Bolton Council is to be controlled by Labour after Nick Peel was elected to lead the authority.
At a full council meeting on Tuesday evening the Labour leader was elected to the post meaning his group, which is the largest party in the chamber but does not hold a majority of seats, will run the administration.
After ‘all out’ elections on May 4, Coun Peel’s group held 26 of the 60 seats. The Conservatives, who ran the council until yesterday, had 16 members, the Liberal Democrats have six seats, the same number as Horwich & Blackrod First. One Kearsley have three councillors, Farnworth & Kearsley First two and there is one independent.
With all 60 members of the council present, a motion to elect Coun Peel as leader was proposed by Coun Linda Thomas.
The vote was 29 in favour, 25 against, with all six Horwich and Blackrod First members abstaining from the vote. The three One Kearsley members voted in favour of electing Coun Peel while all Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Farnworth and Kearsley First and independent councillors voted against.
The meeting lasted less than seven minutes in total and there were no speeches. Speaking after being elected, Coun Peel, said: “Ours was clearly the largest party, the runner up was the Conservatives on 16.
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“We were always the front runner to form an authority but that has only been possible because of the maturity of a couple of the smaller parties, Horwich First, who abstained and One Kearsley who voted in favour so that we could get on with the business of running the council.
“We’re grateful they have put Bolton borough first and politics second.”
Coun Peel was asked what were the immediate priorities for the administration.
He said: “One of the first things we need to crack on with, which fortunately doesn’t come with a price tag is increasing democracy and transparency within the council. “We want to be the most open and transparent council in Bolton’s history.”
He said the aim is to do more partnership working with organisations and the voluntary sector. “We’re lay people, elected members from the community”, he added.
“We’re not going to pretend we have all the answers. We have a programme and manifesto but we rely on people’s advice and support and we won’t be afraid of asking for that help.
“We’ve also got a huge agenda on climate change issues and we will put that at the heart of what the council does.
“In terms of regeneration we’ve got to dig down a bit deeper about why Bolton town centre regeneration is not moving at pace and re-set our relationship with the private sector and investors.”
Outgoing leader Coun Martyn Cox, said: “Today was my last day as leader of the council. “The town has voted to return a Labour Council with the the support of One Kearsley an ‘independent’ group affiliated to Labour.
“It has been a huge honour to lead the town through some incredibly turbulent times. “I’ve only been able to do this with a wonderful group of councillors, the town is unlikely to get a better bunch, who were totally dedicated to improving Bolton, after 40 years of Labour control.
“We needed more time to turn the town round but we have to accept the decision of the electorate. “We will however as a smaller group continue to offer the only viable alternative to the Bolton Labour Party.”
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