Cllr Sybil Fielding has been sworn in as the new Chair of Bassetlaw District Council for 2026-27, taking over the civic role from Cllr Tony Eaton at the council's Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 13 May. Cllr David Naylor has been appointed Vice Chair. Cllr Fielding represents the Worksop North West ward, has served as Chair once before in 2013-14, and is the council's current Armed Forces Champion.

At a glance

  • New Chair: Cllr Sybil Fielding, ward councillor for Worksop North West since 2012
  • Vice Chair: Cllr David Naylor
  • Outgoing Chair: Cllr Tony Eaton, who held the role through 2025-26
  • When: Bassetlaw District Council Annual General Meeting, Wednesday 13 May 2026
  • Other roles: Cllr Fielding is currently the council's Armed Forces Champion; she has previously served as Chair in 2013-14 and as Chair of Nottinghamshire County Council in 2015-16
  • What the Chair does: The role is civic and largely ceremonial — promoting the work of the council, voluntary groups and community organisations across the district, and chairing full meetings of the council

What changed on Wednesday

The civic top of Bassetlaw District Council changed hands at the council's Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 13 May. Cllr Sybil Fielding was sworn in as the new Chair for the 2026-27 council year, taking over from Cllr Tony Eaton, who has served as Chair through 2025-26. Cllr David Naylor was appointed Vice Chair.

The membership of the council's committees, plus its appointments to external bodies, was also confirmed at the AGM. These are the structural decisions that determine which councillors sit on which scrutiny, planning, licensing and policy bodies for the year ahead.

Who is Cllr Sybil Fielding?

Cllr Fielding has been a ward councillor for Worksop North West since 2012. This is her second term in the Chair role — she previously held the same position in 2013-14, in her first full term as a councillor. She also chaired Nottinghamshire County Council in 2015-16.

She is currently the council's Armed Forces Champion, the designated councillor responsible for the council's relationship with serving and ex-services personnel and their families, and for the council's commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant.

In her statement on being sworn in, Cllr Fielding said the civic role "affords real opportunities to promote the excellent work of so many voluntary groups and organisations" across Bassetlaw. She also acknowledged that "the work of our council is always challenging and is particularly so in this era of change", and committed to exercising her duties with fairness and impartiality.

What the Chair actually does

The Chair of a district council in England has a primarily civic and ceremonial role, distinct from the political leadership of the council (the council Leader, currently Cllr Julie Leigh in Bassetlaw). In practical terms, the Chair:

  • Chairs the full meetings of the council
  • Represents the council at civic events — opening community facilities, attending charity functions, welcoming visiting dignitaries
  • Promotes the work of voluntary, community and youth organisations across the district
  • Holds an independent, impartial position separate from the council's political leadership

The role rotates annually, with a different councillor typically taking the post each year.

What's next

The 2026-27 council year sets the civic calendar for community events Cllr Fielding will be expected to attend across Worksop, Retford and the wider Bassetlaw district. Worksop Wire will continue to cover the council's substantive policy and political decisions through the year — including major outstanding pieces such as the £2m leisure-centre decarbonisation programme and ongoing engagement with the Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopening.

Source: Bassetlaw District Council — Council appoints new Chair for 2026-27, 14 May 2026.