New County Council leader

13 May 2010, 13:59 | Updated: 13 May 2010, 14:07

As we get used to a new man in charge at number 10 Downing Street, we are about to get a new leader of Gloucestershire County Council too.

Mark Hawthorne has been voted in a new the new leader of Gloucestershire's Conservatives and will be put forward for the council leader job next week.

Mark told Heart's Kate Justice he is expecting a tough time with financial cuts on the way:

Listen to Mark Hawthorne

Mark was born and raised in Gloucester, educated at St Peter’s Infant and Junior Schools and St Peter’s High School before going to Liverpool university to study Politics and Economics.  He went onto work for Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society, where he was project manager.

First elected to Gloucester City Council in 1998, Mark went on to lead the council from 2004-7.

He was elected to the County Council in 2009 and is currently the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration.