Luke Taylor: new Leader of Mid Devon District Council
On Wednesday 24th May Bradninch Councillor, Luke Taylor, was elected as the Leader of the newly convened Mid Devon District Council.
Speaking after his election Councillor Taylor said, "On May 4th the people of Mid Devon gave the Liberal Democrats an overwhelming mandate for change. They wanted an end to the chaos at Mid Devon Council caused by the infighting between the Council Leader and the Conservatives. I promise the residents of Mid Devon that we will bring stability to Mid Devon Council, we will give the Council a new start. We have an ambitious manifesto that we will now get on with delivering.
"We will also take steps to ensure the Council is more open and transparent in its decision making. For too long discussions and decisions which could have taken place in public have taken place behind closed doors. We will look at ways of opening up the discussion at meetings to the public. In keeping with our commitment to broadening democracy in the Council we will also be looking at reducing the powers of the Council Cabinet and increasing those of Councillors.
"As a working father of young children I know how much time being a Councillor takes. So we will be looking at how to involve a more diverse range of people. It is not acceptable that to participate in local democracy you need to be retired, wealthy or self-employed. I am pleased to announce we have already taken steps to ensure more Council meetings take place at times everyone can attend. As part of trying to ensure more people can be involved we are broadening the leadership base of the Council and I welcome Councillors Simon Clist (Upper Culm) and Jane Lock (Canonsleigh) as my Deputies.
"Finally I am delighted to announce we will be reinstating the position of Climate and Sustainability Portfolio Holder, which will be taken by Councillor Natasha Bradshaw (Upper Culm). Natasha has very significant environment experience so will be a great asset to this role. We will make sustainability a key focus for this administration. No longer a token effort it will be at the heart of what we as Liberal Democrats and the Council do."