West Norfolk Council will have a new leader from next month - with the current chief “disappointed” after losing out in a vote.
A vote between members of the Independent Partnership which runs the authority was held last night after cabinet member Alistair Beales announced his intention to challenge Cllr Terry Parish.
Cllr Beales emerged victorious from the vote, and the Independent leadership will officially change on May 13.
On May 16, he looks set to be ratified as the new council leader at the authority’s AGM.
Cllr Parish became the council leader in May last year after our local elections, heading up the first non-Conservative administration in West Norfolk in two decades.
He told the Lynn News: “I am naturally disappointed not to continue with leadership for one more year. It was always my intention to stand down as leader of the council from May 2025.
“Indeed, I stated shortly after my election that I would give it one or two years.
“The reason for that early decision was to give a new leader chance to bed in before council elections in May 2027. The new council leader will be elected by council on May 16.
“I have been thanked for getting this administration through its first year, surviving the slings and arrows which have been thrown at it, mostly externally, but sometimes from within.
“We have a four-year corporate plan agreed with annual plans emerging from it. The budget this year was passed, and finances have been tackled in a proactive and forensic manner.
“There is still more to do to raise income and reduce expenditure, but it is being done.
“Council companies have been or are being much better organised and managed. I am particularly pleased with the improvements to the governance of the housing companies which will now have much better opportunities to provide good quality homes for local people to rent or buy.
“The council’s peer review by the Local Government Association provided a steer for future improvement whilst giving credit to progress made by my administration.
“The action plan following that review is well under way and I congratulate the chief executive for grasping the nettle and ensuring that all staff are involved in the process.
“The chief executive and her officers have been a rock during this turbulent first year. I thank them all for the help and guidance they provided to, essentially, a ‘rookie’ cabinet.
“The chief executive planned her retirement a long time ago and will be leaving in September. Recruitment for a new CEO is well under way and changes to the structure of the council will, no doubt, follow.
“I would like to be a significant part of the changeover, but it seems that wish is to be unfilled. The new CEO will enter a council where the administration knows what it wants to do and is entering a consultation phase with public and staff to ensure the right priorities are chosen.
“A management structure which efficiently and effectively enables work to be done will be co-operatively created.
“So, the spadework has been done and, I am sure, the Independent Partnership, in collaboration with Labour, will now till the fields and nurture the crops.
“The harvest will be for the benefit of the people of West-Norfolk. A little naff but I neither do poetry nor politics.”
Cllr Beales was approached for comment this morning, but has yet to provide a response.
Cllr Parish said he is currently considering his options regarding his position within the council, but will be giving more time to his ward work in any case.