THE new chairman of Kent County Council is north Kent county councillor Frank Gibson.

The Conservative councillor for Gravesham Rural was formerly vice-chairman of KCC and lead member for Strategic Planning.

Cllr Gibson, who received an OBE in 1994, is also a Gravesham borough councillor. He was first elected to Gravesham in 1973 and served as leader from 1976-85. He has also been Mayor of Gravesham – first in 1982 and again in 1985.

Mr Gibson spent 13 years in the Uganda Administration and was a director of estate management companies until 1990.He is a school governor at both Gravesend Grammar School for Boys and Cobham CP School.

He said: "It is a great honour. The last two years have seen the council involved in numerous vital plans for Kent, much of which will come to fruition in the next year. I look forward to serving during what I hope and expect will be a very fulfilling time for Kent.”

Kent Tucker takes over as vice-chairman of KCC. The Conservative member for Sevenoaks North East, he is a retired engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Petroleum. He is currently a school governor of New Ash Green Primary School. Mr Tucker was appointed an MBE in 1993.