Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Ashton is new council leader

Tom Rowley
15/ 5/2008

THE new leader of High Peak Council said the challenge he faces is to deliver improved services while keeping council tax increases low.

Tony Ashton was proposed and elected as the new chief with Emily Thrane as his deputy at the meeting of the full council, which took place as The Advertiser went to press.

As predicted by The Advertiser last week, Councillor Ashton has succeeded John Faulkner, who stepped down after one year in charge of the council and leader of the 24-strong Tory group for personal reasons.

Councillor Ashton said: “The council faces severe financial constraints imposed by the government and is continually searching for efficiencies and savings. These will then enable us to maintain and improve services for all High Peak residents, whilst at the same time delivering low council tax increases.

“Under John Faulkner's leadership the council has laid the foundations, most noticeably with the groundbreaking strategic alliance with Staffordshire Moorlands.”

He added: “I am relishing the opportunity to carry on this work, building on those foundations to bring the improved services and low council tax increases promised in our 2007 manifesto."

Councillor Thrane was the executive member for corporate services and the changes at the top create a vacancy, which is to be filled by Councillor Linda Baldry.

She will join Simmondley Councillor John Haken as well as Andrew Bingham and Tony Kemp who will be continuing on the executive. New portfolios are to be decided at the next executive meeting on Tuesday, 3 June.