SHE'S known as Mrs Christmas among Callington town councillors and last week Denise Winfindale was elected the new portreeve and mayor for the town for 2013/14.

Cllr Winfindale was nominated by outgoing portreeve Jeremy Gist who praised her for being one of the hardest working councillors on the town council.

'She works hard on everything from the town cinema to the Christmas lights, she is known as Mrs Christmas on the council for good reason,' he said.

Andrew Long, who is also Cornwall councillor for Callington, was elected as deputy portreeve. He was described by nominator Philip Harriman as a 'mentor, advisor and guide' and someone who works very hard for Callington.

Cllr Winfindale said the council had been very proactive over the past year with localism and devolved services. Grass cutting and public toilets were two things that the town had taken over from Cornwall Council.

She said this year the council would be looking at the neighbourhood plan and requesting help from the townspeople to find out what people wanted for the future.

The council would be cracking down on dog fouling and litter and hoping to work with the local police to reduce anti social behaviour.

A new town crier would be sought following the death of Dennis Cook recently and the council would be endeavouring to inform people as much as possible what was going on through the town newsletter and taking a very positive and open approach.

'There are so many organisations and people in this town who do an awful lot and we will be trying to promote that this year,' she said.

'We also hope to launch a new website.'

The portreeve praised the organisers of the recent Mayfest event: 'The atmosphere was absolutely lovely and continued for most of the day. I have never seen so many people in the town.

'There were events in the church, the Bull's Head, the town hall as well as all the dancing in the street — it was a really enjoyable day.'

Cllr Jeremy Gist said this year had been 'interesting' much of it taken up with administration, economics and committee meetings.

'The town council is taking on more services and operations for the benefit of the town. We have been held up in Truro as an example of localism at its best,' he said.

And members of Calstock Parish Council saw their new chairman voted in last week.

Cllr Steve Jaggard took over from Cllr Jerome Irons at a meeting of the council last Thursday.

Born in Hertfordshire but having moved to Calstock Parish 15 years ago, Cllr Jaggard lived firstly in Chilsworthy but now in Metherell. He has been a councillor for the Harrowbarrow ward for four years.

Steve graduated in biological sciences from St Andrew's University. Following a short period pursuing medical research at Guy's Hospital, he entered the pharmaceutical industry latterly working for the Wellcome Foundation in Indonesia.

Steve then joined the Foreign Office and travelled widely spreading substantive postings in Bangladesh, Morocco and Thailand.

Although he has strong political interests, he approaches his current responsibilities with an 'independent' mind and hopes to continue the excellent work carried out by his predecessors for the benefit of all parish residents.

l Calstock Parish Council has two councillor vacancies available.

The seats will be filled by co-option at its meeting to be held on June 5.

For more information about the role of a parish/town councillor and the co-option process, contact clerk Sue Lemon on 01822 835038 or email [email protected]">[email protected]