Donna Jones New Leader Of Portsmouth City Council
3 June 2014, 17:22
It's all change at Portsmouth City Council, after Gerald Vernon-Jackson stepped down as leader, following the local election results.
A new administration is to run Portsmouth City Council following a vote at the annual meeting of councillors today.
The Conservative group is in charge, after gaining the support of the UKIP and Labour groups.
Conservative group leader Cllr Donna Jones is now Leader of the Council, with party colleague Cllr Luke Stubbs as her deputy.
The council's cabinet posts have been allocated to Conservative councillors, as follows:
- planning, regeneration and economic development - Cllr Stubbs
- environment and community safety - Cllr Rob New
- culture, leisure and sport - Cllr Linda Symes
- traffic and transportation - Cllr Ken Ellcome
- health and social care - Cllr Frank Jonas
- housing - Cllr Steve Wemyss
- resources - Cllr Lee Mason
- children and education - Cllr Neill Young
Earlier in the day, in a colourful traditional ceremony, councillors elected a new Lord Mayor, Cllr Steven Wylie, and a new Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr David Horne.
Cllr Wylie, a Lib Dem member for Charles Dickens ward (Portsea, Landport and the central area of the city), came to Portsmouth from rural Hampshire to study art at the university. He is married to Liz and they have a 21-month-old son, Gethin.
Cllr Horne is a Labour member for Paulsgrove ward.
The political make-up of the council is:
- 19 Liberal Democrat
- 1 non-aligned Liberal Democrat
- 12 Conservative
- 6 UKIP
- 4 Labour