New coalition to run council after leaders ousted

Former Lib Dem leaders Trevor Young and Lesley Rollings were voted out in July

A new group will run West Lindsey District Council after the previous Liberal Democrat leaders were voted out by members of their own party.

Trevor Young and Lesley Rollings were ousted as leader and deputy in July after losing the support of their colleagues, with a council motion accusing them of a "combative" leadership style.

The new administration group will comprise of 13 Conservatives, 11 Liberal Democrats, three Independents, two Consensus Independents and one Reform councillor.

Conservative councillor Jackie Brockway has been nominated for the role of leader, which will be decided at a full council meeting on 8 September.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), new rules will also be proposed to strip power from the top roles and share it more equally, following claims that the former top team amassed too much.

Lib Dem councillor Moira Westley has been nominated as deputy leader.

Brockway told the LDRS: "This group wants to come together to try and work together much more closely than has ever happened before.

"It will be more than a coalition – it will be proper power-sharing, with councillors of different parties having the chairs and vice-chairs of committees.

"It should be about the best person for the position, regardless of the party."

Six people remain in the Liberal Democrat group, still led by Young.

After the vote to remove him, Young said it was "incredibly disappointing after all the good work the administration has done over the last two years".

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