A NEW leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will be elected this week.

After seven years at the helm, Councillor Clive Sanders is stepping down from the role of leader of the authority.

At a meeting of the full council on Thursday, 16 May, members will vote in the new leader.

Following last week’s elections, the current make-up of the borough council is that the Conservatives have 31 seats, Labour has 21, Liberal Democrats have seven and there is one independent councillor.

The meeting will be held at the civic offices, in London Road, from 6.30pm.