FOR the first time in its history, Wiltshire County Council has a woman at the helm, after Coun Jane Scott was elected leader.

Coun Scott will take over in September, and she intends to make partnership and communication the key themes of her leadership.

"I am looking forward to the job," she said. "I am thrilled that I got total support from the whole county council, across the parties. That bodes well for us working together as a county council to deliver services.

"I am excited and a little apprehensive. It's a big job and a large budget."

Conservative Coun Scott, 56, from Lanhill near Chippenham, has been a member of the county council for six years and deputy leader for two years.

She is also a member of North Wiltshire District Council.

Coun Scott intends to deliver leadership very differently to her predecessor, Coun Peter Chalke.

"I think our priority will be the same to deliver first class services, in education, social services and the environment.

"But I want to make a clear priority of customer satisfaction," she said.

Coun Scott said communication played a key part in improving customer satisfaction and listening to what people wanted would be very important.

She also wants to cultivate partnerships with other agencies, such as the police, health services and district councils.

"I will be here at County Hall more than Coun Chalke was able to be. I intend to make this a full-time job," she said.

Coun Scott has been a key figure in education within the county council, and admitted she would find it hard to let go. "I have loved it and we have an excellent team. We have done some good things over the last five years," she said.

She will announce her new cabinet during the first week of September.

She said women had led groups at the county council but she was the first female leader of the full council.

"I do think women bring a different sort of leadership," she said.

Coun Scott trained and worked in agriculture, including caring for dairy herds and lecturing at agricultural college.

She is married to retired banker Ron Scott, and the couple have a 60-acre farm where they raise rare breed farm animals.