A?NEW?dedicated team has been chosen to lead Tavistock Chamber of Commerce through the next year.

The chamber is hoping to increase its membership and create a stronger voice and increased business opportunities by working with other chambers including Okehampton and Plymouth.

Financial advisor Mike Harper is taking over the reins as chairman from Neal Taynton-Young and Leanne Elliot, who is also a financial advisor and runs her own cleaning business, is the new vice chairman.

The secretary is Richard Cosgrave, who is in IT services and the membership secretary is office manager Michelle Handley.

The relatively new role of social media secretary will be carried out by digital marketing expert Clair Wellsbury-Nye and Annette-Baskerville-Smith, who runs a recruitment business, will have a dual role as treasurer and lobbying secretary.

Assistant principal of Tavistock College Philip Ruse has joined the chamber as committee support member.

The chamber of commerce currently has around 60 members.

This year the chamber will be looking to continue its work as a group of four organisations with West Devon Borough Council, Tavistock Town Council and Tavistock Business Improvement District (BID) to further enhance the town.

Mr Harper was proposed by Neal Taynton-Young who said he was a superb ambassador for Tavistock and had the ability to create calm and direction.

He said Mr Harper was tenacious and had drive and determination.

Mr Taynton-Young was thanked for all his work over the last two years in which there had been many challenges to try and keep the high street alive.

Picture by James Bird