ANDOVER town council will soon be tasked with appointing someone new into their administrative team following the resignation of their town clerk.

After 12 years with the authority, Wendy Coulter has decided to move on.

She is both the town clerk, who oversees the council’s administrative team, and also the council’s financial officer.

At an extraordinary meeting of the council on Monday, July 25, members discussed how they would go about replacing her.

Mayor of Andover, Cllr David Coole, said: “Wendy has decided to move on after 12 years. If anyone can survive Andover Town Council, they will, I am sure, succeed anywhere. I would like to wish her well in her new appointment.”

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Wendy added: “It’s the duty of the town council to recruit a new clerk. In order to do this, you need to set up an appointment panel. It’s usual and appropriate that you have a panel of no more than five.”

Cllr David Coole then asked for volunteers.

Cllr Richard Rowles suggested Cllr Gregori, Cllr Long and Cllr Mumford but, as two of the three weren’t in attendance, Cllr Coole said it would not be possible.

He said: “This has been on the agenda, and none of those who have given their apologies have asked to be considered, unfortunately they cannot be considered at this point.”

Cllr Luigi Gregori then puts forward a motion which proposed that £300 be allowed for recruitment panel, that the town clerk and deputy town clerk have no voting rights, and that all town councillors are given a copy of the motion and invited to put their names forward.

There was no further debate and the motion was carried, with two abstentions.

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