Conservative group leader steps down
No candidates so far for borough council position in run up to May local elections
Speculation is mounting as to who will fill the vacant role of Conservative group leader of the Conservative-led Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, in the run-up to the local elections in May.
After Conservative group leader Mark Ruffell (Upton Grey and the Candovers) announced his resignation last week, at least two local Conservative borough councillors have said that they will not be applying for the poisition.
Mr Ruffell said this week that he had resigned after being in the job for five years, simply because he “fancied a change”.
“I was very happy in the job, and they are a hard-working and good group of councillors, but I just felt it would be good for me and good for the group,” said Mr Ruffell.
Stephen West (Tadley central) said that he wanted to make it clear that he had no intention of standing as a candidate for group leader, while Horace Mitchell, Burghclere, Highclere and St Mary Bourne) said that it was unlikely that he would be applying either.
Political assistant for the council's Conservative group, Peter Markham, said on Tuesday that applications could be made up to and at the groups' next meeting in early March, details of which have yet to be confirmed.
There are no candidates for the position so far.