New leadership team at town council

Julian Swift-Hook and David Allen (both Lib Dem) have become leader and deputy leader of Newbury Town Council

NEWBURY Town Council has a new leadership team following last week's local elections.

Julian Swift-Hook (Lib Dem, Pyle Hill) was elected leader of the council last night (Wednesday) at the first full council meeting since last week's local elections, while David Allen (Lib Dem, Victoria) was elected deputy leader.

Mr Swift-Hook, who has been a town councillor for more than 10 years, was deputy leader of the council for the two years prior to the elections and he will now step into the shoes of Ifor Sheldon, who was leader before the elections but chose not to stand again.

In nominating Mr Swift-Hook, Mr Allen said he was amazed at the breadth of his knowledge about the town of Newbury.

He said: “I think he will be an excellent leader of the council.”

Mr Swift-Hook returned the compliments in describing Mr Allen as an effective councillor over the past four years, adding that he went about his business in a “quiet and unassuming” way.

He added that he felt Mr Allen would be a steady hand to serve with him and that, in his opinion, he would be an ideal deputy leader for the council.

Meanwhile, Adrian Edwards (Con, Falkland) has become the leader of the opposition after the previous Conservative group leader, Jeff Beck (Con, Clay Hill) was put forward as the mayor elect for the coming year.

In nominating him for the position of mayor, Mr Edwards said Mr Beck had been an influential member of the town council over the past 11 years and that he always had the interests of the public in mind.

He said: “Jeff has been the leader of the Conservative group on this council for the past year and has done it very competently.

“I believe he will make an excellent mayor.”

Kuldip Singh Kang (Con, Falkland) seconded Mr Beck's nomination and he was unanimously voted for by both sides of the council chamber.

Arthur Johnson (Lib Dem, Pyle Hill) became the deputy mayor elect and both men will take up their new positions at the annual mayor making ceremony at the Corn Exchange on Sunday (May 15), when Mr Beck will take over from the outgoing mayor of Newbury, Ian Grose.