Housing, youth engagement and protecting the green belt are three of the key priorities for Wycombe District Council, according to its new leader who was sworn in on Tuesday tonight.

Katrina Wood was unanimously voted into the top job at the first council meeting since the election on May 7.

She said: " After living, working and being a councillor in this district for many years, I’m both delighted and humbled to be given this opportunity to serve our community as executive leader of Wycombe District Council.

“We have a truly resplendent array of communities, cultures and countryside within Wycombe District and I’m extremely proud to call this my home.”

Cllr Wood, who represents the Tylers Green and Loudwater ward, said fighting homelessness and finding new houses for young people were drivers behind reintroducing the Cabinet position of Housing, which will be filled by Julia Langley.

Engaging the youth of the district to become more involved in politics was also announced as a key pledge for Cllr Wood's leadership, with the newly created Cabinet post of Youth handed to newly elected Richard Newman from Hazlemere.

She said: “To enable us as a council to take this forward I have put together a strong team for my Cabinet, drawing on the many talents available, and have expanded the number of portfolios to ensure that we are equipped to solve the key challenges we will face in the coming years.

“There is no doubt that housing and homelessness are key issues, in recognition of the importance I attach to ensuring everyone has a safe place to call home I am reintroducing housing as a standalone portfolio to the cabinet.

“I am also keen that we engage with younger people across the district, including the 20,000 students who study here.

“I have therefore created a Cabinet member for youth, and one of his first tasks will be to start identifying opportunities for growth and inclusion of the youth community within our wider local society.”

Cllr Wood told her council colleagues that protecting the green belt and stopping the district's towns and villages becoming "a sprawl of urban mass" was high on her agenda.

And areas like Frogmoor in High Wycombe are "ripe for growth" she said, envisaging an area filled with cafes, galleries and performance spaces.

Elsewhere, Ian McEnnis replaced Lesley Clarke as chairman, with the "formidable" stalwart councillor given a hearty vote of thanks by her colleagues.