Hampshire County Council elected a new chairman and leader at its Annual General Meeting held today (Thursday, May 23).
Councillor Keith Mans has been elected as chairman and Councillor Nick Adams-King has been elected as the new county council Leader.
The county council met to formally establish the new administration where Cllr Adams-King officially took up his new role, following a decision by Cllr Rob Humby to step down following two years in post.
Cllr Adams-King has been the county councillor for Romsey Rural since 2021, and a member of the cabinet since 2022 with key portfolio responsibility for universal services, including the county’s network of highways which spans more than 5,000 miles. A chartered surveyor by profession, Cllr Adams-King’s career has also spanned the property and hospitality sectors. He was first elected as a Bournemouth borough councillor in 2005, a Test Valley borough councillor in 2015, and then the borough council’s deputy leader from 2017 until earlier this year. He is married to James, a consultant at Southampton General Hospital specialising in geriatrics, they have two children and live in a village near Romsey.
Cllr Adams-King said: “I would like to pay tribute to former leader, Cllr Rob Humby and deputy leader, Cllr Roz Chadd, for steering the county council through two intensely difficult years. Rob stands down knowing he has changed Hampshire County Council for the better. We owe him a huge vote of thanks, not just for his sacrifice and hard work of the last two years but for his many years of service to the people of Hampshire.
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“Under my leadership, Hampshire County Council will continue to strive to be an efficient, caring, innovative, business friendly council. One that cares for our environment, tackles the challenge of climate change, and actively promotes the positive and necessary work we do to protect our most vulnerable Hampshire residents.
“I am blessed with an amazing team of colleagues who have a wealth of experience, knowledge and enthusiasm and it is an incredible honour to be chosen by them as their leader. Amongst these individuals there is no one more talented than Cllr Jan Warwick, whom I am delighted will be deputy leader of the council.”
Cllr Mans was elected to the position of chairman, and outgoing chairman, Cllr Patricia Stallard was thanked at the meeting for her tenure. In his role as chairman, Cllr Mans is the civic head of the county. He will represent the county council on Royal visits and ceremonial occasions in Hampshire as well as carry out other civic activities and duties. The chairman presides over county council meetings and ensures they are conducted in line with standing orders.
Cllr Ann Briggs, the local member for Waterloo and Stakes North, was elected vice chairman.
The full county council cabinet has been confirmed as follows:
• Cllr Nick Adams-King – Leader and executive member for Hampshire 2050 and corporate services
• Cllr Jan Warwick – Deputy leader and executive member for younger adults and health and wellbeing
• Cllr Liz Fairhurst – Executive lead member for adult social care and public health
• Cllr Zoe Huggins - Executive member for Hampshire 2050 and HR, communications and performance
• Cllr Roz Chadd – Executive lead member for children’s services
• Cllr Steve Forster – Executive member for education
• Cllr Kirsty North - Executive lead member for universal services
• Cllr Lulu Bowerman - Executive member for highways and waste
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