings of the new council year.
For a full list of committee memberships, please see below.
Photographs were also taken following the meeting, including images of the newly appointed Civic Head and Deputy Civic Head wearing the Council’s chain and medal of office, alongside councillors in attendance who gathered for a group photograph to mark the beginning of the new council year.
Full Council
- Cllr Mark Purvis CHAIR
- Cllr Melanie Fox DEPUTY CHAIR
Finance and General Services Committee
- Cllr Lynne Grimshaw CHAIR
- Cllr Scott Amery
- Cllr Jessica Appleby
- Cllr Caroline Ball
- Cllr Louis Brown
- Cllr Marjorie Chambers
- Cllr David Coyle
- Cllr Glyn Davies
- Cllr Kerry Davison
- Cllr Melanie Fox
- Cllr Karl Green
- Cllr Jim Lang
- Cllr Steven Roberts
- Cllr Sonia Simm
- Cllr John Tully
- Cllr Mark Purvis
- Cllr Bob Walkinshaw
- Cllr Paul Wright
Personnel Committee
- Cllr Marjorie Chambers
- Cllr David Coyle
- Cllr Kerry Davison
- Cllr Lynne Grimshaw EX-OFFICIO
- Cllr Mark Purvis EX-OFFICIO
- Cllr Paul Wright
Grievance and Disciplinary Panel
- Cllr Scott Amery
- Cllr Glynn Davies
- Cllr Melanie Fox
Appeals Panel
- Cllr Caroline Ball
- Cllr Louis Brown
- Cllr Sonia Simm
Climate Change & Environment Committee
- Cllr Caroline Ball
- Cllr Marjorie Chambers
- Cllr Glyn Davies
- Cllr Melanie Fox
- Cllr Jim Lang
- Cllr Paul Wright
Partnership Board
- Cllr Jessica Appleby
- Cllr Marjorie Chambers
- Cllr David Coyle
- Cllr Kerry Davison
- Cllr Melanie Fox
- Cllr Jim Lang
CCTV Group
- Cllr Scott Amery
- Cllr Caroline Ball
- Cllr Louis Brown
- Cllr Marjorie Chambers
- Cllr Kerry Davison
- Cllr Karl Green
- Cllr Lynne Grimshaw
- Cllr Steven Roberts
- Cllr Sonia Simm
Youth Coordination Group
- Cllr Caroline Ball
- Cllr Louis Brown
- Cllr Kerry Davison
- Cllr Melanie Fox
- Cllr Karl Green
- Cllr Lynne Grimshaw
- Cllr Paul Wright
Allotment Liaison Group
- Cllr Marjorie Chambers
- Cllr Kerry Davison
- Cllr Glyn Davies
- Cllr Mark Purvis
- Cllr Sonia Simm
- Cllr John Tully
NALC County Committee
- Cllr Kerry Davison
All Cllrs are welcome to attend.
Ashington Town Forum
All NCC County Cllrs are members by virtue of their County Cllr position
ATC Councillors
- Cllr David Coyle
- Cllr Kerry Davison
- Cllr Jim Lang
- Cllr Mark Purvis
annual meeting of the council 2026
