New Leader elected for Swindon Borough Council

Cllr Sumner, Leader of the Conservative Group, was elected following a vote at this afternoon’s (22 May) Annual Council meeting at the Civic Offices attended by all 57 councillors.

He will now lead a Conservative minority administration after his party opted not to enter a formal coalition with any other political group.

Following his election as Council Leader, Cllr Sumner, said: “It’s a privilege to take on the role of Leader at such an important time for Swindon. Residents expect stability, responsible decision-making and a clear focus on the issues that matter most to them.

“As a minority administration, we will work constructively with colleagues across the Council to find common ground and deliver practical results for our communities. My priority is to provide steady leadership, listen to residents and ensure the Council remains focused on delivering for everyone who lives and works in the Borough.”

As part of his portfolio of responsibilities as Council Leader, Cllr Sumner will oversee areas including inward investment, economic development, the Local Plan and local, regional and national relations.

At today’s Annual Council meeting, Cllr Sumner announced the other nine councillors that will make up the Council’s new Cabinet. They are:

• Councillor Jake Chandler, Deputy Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member responsible for Strategy, Resilience and Green Infrastructure
• Councillor Vinay Manro, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health
• Councillor Keith Williams, Cabinet Member for Finance, Recovery and Transformation
• Councillor Matthew Courtliff, Cabinet Member for Housing and Property
• Councillor Kate Tomlinson, Cabinet Member for Children and Education
• Councillor Nick Gardiner, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
• Councillor Matt Vallender, Cabinet Member for Culture, Planning and Regeneration
• Councillor Kevin Parry, Cabinet Member for Recycling and Streetscene
• Councillor Matt Hinton, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Safety and Services

Councillor Neil Hopkins was elected as Mayor for the forthcoming municipal year, taking over from outgoing councillor Fay Howard. Cllr Gayle Cook was elected as Deputy Mayor.