New Council Leader elected in Hinckley & Bosworth

Liberal Democrat Councillor Stuart Bray has tonight been elected as the new Leader of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council. Stuart has succeeded Councillor David Bill who has stepped aside on the advice of his doctor.

Cllr Bray, 30, will be the youngest councillor to have led the Council, since its formation in its present form in 1974.

Cllr Bray represents Hinckley Castle Ward on the Borough Council and also represents the Burbage / Castle area on the County Council and is a member of Burbage Parish Council.

Cllr Bray was born in Nuneaton and has lived in Hinckley most of his life. He attended Richmond, Redmoor High School and John Cleveland College and has a degree in Politics from the University of Leicester. He currently works for the Liberal Democrats Campaigns Department, where he is in charge of campaigning across the East & West Midlands.

He was first elected to the Borough Council in a by-election in March 2000 for the Clarendon Ward, and was at that time the youngest councillor in the country at just 21. He represented that area until 2003 when he stood down, as work had taken him to Chesterfield. Cllr Bray returned to Hinckley in early 2007 and was elected in May 2007, defeating former Conservative cabinet member, David Thorpe. His present ward contains 50% of his former ward due to the boundary changes.

During his time on the Council, Stuart has served on the Planning, Licensing, and former Establishment, and Policy Scrutiny Committees. Before his election as Leader, he served as Deputy Leader of the Council and had the Culture, Leisure and Regeneration portfolio. During which time he successfully piloted through the Council the new plans for the bus station development, the Atkins project and the new Hinckley Club for Young People on Richmond Park.

Cllr Bray said, "I am honoured to have been elected to serve as the new Council Leader. Leading the Council will of course be an exciting challenge but I am determined that the Council should continue to achieve the high levels of performance that it has over the past two years and deliver the best possible services at the lowest possible cost to local people. Liberal Democrats have always believed that the Council is there to serve the people of the Borough and I will always be willing to listen to local residents and hear their ideas for how their local area can be improved."

Cllr Bray also paid tribute at the Council meeting to his predecessor, Cllr David Bill for his dedicated public service for over 35 years and for his leadership of the Council over recent years.

Cllr Bray has made some amendments to the Council's Executive portfolios. Cllr Bill (Hinckley Clarendon) remains in the Executive as Deputy Leader and will have responsibility for Community Safety and Partnerships. Cllr Wendy Moore (Hinckley De Montfort) will take on Cultural Services in addition Open Spaces. Cllr David Cope (Hinckley Trinity) will be responsible for Environment, Health and Housing. Cllr Keith Lynch (Hinckley Clarendon) remains in charge of Finance, IT and Asset Management, Cllr Don Wright (Hinckley Trinity) has the corporate services and equalities portfolio and Cllr Bill Crooks (Barlestone, Nailstone & Osbaston) remains in charge of Rural Affairs, Refuse and Recycling.