Council leader Graham Ballinger will step down in May. He is pictured with daughter and fellow councillor Susie Griffiths THE leader of Wyre Forest District Council made a surprise announcement at Wednesday night s full council meeting when he declared he would be standing down in May. Councillor Ballinger, who leads the ruling Progressive Alliance, has announced a new appointment to his cabinet as well as his plan to stand aside as leader at the council’s annual general meeting later this year. Speaking at the full council meeting on February 24, Cllr Ballinger announced that he would be appointing Cllr Mary Rayner as a member of the cabinet and that she would take over the finance portfolio. Other amendments to cabinet portfolios have also been confirmed.
Councillors Anna L’Huillier, Susie Griffiths, Vicky Caulfield and Leigh Whitehouse ANOTHER consultation has opened into proposed changes to polling places in Kidderminster after concerns errors on the council website may have confused respondents . Wyre Forest District Council is proposing to create a polling place at Habberley Social Club, meaning residents who usually vote at Gainsborough House Hotel would vote at either Habberley Social Club or Kidderminster Carolians Rugby Football Club. Some residents who normally cast their vote at Kidderminster Carolians Rugby Football Club would see their polling place changed to Habberley Social Club. Consultation on the plans has now reopened after it emerged there had been incorrect information on the council website in the first two weeks of the original survey which may have confused respondents and therefore affected their answers.