New Administration Appointed - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh News. A JOINT Administration has been appointed to lead Rochford District Council.

A JOINT Administration has been appointed to lead Rochford District Council.

Following the local elections on May 4, the Council remained in ‘no overall control’, but a Full Council meeting on May 23 has elected four political groups to lead the joint administration.

This comprises Independent and Green, Liberal Democrats, Rochford District Independents and Rochford District Residents.

Coun John Mason has been appointed to be the new Leader of the Council, taking over from Coun Simon Wootton.

Coun Michael Hoy and Coun James Newport will serve as joint Deputy Leaders.

An Executive of Lead Members will be made up of Coun Lisa Newport, Coun Chris Stanley, Coun Julie Gooding, Coun Vilma Wilson, Coun Adrian Eves, Coun Arthur Williams and Coun Jim Cripps.

Other changes include a move from a current leader-and-executive led structure of decision making to a committee system from May 2024.

The Council will keep to the current structure until the official implementation of the committee system and the Lead Members will be appointed to their areas of responsibility shortly.

The Groups in the Joint Administration have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding, which states: “The groups will work together in the spirit of trust, fairness and mutual co-operation for the benefit of the residents of Rochford.

“This includes a commitment to acting in good faith, to maintaining constructive dialogue, to being open to alternative views, and to being inclusive in sharing information with each other.”

A statement from the new administration said: “We are privileged to have this opportunity to serve the Council and residents in this role.

“We have the opportunity to work across partisan boundaries and forge a new path of governance for our district. We look forward to working with the Chief Executive and officers within the Council, to deliver on our promises to our residents.

“We wish to thank Coun Simon Wootton for his service as Leader to the Council and Rochford District.”

The leader of the Independent and Green group is Coun Michael Hoy; Coun James Newport is the leader of the Liberal Democrats; Coun Julie Gooding is leader of Rochford District Independents and Coun Christine Mason is leader of Rochford District Residents.

Picture: Coun John Mason is the new Leader of Rochford District Council.

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