But he has a new deputy leader. The 36-strong group of Conservative councillors had two decisions to make just three days after a stunning election in last week. The group elects its leaders every year- Coun Renard had already put his name forward to continue for a ninth year – but former deputy leader Russell Holland was also standing for the top job. Coun Holland was standing on a joint ticket with fellow cabinet member Gary Sumner who stood for deputy leader. His opponent was Dale Heenan, another member of Coun Renard’s cabinet. Coun Renard and then Coun Sumner were elected.
David Renard, left, and Russell Holland are vying for the council leadership tonight
Swindon Borough Council could have a new leader tomorrow. Both the Conservative and Labour groups of councillors are to meet tonight to vote on their respective leaders for the coming council year. And David Renard, the Conservative leader for eight years, faces a challenge from deputy Russell Holland, the cabinet member with responsibility for education and skills who oversees the council’s budget and finances. Coun Holland is standing for leader in a joint bid with fellow cabinet member Gary Sumner – who has responsibility for strategic planning and infrastructure and who would be deputy.
Swindon elections: Conservatives strengthen victory as final results come in The last five wards counted still had the power to surprise. Eastcott had taken two recounts, until it was agreed Labour’s Marina Strinkovsky has taken the ward by 44 votes. That meant the Liberal Democrats will have no councillors for at least a year, and it unseated Stan Pajak who had been a district and county councillor and then a borough councillor for decades. Even his opponents had a pang of regret about that. Labour had a very decent win in Walcot & Park North. It should have, by previous form, but on a terrible day for the party, this was one of very few bright moments.
LOCAL ELECTIONS
Clockwise from top left: Russell Holland (Conservative), Barrie Jennings (Labour), Kate Freeman (Green) and Sarah Benham (Independent) are standing in St Margaret and South Marston The future direction of Swindon’s economy will be played out, to a large part, in St Margaret and South Marston. The ward plays host to the Honda car manufacturing plant at the former South Marston airfield, which will finally close this year. The site has now been sold to development company Panattoni and the promise of a £700 million investment in the site, which experts agree was not used to its full capacity by Honda, was a boost to the Conservative-run council when it was announced earlier this year.
CONCERNS have been raised over the number of HGVs and lorries going over a Stratton railway bridge with a low weight limit following the opening of a new route through the parish. Motorists have noticed more heavy goods vehicles travelling through Ermin Street and onto the Grade-2 listed bridge since the new junction which provides a direct link to Oxford Road opened to traffic earlier this week. The bridge has a maximum weight limit of 7.5 tonnes but despite new signs going up alerting drivers to this restriction, neighbours claim vehicles of up to 30 tonnes are using the route as an alternative to the A419.