FRANK Pearson is set to be ousted as leader of Winchester City Council as the Conservatives take advantage of their newly-strengthened Guildhall majority to shake up their high command.

Stephen Godfrey was elected leader of the Tory group after challenging Cllr Pearson at a meeting last week.

Cllr Godfrey, previously deputy leader and portfolio holder for finance, is expected to be confirmed as the new boss at the city's Mayor Making ceremony on Wednesday night.

Cllr Vicki Weston, who resigned as deputy leader over the Silver Hill development controversy in February, has been nominated to return to her post while Cllr Godfrey said two cabinet positions were set to change hands.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Cllr Vicki Weston resigned as deputy leader of Winchester City Council in February over the Silver Hill controversy

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have elected Cllr Lucille Thompson as their new leader after Kelsie Learney lost her seat at May 7's elections.

Elected in February following the resignation of Cllr Rob Humby over the council's High Court defeat on Silver Hill, Cllr Pearson said he would be a safe pair of hands but admitted at the time he may not be in the post for long.

Cllr Godfrey pledged to tackle disillusionment with the city council's transparency and engagement with residents.

He said: “There were considerable concerns expressed last year and earlier this year that people didn’t understand how our decisions were made. Maybe that will come out with the Claer Lloyd-Jones report [into the council’s handling of Silver Hill], but I want to make sure that people have more confidence in what we’re doing and why.”

He added: “The first thing is to deal with the challenges we have in front of us. My aspiration is to continue to improve Winchester and make it a good place to live, work and visit.

“We’re looking at how we can safeguard the council services and make sure they’re the best that we can offer.”

Cllr Thompson, who saw off a challenge from Therese Evans to win the Lib Dem leadership, told the Chronicle: "I hope we're going to have next year making a real difference, in terms of trying to get the council to change the way they do things.

"I want us to be a much more proactive and improved council and a council that leads by example.
"I just want to have a council that listens and consults in a meaningful way."

Hampshire Chronicle:

Cllr Lucille Thompson

The new cabinet will meet for the first on Thursday to appoint new committee chairs and discuss the Silver Hill scheme, new council flats at Victoria House and housebuilding in Spring Vale, Swanmore.

Cllr Weston has yet to respond to a request for comment.