New Redditch Council Labour leader says first priority is to bring stability

Labour claimed a majority for the area in last week's elections

Author: Elliot BurrowPublished 8th May 2024

The new Redditch Council leader says his first goal in office is to bring stability to the council.

Joe Baker will take up the role after his Labour party claimed a majority in last week's all-out elections.

Changes to some wards meant the 29 seats that used to be available had now become 27, with 10 wards turning into nine, and three councillors being elected for each one.

Labour claimed 21 out of the available 27 seats, taking back control from the Conservatives who had been in power since 2018.

"My first priority is to bring stability back to the council, and make sure that people are confident that we are going to turn things around for them," Baker said.

"I will stop the demolition of the library while starting the process of bringing back an outside market.

"Then I'll be looking at the budget to see where we can take away some of the increases, to start putting money back in people's pockets."

In the election, the Conservatives managed to claim five seats, with their leader Matt Dormer holding onto his in the Webheath and Callow Hill ward, while the Green party picked up their first seat through Claire Davies.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.