Green councillor Chloe Turner is the new Leader of Stroud District Council, following last night’s annual general meeting.
She takes over from Green councillor Catherine Braun, who now becomes her deputy.
Councillors of all political parties voted overwhelmingly to appoint Cllrs Turner and Braun to their new roles, with just two abstentions.
Cllr Braun had been Group leader for four years and Leader of the Council for almost three years and has stepped into the role of Deputy Leader to find a better balance with her day job. She also continues as a councillor for Wotton-under-Edge, North Nibley and Stinchcombe.
At last night’s meeting, Greens were unanimously confirmed in leadership roles for the following roles:
Chair and Vice Chair of Council – Cllr Kate Kay / Cllr Matthew Sargeant
Chair and Vice Chair of Strategy & Resources Committee – Cllr Chloe Turner / Cllr Catherine Braun
Chair and Vice Chair of Environment Committee – Cllr Martin Pearcy / Cllr Tricia Watson
Chair and Vice Chair of Community Services & Licensing Committee – Cllr Martin Brown / Cllr Beki Aldam
Chair and Vice Chair of Housing Committee – Cllr Gary Luff / Cllr Lucas Schoemaker
Chair and Vice Chair of Development Control Committee – Cllr Martin Baxendale / Cllr Helen Fenton
The Audit and Standards Committee cannot be chaired by a member of the administration group, and so Labour councillors Bob Hughes and John Callinan were confirmed as Chair and Vice Chair respectively.
Cllr Braun thanked council officers, Green colleagues and the leaders of the other political groups for their help during her time as Leader. “We have agreed on most things across all political groups, which reflects our culture of collaborative working. I’m particularly proud of the work we have done together on the council’s priorities in the new Council Plan, which stand us in good stead for the years ahead.”
She said she fully supported Cllr Turner in the new role. “Chloe brings a wide range of leadership and engagement skills to the Council Leader role, as well as extensive experience as both a district and county councillor, so she’s very well placed to lead us through the next chapter of the council’s work and local government reorganisation. Most importantly, Chloe brings a real passion for the people and places of Stroud district.”
Cllr Turner said she had learned a lot from Cllr Braun, calling her “a source of stability and collaboration, with a generous and open style of leadership”.
Previously, Cllr Turner had taken over as Leader of the Green group from Cllr Braun (who becomes her deputy in that role too).
Cllr Kate Kay (Green), unanimously re-elected as Chair of the council, pointed out that, following the selection of a new Leader of the Labour group, the leaders of all the political groups on SDC are now women.
Green: Cllr Chloe Turner;
Labour: Cllr Katy Hofmann;
Liberal Democrat: Cllr Linda Cohen;
Conservative: Cllr Lindsey Green.
Cllr Turner said after the meeting: “I’m excited to be taking on this new challenge, and grateful for the support of fellow members of all parties in taking up this role. I’ve admired Catherine’s leadership enormously, and she leaves this council in excellent shape, with an ambitious Council Plan for better services for our communities and benefits for climate and nature. I’m looking forward to overseeing delivery of our Plan, and continuing to stand up for Stroud District’s communities, local services and our environment in the ongoing path towards local government reorganisation.”