Councillor Danielle Frost was elected the new Great Dunmow mayor this week.

The former deputy mayor said she was “very excited” to take on the role and she “knows all the experienced councillors will support her, as a newbie”.

Cllr Frost was elected deputy mayor three months ago, at the same time Milan Milovanovic was elected mayor.

The top position was made available after Mr Milovanovic’s shock resignation after a tense council meeting on August 29.

He had started a speech on the issue of travellers camped on the Dunmow Recreation Ground, but some of the other councillors believed his address was too long.

A vote of no-confidence was called, although there is confusion about the exact nature of this. Mr Milovanovic said the vote was against him as mayor, but the council said it was against his handling of the specific issue.

He resigned the next morning, before being admitted to hospital hours later which his wife believes was as a result of the stressful meeting the night before.

Cllr Frost was nominated by Councillor Jonathan Cadwallader and seconded by Councillor Amanda Frost.

At the meeting, it was decided that she would continue to support the charities Mr Milovanovic had chosen – Dunmow & District Stroke Club, Dunmow Blind & Housebound Social Club, Scotty’s Little Soldiers – because it was mutually agreed that the charities should not be penalised in light of events.

Councillor Jonathan Cadwallader was elected the new deputy mayor.