• 3 Labour and Co-operative councillor • 1 Green Party councillor • 1 other councillor Cllr Henig will remain leader of Durham County Council until the annual meeting of the council on May 26 when the new leader will be unveiled. It is understood Cllr Marshall will now have the role of working with other parties and councillors to determine how power will be shared. Helen Lynch, head of legal and democratic services, said: “The leader of the council is appointed by elected members at the annual meeting of the council. Cllr Henig remains as leader until the meeting on Wednesday 26 May, when a new leader will be appointed.
North-West Durham MP Richard Holden, left, and Orinoco, one of The Wombles RICHARD Holden, the North-East MP who told his constituents not to be litter tossers’, has been accused of hypocrisy after he was issued with a £100 fixed penalty notice – for littering. The Conservative politician for North-West Durham was caught dropping a cigarette outside the election count at the Lousia Centre in Stanley on Saturday. He had been there supporting Conservative Party candidates in the Durham County Council elections but had left the building to have a cigarette. The Northern Echo understands he was spotted by a council warden dropping the butt onto the ground.
Durham County Council leader Simon Henig has retained his seat A HUNG council could be on the cards at Durham County Council. Labour’s century-long hold on the authority looked vulnerable after the first day of counting, as they won 35 of the 80 seats declared yesterday. Counting will conclude today but Labour would have to have a phenomenal set of results to secure the 64 needed to stay in overall control, though no other party is in a position to take a majority. Liberal Democrat Councillor Amanda Hopgood, group leader of the main opposition, who kept her seat in Framwellgate and Newton Hall, said: “We are really grateful that people are giving us their confidence again and there was a strong turnout in many areas, which is a very good thing for democracy.
Durham County Council leader Simon Henig retains seat DURHAM County Council leader Simon Henig has retained his seat in the Chester-le-Street West Central ward. He said: I m pleased to have been re-elected it s a great honour to serve the residents of Chester-le-Street West Central and Pelton Fell and also the residents of County Durham. Clearly the overall result is too early to tell. Labour have made gains but also losses. There has clearly been a shift to the Conservatives across many parts of the country. Labour stalwart Linda Marshall who is co-councillor in the ward lost her seat to independent candidate Karen Anne Fantarrow Darby.