New West Berkshire Council leader starts to build his team

The West Berkshire Liberal Democrats have confirmed that Lee Dillon will take up the position as leader of the district council.

Alongside him, Jeff Brooks will stand as deputy leader.

The rest of the executive team appointments are yet to be confirmed.

At the election count Mr Dillon addressed the room of council candidates to mark what he called the biggest ever victory for West Berkshire Council.

“The people of West Berkshire have spoken and said no to another Conservative administration and Tory rule,” he said.

“The voters in Hungerford, Newbury and Thatcham have created some historic results today.

“The seats kept falling.”

He added, to a room of cheers: “For the first time in a generation we have representatives across the whole district.

“That shows the passion that's out there for our positive campaign. We knocked on [voters’] doors to listen to what they have to say.

“You have to go to speak to them, listen to them and respond to their needs and as Liberal Democrats, we have done that.”

Speaking on the next moves for the party, he said: “Football will be returning to Faraday Road.

“Potholes will be fixed.

“We will continue to protect the most vulnerable and ensure our schools remain good.

“We will make sure we are held to account by our opposition.

“We have seen the blue wall being demolished.”

Deputy leader of West Berkshire Council Jeff Brooks said having both a Lib Dem-run town council and district council will remove “tension” between the two bodies and, subsequently, make processes run smoother.

He added: “When you have got the same party in charge, the same administration at both councils, they can work so much better together.

“They are constantly looking and seeing how they can do that.

“There isn’t that tension between the councils and that is the big benefit to people.”