Tracey Onslow is the new chairman of Worcestershire County Council.

Cllr Onslow was appointed to the role during a meeting of the full council at Pershore’s Civic Centre on Thursday (May 16).

Nominating her, Cllr Nathan Desmond said Cllr Onslow had “all the qualities to be an outstanding chairman of this authority”.

“I’m yet to find anyone who has a bad word to say about her,” he said.

Conservative councillor Onslow, who represents the Kidderminster St John’s division, spent six years as deputy to West Mercia police and crime commissioner John-Paul Campion and until recently was the county council’s cabinet member for education.

Cllr Desmond said it was “no secret” that this is Cllr Onslow’s final year with the county council.

Worcester councillor Allah Ditta was appointed vice chairman of the county council at the same meeting.

The Tory county councillor for the Nunnery division in Worcester has twice served as city mayor and served several terms on the city council.

Seconding his nomination, Cllr Marc Bayliss said: “He doesn’t talk about this, but Ditta came here from Pakistan aged 14 and pulled himself up by his bootstraps.

“He has faced and conquered racism on many occasions and he works tirelessly for the Muslim community in Worcester.

“If you want something doing, call Ditta.”

Cllr Mel Allcott had nominated fellow Lib Dem councillor Dan Boatright for vice chairman but more councillors voted for Cllr Ditta.

Outgoing chairman Cllr Kyle Daisley said it had been an “immense honour to serve as the youngest ever chairman of Worcestershire County Council”, adding that he was proud to have put an emphasis on support for mental health.

“It gives me a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that we have made a difference,” he said.

“My heartfelt thanks to Alan Amos for his service as vice chair - I don’t think he knew what he’d signed up for but he stood in for me a number of times.”