Council leader to be appointed

The Conservative party has elected Cllr Izzi Seccombe as its new leader after losing out in this month’s county council elections.

Former leader Alan Farnell lost his seat along with 11 other Conservative councillors, as the party lost its majority in the county.

The newly appointed Stour and the Vale Cllr Seccombe said she was honoured to accept the position, despite not yet knowing who will take up the role of council leader.

“To lead my group is a great honour and I am proud to have their support,” she said.

“We have some considerable challenges ahead but many opportunities to look at how we best serve the people of Warwickshire.”

Kenilworth’s Alan Cockburn was voted in as deputy leader, but because no party has overall control in the chamber, the new leader of the council will not be decided until the full council meets on Tuesday and a vote is taken.

Cllr Cockburn said he was “extremely proud to have a role to play in the challenges ahead” and that talks are now underway with all parties to work out the administration of the council.

Kenilworth’s Cllr Dave Shilton will this year take up the ceremonial role of chair of the county council, which he said he was “very excited about”, and which was 
described as a great honour for the Conservative party.

The conservative party now holds 26 council seats, Labour has 22, Liberal Democrats have nine, the Green Party have two and Independents hold three.

Cllr Richard Davies (Con, Kenilworth) has been named as chair of Warwick 
District Council for the next 12 months, putting chair 
duties of both council’s with the Conservative party, and in Kenilworth.