Barry Gaspar has been elected as the new chairman of Babergh District Council.

He was selected at the council’s annual meeting on Tuesday and succeeds Peter Burgoyne, who stepped down following two years in the role.

Mr Gaspar, who is a councillor for the Brook ward which includes Sproughton, Burstall, Hintlesham and Copdock, is the founder and managing director of Kent Engineering Services Ltd and has a background and career in engineering, including consultancy work for the MoD and UK power industry. He was elected to Babergh District Council in 2015 and was chairman of Burstall Parish Council and has sat on several Babergh committees and chaired the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Gasper’s chosen charity is the Bumblebee Children’s Charity, a specialist centre in Sproughton which provides support for babies and young children who have difficulties with movement and co-ordination. These problems can be caused by a wide range of conditions including cerebral palsy, Down’s Syndrome and autism.

He said: “I’d like to thank all my fellow councilors who elected me chairman of Babergh. Representing Babergh is a great honour and I hope to continue the good work of councillor Burgoyne in the chair. I’m looking forward to the year ahead, meeting residents and visiting organisations across the district. I am hoping to raise as much money as possible to support the Bumblebee Children’s Charity’s vital work to help more young children to improve their mobility.”