Andrew Povey & David Hodge will lead Surrey Conservatives into the June election (27th March)

Andrew Povey was today elected as the new Leader of the Conservative Group on Surrey County Council, replacing Nick Skellett who decided to step down after 12 years as County Group Leader. Whilst Nick will continue to lead the Council until the Annual Meeting of the Council in June, and will be restanding as a Council candidate in June’s elections, Cllr. Povey has now been elected to lead the Group and will be the Group’s nominee to be Leader of the Council if the Conservatives win a majority in June.

Speaking after the result was announced Cllr. Povey remarked, “a year ago Nick told the Group that he didn’t intend to run for the Leadership again in 2009, and that he was going to step down as Leader of the Council in June 2009 after 12 years in the job. During his time as Leader the Council has achieved much, especially as regards efficiencies and the involvement of local members in decision making through the local committees, and I pay tribute to his record”.

As regards his own election Cllr. Povey commented, “I am delighted that my colleagues have seen fit to elect me as their Leader, and I very much hope that I can repay their trust by leading this Group, and hopefully this Council, to further success. The Conservative Party in Surrey, as in the country as a whole, is in a very healthy state, and I believe that as a result of 12 years of strong Conservative leadership and the hard work of the staff the same is true of Surrey County Council. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make Surrey an even better place to live and to secure a much fairer funding settlement from the Government for the services that local authorities provide to the people of Surrey”.

Nick Skellett added, “I wish Andrew every success as Leader of the Conservative Group. This is a good Group, and indeed the Conservative Party throughout Surrey is in a strong position. If we are lucky enough to be entrusted with running the County Council in June I have no doubt that Andrew will be an excellent Leader of the Council”.

During the same meeting that saw Andrew Povey elected as the Leader of the Group, David Hodge was elected as the Deputy Leader of the Group and said that they were looking forward to working with Andrew; “as the new Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group on Surrey County Council I am looking forward to working with the Leader and the Group to help deliver good, solid Conservative solutions to the problems facing the people of Surrey and Surrey’s public services, and in trying to persuade the government that people of Surrey can’t continue to be short-changed by funding settlements.

Together with colleagues I will support Andrew in building on Nick’s legacy and help Surrey County Council to provide the best possible public services for our residents”.

Following the end of today’s meeting Members thanked Nick for his work over the last 12 years and pledged to continue working with him until he steps down as County Leader in June.