Liberal Democrats now running Gloucester City Council

Gloucester City Council is now under Liberal Democrat control following May’s local elections.

The Liberal Democrats were appointed to the leadership of the local authority at Monday afternoon’s annual general meeting of the council.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton was appointed leader of the council, and he has chosen a seven strong cabinet to lead the authority.

May’s local elections saw the Conservatives lose control after 20 years in charge and left the council in no overall control.

The Liberal Democrats were left as the largest party after winning 17 of the 39 seats up for grabs – just three short of an overall majority.

The Conservatives have 11 councillors, Labour on seven and the Independents on four.

The Liberal Democrats gained seats in Longlevens, Westgate, Tuffley, Quedgeley Severn Vale and Barton & Tredworth.

The Conservatives had run the council for 20 years and lost 10 seats in the local elections.

The Liberal Democrats had gone into the election campaign promising to improve core services, support the local economy, deliver more affordable housing and make Gloucester carbon neutral by 2030.

The Lib Dem manifesto, Putting the heart back into Gloucester, makes a series of pledges to improve important local services should they take control of the city council.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton, the newly-appointed leader of the council, said: “Having been born in Gloucester and lived in the city most of my life, I’m looking forward to leading the council.

“I was first elected to the city council in 1982 and I am very proud to be the first Liberal Democrat to lead a wholly Lib Dem-run administration.

“Twenty years of Conservative rule have left the city council in intensive care with services cut to the bone.

“Under the Conservatives the council was the ‘vanishing council’. Under the Liberal Democrats it will be the ‘recovering council’.

“The Liberal Democrats have a plan to rebuild services and will always do the best for the city and all its residents.

“I am leading a minority administration, but the Liberal Democrats will work collaboratively with all councillors – irrespective of party colours – to do what is best for Gloucester.

“The people of Gloucester have put their trust in the Liberal Democrats to run the city and we promise not to let you down.”

The new Liberal Democrat cabinet is:

Leader and cabinet member for regeneration – Councillor Jeremy Hilton

Deputy leader and cabinet member for resources – Councillor Declan Wilson

Cabinet member for the environment – Councillor Sebastian Field

Cabinet member for housing – Councillor Luke Shervey

Cabinet member for planning – Councillor Sarah Sawyer

Cabinet member for community engagement – Councillor Rebecca Trimnell

Cabinet member for culture and leisure – Councillor Caroline Courtney

Cabinet support member – Ashley Bowkett (non-voting)