11.07.19
Wiltshire Council appoints new leader as Baroness Scott steps down
Philip Whitehead has been appointed as the new leader of Wiltshire Council as the former leader, the Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE, steps down after 16 years at the authority.
Cllr Whitehead, who has represented Urchfont and The Canning SINCE 2013, was appointed as the new leader and as the cabinet member for finance, procurement and economic development at a meeting of all 98 councillors representing the region.
Commenting on his appointment, he paid tribute to Baroness Jane Scott, who he said “has done a fantastic job of leading this wonderful council.”
Whitehead said: “It would be remiss of me not to thank her on behalf of the people of Wiltshire for that. I have been working for Jane for the last six years, so we won't be veering too far from what she started here 10 years ago.
“I believe that local authorities should work as efficiently as possible, as they are spending residents' hard-earned money.
“There are some areas that I would like to make changes to help ensure this is the case, such as our working more closely with Wiltshire's town councils and city council. I also want to make sure back benchers and all councillors at Wiltshire Council are working as one.”
The council’s deputy leader John Thomson has also stood down from his role, whilst a number of members have been appointed to the cabinet.
Whitehead added: "Wiltshire is the county I choose to live in, and I love it here. We have such great communities, and I see it as my job, and that of my cabinet, to build on that strong foundation.”