THE new leader of Wiltshire Council has all but been announced.
Richard Clewer will take on the role, having previously served as deputy leader.
Cllr Clewer has been named as the new leader of Wiltshire Conservatives, and as the council is a Conservative majority, this effectively means he will also be the new leader of Wiltshire Council.
He will be confirmed as leader at Tuesday's Full Council meeting.
Former leader Philip Whitehead announced on Saturday that he was to stand down from the role, saying it was "the right time", and that he wanted someone else to serve the next full-term as leader.
He was first elected to Urchfont and Bishops Cannings in 2013 and took over as leader of the council in 2019 following the departure of Baroness Jane Scott.
The Journal understands that Cllr Clewer was the only candidate for the role.
L-R: Cllrs Atiqul Hoque, Philip Whitehead, and Richard Clewer. Picture by Tom Gregory
Laura Mayes will serve as his deputy.
Conservative councillor for Roundway (near Devizes) since 2009, Laura was also cabinet member for children, education and skills.
Laura Mayes
Cllr Clewer confirmed to the Journal that he intended to put himself forward to be the new leader after he was re-elected as Wiltshire councillor for Downton and Ebble Valley.
Cllr Clewer has been a Wiltshire Councillor since the creation of Wiltshire Council in 2009 and was a Salisbury District Councillor before that.
Until last week, he was the Deputy Leader of Wiltshire Council and had cabinet responsibility for Housing, Communities, Climate Change, Arts, Heritage, Tourism and Corporate Services.
Several other Wiltshire councillors came out in support of Richard over the last few days.
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