New leader of Herefordshire Council elected

Herefordshire councillors have elected a new leader – but with the support only of a minority.

Conservative group leader Jonathan Lester is now empowered to appoint a cabinet to run the county, following the vote at a full council meeting this morning (Friday May 19).

In an initial vote-off between Coun Lester and current council leader Coun David Hitchiner of the Independents for Herefordshire, Coun Lester gained 22 votes, with the backing of non-aligned independent councillor Jim Kenyon.

With the support of the Greens, Coun Hitchiner gained 14 votes. The Liberal Democrats abstained.

Then in a second vote to confirm the appointment, Coun Lester picked up two more votes, with Coun Hitchiner apparently among them, but was still short of the 27 which would have indicated the support of the majority of his fellow councillors.

Nine councillors voted against and 18 abstained.

“We are now looking to work collaboratively for the good of the county,” Herefordshire Conservatives secretary and newly-elected councillor for Bromyard Bringsty Peter Stoddart said.

Former Conservative leader in the county Coun Roger Phillips was earlier elected chairman of the council, defeating the Liberal Democrats’ candidate Coun Ed O’Driscoll and Coun Stef Simmons of the Greens.

Coun Simmons was then appointed unopposed as vice-chair.