New Cotswold District Council leader revealed
Councillor Mike Evemy will take over from Councillor Joe Harris.
Cotswold District Council will be led by Liberal Democrat Mike Evemy as current leader Joe Harris steps down.
Cllr Evemy has been elected as the leader of the Lib Dem group at the authority and he will formally take over as council leader later this month.
He will succeed Councillor Harris, who is stepping down after six years in the role.
Councillor Evemy, who represents Siddington and Cerney Rural ward, has served as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance since 2019.
In that time, he has led on financial strategy and projects including the Bourton car park levy which raises funds to help the village deal with the large number of visitors it receives.
Cllr Evemy said he was honoured to have been chosen by his Lib Dem colleagues to lead them at the authority.
“Joe is leaving big shoes to fill, but I’m looking forward to taking on this responsibility as we face the new challenge of local government reorganisation,” he said.
“At the same time, we need to continue delivering good services to our residents and pushing ahead with our priorities — building more social rented homes, cutting carbon emissions, and strengthening the local economy.”
Councillor Harris, who will continue to serve as a District and County Councillor, is stepping back from the leadership to focus on his national role as Vice Chair and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group at the Local Government Association (LGA) and also as a County Councillor.
Cllr Harris said serving as leader of the District Council in the area where he was raised had been the “honour of his life”.
“I feel proud to have played a small part in delivering more affordable housing, creating the Crowdfund Cotswold scheme which has raised millions for local good causes, creating 500 new jobs through our green economic growth strategy and taking the poorest people in our area out of paying any council tax.”
Under Cllr Harris’s leadership, the Liberal Democrats gained control of the Council in 2019 and they say they have since focused on delivering genuinely affordable housing, climate action and supporting residents with the cost of living.
Councillor Evemy’s appointment will be confirmed at the annual council meeting on May 21.